10+ Most Dangerous Roads For Truck Drivers in North America (+ A Trucker Story!)

[@burkevinell]

As a driver who started on logging roads in Montana, I appreciate any road with pavement and a centerline.

[@SmartTrucking]

I hear that! Logging roads are a whole other ballgame!

[@reltjj5150]

285 around ATL, it takes at least a hour to get from Atlanta to Atlanta.

[@TwistedDarknessRising]

You're not lying about I-70 West of Denver. It's no joke

[@oldman6172]

Been there done that

[@luv2h8onu]

I-80 in Wyoming from rawlins to Evanston.. the first time I drove this road by myself there where 80 mph+ winds. I would always see a handful of trucks on their sides.

[@MrSamadolfo]

😃👍 Any Highway that has those blinking yellow and white signs that say "CHAINS REQUIRED !!!!" 😊

[@stevek4449]

I-80 Donner pass, Dot freaks out at first snow flake and loves throwing chain laws into effect with a passion. I-70 west of Denver? Yup had to chain up twice this month each way from Vail to Denver

[@truegrittrucking7526]

Wolf creek pass was a damn pretty drive. Coming west and rolling through the 15 mph hair pin turns is probably the most beautiful section in my opinion.

[@great8523]

Around 8 years ago, I started out training with a decent sized company under a trainer. We were making a run from Cortez to Pueblo and he told me specifically to not stay on 160 and follow his instructions, not the GPS. It was just past midnight and I was pretty weary and hypnotized by the endless road and I mistakenly stayed on 160 without realizing it long after it was too late. He woke up not too long before Wolf Creek and nearly had a stroke. Still made it all the way down and it was a little icy to top it off. Had to dig my own ass out of the seat but I got treated to some of the most beautiful scenery I've seen this country.

[@SmartTrucking]

It IS pretty there, isn't it?

[@grimreefer7261]

This guy right here is the truth.. Sometimes I go down the road.. and I'll just listen to his videos .. Bless up Mr.Dave..

[@SmartTrucking]

Thanks!

[@michaelfoye1135]

You should consider doing a worst road, state by state series of videos. Everyone needs local knowledge sometime. Thanks.

[@erics4653]

I 40 in NC is called The Gorge.

[@rosas767]

That Highway you're talking about in, Oregon. On I-84 it's called cabbage Hill. And I have personally seen trucks lose their brakes on that pass about halfway down it. And trucks not being able to climb Up it in the winter because they didn't chain up.

[@codyspencer-leahy3513]

Imo it's the easiest 6 percent interstate downgrade. just keep your foot out of it lmao

[@SmartTrucking]

Good day drivers. Thanks to all of you who so generously took the time to post YOUR WORST ROADS travelled in your trucking travels! There really are some nasty stretches of roads out there! If there's a nasty stretch of road we didn't mention, post it below. Love to hear from you as always.

[@jeffreyes1568]

I-80 across Wyoming. Especially during the winter months.

[@LuisMartinez-jv8qc]

15 years of been doing my driving. I've been through each and every one of those Road and all the roads that you named on there all correct? Those are all dangerous road. A lot of these new drivers coming into the business don't know it. And get into those accidents. Just like the young guy that ended up driving through California and ended up losing his brakes and caused that big accident over there in California. Hard-headed Young Drivers stubborn and don't want to learn from the older guys.

[@lawrencepowell633]

I25 Wyoming into Montana. Black ice, 65mph winds amass packed snow all winter.

[@waltwynn-sandiegonorthcoun8475]

The twisty turny road to Las Cruces, New Mexico⛄💭...first up and then down🚚↗🚚↘🚚!!!

[@michaelmarburger1003]

Have to mention here. I 70 west of Denver back in late 80s my first experience driving in bad weather conditions and running solo at that. That is one road I am greatful I do not run through anymore. It will make a man of ya in a hurry. Glad I am stuck in southeast US anymore. My hats off to you for mentions of I-77 Fancy Gap and I-40 running the gorge (Asheville to the Tennessee Line), Both have hazards that will sneak up on you if you are not ready.

