Palmer, AK truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Palmer: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Palmer and Matanuska-Susitna Borough, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Matanuska-Susitna Borough numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
1 of 52 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Matanuska-Susitna Borough compares with Alaska
Matanuska-Susitna Borough against Alaska and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Matanuska-Susitna Borough stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Matanuska-Susitna Borough | Alaska | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 4.8 | 5.7 | 49.7 | 16% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 25.5 | 11.6 | 3.4 | 2.2× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.63 | 0.44 | 0.49 | 1.4× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.0% | 2.9% | 2.3% | 33% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 37.2% | 50.3% | 6.2% | 26% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 21.6% | 20.4% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 25.5% | 20.9% | 13.8% | 1.2× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 49.0% | 54.5% | 41.9% | 10% below the state |
| After dark | 39.2% | 36.0% | 24.8% | 1.1× the state |
Matanuska-Susitna Borough sits below Alaska on crashes per 100k residents / yr, garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice. It stands out for higher deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and in rain, sleet or snow.
The headline for Matanuska-Susitna Borough: January 19.2% of truck crashes happen in January, more than any other month.
Overview
Police reported 52 crashes involving commercial trucks in Matanuska-Susitna Borough since 2015: 33 people were injured and 14 were killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 64 days.
With 11 truck crashes reported in Palmer since 2015, this page uses Matanuska-Susitna Borough numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
January has the most truck crashes, 19.2% of the yearly total, while June has the fewest (1.9%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 49.0% of truck crashes, vs 54.5% for Alaska.
By time of day, 1–2 pm stands out with 9.6% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 37.2% of truck crashes, compared with 50.3% in Alaska.
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks within 10 miles of Palmer is SR-1, with 3 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. After it: Glenn Hwy (1) and Seldon Rd (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 1 of the truck crashes here, or 1.9%, compared with 2.9% in Alaska.
Route planning tips for Palmer fleets
- Build extra time into January routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Where you can, review stops along SR-1; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
About the data
This report uses the FMCSA crash file (reported crashes of trucks over 10,000 lb) and NHTSA FARS (fatal crashes). It reports the numbers without guessing at reasons.