[@ericchapman8956]

I run I-40 in Asheville quite often and I-77 from Wythville to Mt. Airy EVERY WEEK. Fun seeing 2 of my common routes on here.

[@jeffrieger3755]

US 6 Loveland Pass in Colorado especially in winter time. Hazmat vehicles forced to use this road. Steep, tight switchbacks, high winds, no guardrails, kids snowboarding, weather can change very very quickly.

[@pheleant]

Famous last words "That doesn't look that bad"......

[@SmartTrucking]

Yeah Shannon, I remember thinking exactly that later on! I think I had enough smoke going to cloud up the whole damn road!

[@mrcoffee70]

The fog in Fancy Gap can be brutal!

[@SmartTrucking]

Yes it can!

[@russellmetzger1499]

US 550 from Durango, CO all the way to Ouray, CO is by far the most treacherous, but the most beautiful.

[@HaVoC_TX]

Yes it’s very beautiful but also makes your dizzy I felt like I got off an airplane after the trip

[@SmartTrucking]

Yup, pretty road!

[@snidelywhiplash285]

The Gorge on I-40 is a neat ride... but you better be up on the wheel and paying attention. Another dangerous road I always hated running was US 24 between Fort Wayne, Indiana and Toledo, Ohio... Head-on collisions were extremely common when the road was 2 lane years ago. At one time, Readers Digest listed US 24 as one of the deadliest highways in the United States. It may not be in the mountains, but it's still dangerous.

[@Grundini91]

My very first run as a solo driver I was going from Elmira, NY to Greer, SC and it ended up timed so that I hit Fancy Gap right at sunset. It was one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen. With the mountain on your right to block the glare of the sun and the entirety of the Yadkin Valley laid out before you to the left. Absolutely gorgeous.

[@SmartTrucking]

There's some beautiful country out there isn't there.

[@benjamincuevas199]

The I-15 between Victorville and Las Vegas and the I-40 between Barstow and Needles will get you every time if you stop paying attention.

[@herogamer5544]

Number 3 was not named but it is called Cabbage hill. It is a long and steep downgrade coming back into Oregon. The view of the valley as you come down is amazing. Every time I came down Cabbage it felt like I was finally home even though I was really still about 200 miles away.

[@TwistedDarknessRising]

Cajon pass in California. Steep grades wild curves and high winds.

[@hailsatn6669]

Yep those roads in the Co. Mountains are no joke!

[@williammora2003]

I used to drive that I-77 stretch going back and forth from FL to CT in a car. Always wondered how bad it was for trucks. Then got into trucking and had to go south down it. Set the jakes and conquered it. Felt good at the bottom. Stay safe folks.

[@SmartTrucking]

You too William!

[@jacobwilson2955]

I 68 across Maryland can rough u can lose your brakes fast

[@williamhahs1586]

Love this channel working my first cdl gig flatbed love it. Your channel has given me great advice. Hope to see ya on the road driver

[@cblock81]

Love it, glad you mentioned BC, I know how sketch our highways can get, especially in winter.

[@melodicgrog]

I'd add I-80 from Wyoming through iowa, not unusual to hit 50+ winds for days, always seeing roll overs.

[@andrewfox1755]

Wolf creek pass, trucking on down the other side. Lol. The old grapevine highway. There are trucks still at the bottom of the canyon

[@nicksmith8166]

I-81 from Scranton, PA to southern VA. Just sheer traffic volume and challenging conditions in Winter especially in VA where they don’t typically keep up on roads.

[@josephstubbs5254]

84 is beautiful and yeah it's really something. The dreaded 65 between Chicago and Indianapolis in the winter. Boy that road gets slick.

[@SuperGoodison]

The pull heading out off osoyoos east bound is incredible especially the switch back at the top

[@j.m.b5441]

Also Mount Eagle, I-24 in TN, that one can be a little tricky.

[@waynebrown8246]

I can't believe he didn't mention I 80 threw Wyoming

[@SmartTrucking]

Did that road constantly for years. Didn't find it that bad compared to some of these others.

[@wolfman1662]

I was driving through Yellowstone a few weeks ago. The roads were completely covered in ice and snow and I was driving a little too fast for the road conditions. I ended up sliding off the road thought I was gonna hit the snow bank and spin out or lay the truck over. Luckily I was able to get back on the road with no problems except maybe some brown and yellow stains in my boxers.

[@moshfists]

In winter, the hill from Montrose, BC to Wanetta and Trail, BC. From Salmo, BC across the border into Washington. Highway 31 from the border through my hometown, Metaline Falls to Ione, then Highway 20 south. I used to drive a Lead Concentrate truck from Mullen, ID to Trail, BC every night. Very few guard rails and a 100 foot drop into the Pend Oreille River. One of our Drivers went off that road. No bueno.

[@ryankanno2562]

Amazing story! That might be one of the craziest stories I've heard from this channel! Thank you for sharing your advice and experience with us!

[@georgehaeh4856]

Hwy 2 & 22 in Southern Alberta. Lots of semis blow over when the wind hits 80+ km/h.

[@jesselee4035]

Loveland pass over the Eisenhower tunnel is pretty wild.

[@kokalti]

I was running hwy 12 in WAshington state over white pass every day back in my trucking days.. Every year there wore a lot of fatalities, including my coworker

[@stevemccoy8138]

Cabage Hill in Oregon is a long one, don't get yourself in trouble.

[@tevinlong4888]

Interstate 90 going into Butte, Montana. That mountain you got to go down Is something else

[@gusminotaur2112]

Wolf Creek pass song is done by Mannheim steamroller. My company does not want us taking i-70 West of Denver

[@301.allday]

CRST?

[@mtevilone]

Eastbound over Homestake Pass on I90. The first mile is pretty minor, then it gets long and steep. The Montana DOT has multiple warnings about the road down, but I have rarely driven down it without smelling other drivers brakes. Some nasty curves after you break over, and a nice long stretch dropping fast. An elevation change of about 2,000 feet, or 610 meters. The runaway ramp gets used way too often, and trucks on fire from overheated brakes.

[@mikeraney5990]

My trainer had me drive I40 on like my 4th day driving at night during a rainstorm...came up on a rock with an 18 wheeler on my left and people out of their cars and trucks that had already hit them on the right...hit the rock but had gotten slowed down enough to avoid any damage...this was in January...3 weeks later I drove it again, this time in the day and no rain...surpised me when the construction brought it down to one lane...kept it at 45 to 50 all the way down with an 18 wheeler on my rear. Really need a "Student Driver" sign...lol

[@WorldTravelA320]

550 in Southwestern Colorado between Ouray and Durango. Two lanes, no guardrails three passes in rapid succession. Wolf Creek with now four lanes is easy. But Red Mountain, Coal Bank, and Molass are true killers, so much so C-DOT has a memorial to plow drivers killed in winter and C.W. McCall also wrote a song about 550 and Red Mountain pass called "Riverside Slide"

[@DaleHine]

I-68 eastbound from the Maryland scales down into Cumberland MD has fooled a lot of drivers into smoking brakes and jackknifes. The big concrete walls on the curves downtown testify to that.

[@Gerstberger]

GREAT VIDEO. took a gas tanker over monarch pass us50 several times. nightime in a snowstorm whew what a drive

[@adriver3528]

Don't know what I'm doing on here. I'm in the UK, nothing to do with truck driving but just hooked on your videos Dave. Interesting and somehow soothing to watch. A thumbs up from me.

[@SmartTrucking]

Thank you!

[@norioxoximeikushi7741]

Love your videos. I've been driving a big rig since 1980 and besides driving a rig, I love bicycling. I've driven my rig and bicycled across all the roads you've mentioned with the exception of the ones mentioned in Eastern Canada. Bicycling is one way to truly appreciate the vastness and beauty of North America.

[@kellypatterson8506]

Been down Cabbage Hill in Oregon many times, a couple of those near the bottom I had to get in curb lane to let braless trucks by, traffic on left so could not go around me that way.

[@wintonhudelson2252]

My dad grew up near Cabbage Hill and related stories about the '30s and '40s regarding truck stories. He drove for Pacific Fruit & Produce in the late '30s until WWII.

[@belle6071]

As a girl, my family was in the carnival business. We were with a Canadian show Wagner's in BC going up Frazier Canyon in the summer and came up to closed road due to rockslide. Well, we opened up the Pie Car for business. Sold hot plates, cold beer, and gambled. Turned out to be a hella party. Great memories, 1979 or so.

[@PoBoy_Trucker]

That 84 mountain downhill drive in Oregon is one dicey piece of work. Jake braking is your best friend. I had to drop a load in Walmart in Hermiston Oregon and I was not a happy camper

[@Bendigo1]

Cabbage is really not bad. It is just deceptive. In winter it sucks. I dont know how many guys ive seen smoking their brakes because they ont think it is steep untill they get to the turns... they start out way too fast and can't get slowed down.

[@randypurtteman1183]

I would have to say that in my experience Rt60 out of Globe, Az is one that scared me the most, the first time I took it. You drop off the top of one of the hill right after leaving civilization and at the bottom you can see that it doubles back on itself. Not until you get to the switchback do you realize how tight it is. A straight job, much less a semi should not be there. The first time I went through I scraped the right front tire and the left rear trailer tandems on the guard rails. There's also the time I was trying to sneak a wide and over weight load from Phoenix to Denver over the weekend with no, authority or permits. It was summer and I decided to take Wolf Creek Pass. Big Mistake!I topped the pass fine sat there for a few minutes and heaved it over to the downhill side. What a ride. I had the Jake flipped all the way up and was fanning the Jonny bar. Still I was barely making it through the curves. Finally I bottomed out and just let it roll up hill to bleed off speed. There is a rest area along that part of the road and covered in sweat went back in the bunk and promptly fell asleep, exhausted. A little while later there was this pounding on the door. Fully expecting to find the D.O.T. I crawled out of the bunk. Imagine my surprise when instead of the DOT, I found a Frenchman who though I had a great looking truck wanted to know if he could take some photos of it. Of course I said yes, relieved.

[@SmartTrucking]

Great story, thank you for writing in!

[@wayneblue5370]

I was just on 77 and 40 this week I know the loves you're talking about because I did stop there to change my shorts but worse was the construction going All the way across 40 Some very very nasty curves and dodging boulders in a couple of spots . Where I picked up at in Tennessee to go to Kentucky there is no inner state within an hour's drive so I ended up running state routes the entire Way a 189 miles took just under 4 hours it was quite a long trip.

[@willamsherwood8559]

Drove long haul 15yrs. Trans Canada Calgary to Vancouver in winter. Boston bar I agree bad, but the Coaquahalla thru Merritt and down to hope a nightmare in snow wind and empty. Rather have my eyes poked out with a sharp stick.. I barely survived.. had to throw my shorts away. Cheers Billy

[@DeannaBaileytheRavensFan]

I've been on I-40 in exactly the same area!! I drove past a four car pileup my first time driving through there!!

[@lewisfender8152]

Highway 160 through La Veta Pass in Colorado from Walsenberg to Monte Vista can be pretty bad sometimes. Never know when it's gonna be snowing and freezing fog.

[@slingo30]

East of Asheville NC I-40 black mountain

[@fasttiger4292]

British Columbia, I'm from there, yeah those roads are bad in winter.

[@mrrpepsi24]

Smart trucking 101, always enjoy your videos Dave .

[@SmartTrucking]

Thank you!

[@Ididerus]

US 50 in California, guys think it's a detour when Donner is closed. It's not

[@Ididerus]

@@jeffaboularage1450 and no depth perception / fear of heights

[@snipernbolt1]

LOL Your first two are spot on. Especially with the old slow-mo Creston

[@mohssenkh6422]

There are some scary ones in w VA such as 33 between Elkins and harrisonburg VA and 219.

[@Albertalorian]

Dave, we're on the Canyon (Hwy1) Boston Barr BC to Cache Creek BC A L O T these days, cause the Coq is always closed due to wrecks! I84 in OR, is Cabbage Hill.

[@jameshuggins4300]

I know one that used to be bad but has been rebuilt to a safe spec. The 125 mm on l-40 on Arkansas. It was basically flat with a quick 50 or 60 degree corner in the middle. I've chased many a head of cattle there back in 90s. Seems like we had a cattle pot turned over about once a month!

[@SmartTrucking]

Hard on the girls when you tip them over like that!

[@robertkiell]

another bad road is I-94 in winter time... starts Michigan city to Marshall known to have black ice at any given time. I remember driving thru there in one wither time.... 100 car pile up on one side of road and it kept me on my edge of seat till i pass Marshall and its fine after that even road is smooth and gentle curves still proven to catch you off guard

[@davidmaxwell6718]

Elk mountain in Wyoming I 80 between Rylands and Laramie in the winter. Sheet of ice almost every night.

[@harryjones8591]

I-80 in Wyoming in the Winter is bad, lots of accidents and pile ups

[@mikehogan6938]

I just came down from denver too farmington new mexico. Anyway i took 285 south to 160 and took wolf creek pass... most beautiful drive ive ever taken and yeah part of that pass is pretty sketchy

[@SmartTrucking]

Yeah, you're right though, pretty drive!

[@maureendaly4082]

Dave, my boyfriend's been driving since 89 and his one son drives,the other is a diesel mechanic......we all love your videos here in Toronto.......could you do a haunted trucker story segment?......thanks and keep up the good work driver!!!!

[@jasonduke3608]

I second that dave, I have had 2 experiences that happend and I'd like to share if others share their's.

[@SmartTrucking]

Thanks for watching Maureen! A haunted trucker story? I'm sorry, but I never had an experience like that. I thought I got passed by a UFO one night out on I-94 in North Dakota one night, but it turned out just to be a low flying military jet from a nearby base. Woke me right up though!

[@floridajake58]

I live in Asheville, NC. That stretch of I-40 once you cross into NC from TN is a pain in the ass!

[@grahamanderson684]

I’m surprised you didn’t talk about any of the roads here in Alaska

[@SmartTrucking]

Never been up there, but always wanted to go, in the summer!

[@thomaskemper8336]

Thank you so much for this always giving help to me.

[@cassiuspuckett8789]

Damn Dave!!! You talking about some of these roads, I feel like I'm missing something, or need to quit acting like I'm a 35 + year old salt. Cause I've only experienced about a 3rd of these roads you and others have mentioned. Thanks for sharing.....

[@curtis7599]

My grandparents house is on the top of the mountain in Fancy Gap. You can see Winston Salem from there on a clear day. I would go there every year to the house and look down to see North Carolina.

[@SmartTrucking]

Pretty spot, beautiful view and one hell of a toboggan ride!

[@jimmyrockstar907]

The Alaska Highway from Dawson Creek to Tok is pretty unforgiving and obviously the Dalton Highway from Fairbanks to Barrow.

[@MultiFastfreddie]

watch out for the Mallahat on Vancouver Island. 4000m of elevation. No runoff lanes. Jumps from one to two lanes then back. Everyone is going too fast or too slow.

[@lukeoehlerking8648]

Steamboat hill on the Alaskan highway, that whole highway is one you gotta have your head up especially in winter

[@brianmcdonald9502]

Lol, traveled those BC roads many times. Been through Wolf Creek pass and Crow Agency. Thanks for the memories. Cheers!

[@waynesworld2086]

Hwy 191 from wy to ut is pretty tough, steeeeeep grades and very sharp turns that ya wagon is in other lane lol

[@snidelywhiplash285]

My first thought during the opening of the video when you walked in and sat down.... "All rise for the Honorable Judge Dave." "Please be seated."

[@SmartTrucking]

Wow! Usually I'm like Rodney Dangerfield, can't get no respect! Thanks Snidely!

[@mrc1539]

SR70 through the Feather River Canyon can be pretty nasty in the winter time.

[@schufarms3169]

I’m going to say this Lewiston’s old spiral highway it is very steep and at the bottom there is a stop sign that leads to Lewiston it is on a beret steep hill and hard to stop

[@Bendigo1]

I have gone up that hill a few times and was starting to seriously wonder if i was going to actually make it to the top. Aoutmatic truck with very tall rears do not make it easy to climb.

[@zwebwench]

Best story ever (at the end)! Super useful information!

[@milohrnic2023]

The Kootenay Pass between Salmo and Creston is pretty tricky but you know the old TransCanada is nasty when they make a TV show called Highway thru Hell about newer Coquihalla highway.

[@SmartTrucking]

I didn't find the Coq that bad, just the drivers on it.

[@westoncharm7467]

I-84 sucks. Dead Man's Pass/Cabbage Hill. Went through a blizzard. 75 wrecks and only three made it. 😩. I-40 Black Mountain in NC.

[@gordcampbell8642]

I used to drive Purolator Line Haul, Hwy #17 between Sault. Ste. Marie and Thunder Bay. Its not really a difficult road for experienced drivers. But its long, and requires focus, a single error can ditch your vehicle. And I thought, a shit that's not bad. But first time I drove to Toronto, again on the Trans Canada. ... And I am used to the driving but turning south at Sudbury to Barrie was something called Hwy 69. And kudos to the sexual description. This section of Highway is in the lee side of Lake Huron with a westerly prevailing squall. It didn't matter summer or winter, the snow and rain just squalled over every part of your vision almost without warning. You'd be humping it along in clear, turn a corner guarded by rock outcrop smack into a white or drown out. ... But that's not what made it dangerous. I've driven all the Canadian routes you described, but the Hwy 69A south of Sudbury. at night. I've driven all the other routes in dark but the section south from Sudbury, sucks the light right out of your headlights. ... There just cannot be enough light. And there were a lot of accidents since it was a two lane to begin with. It was the weirdest effect. No reflection, just a vortex of dark.

[@86thsamurai]

Coming off Hwy. 40 in Scottsboro, AL on the west side. So many have wrecked not taking it serious at the top. It's only 6-7% most of the way down, but starts out at 13% at the top.

[@SmartTrucking]

Good to know, thanks! g

[@earth-chan-recycling]

I live near Wolf Creek Pass. Almost every time I go on home time I have to pass through Wolf Creek.

[@SmartTrucking]

Beautiful country!

[@thatoneguy985]

The tightest I've been on is hwy 89 by grand canyon. Lots of turns and narrow lanes. Would be fun on a street bike not so much in a 18 wheeler. Beautiful drive though

[@thomaskirkpatrick4031]

You always have the best stories.

[@SmartTrucking]

Thank you!

[@FosterScott]

Right! I-84 out of the blues (cabbage to some) rough in the winter, fog black ice. “Love it”. Hwy 20 Santiam in Oregon out of Sisters is also a fun one in the winter

[@Macman419er]

US 550 in Colorado. Most dangerous stretch of hwy imaginable.

[@ktanner11]

I remember running down fancy gap as a kid with my dad before the chicken coop was at the bottom dad would come around that last curve and let her go triple digits floating down at 2 a.m. try that today.......... That coop is usually always open.

[@b4ds33d]

Fancy Gap is scary in a car. Parents drove that route from NC to MI when I was a kid.

[@truckingwithtobee]

The 93 to the I-10 going to Phoenix from Vegas is dangerous AF. I drive that road every day I miss going to Victorville from Vegas. I didn’t realize how bad this road was until I started doing it and looking into the history of it.

[@terrybarton5090]

These are in Pennsylvania 1) snow shoe mountain 2) Clearfield mountain 3) loganton mountain All these are on I-80

[@rickgregoire9041]

I did the Wolf Creek new years day 2011 westbound.Bears at the top made me chain up.Put chains on the trailer too.Kept it tracking straight. Bare as summer on the bottom.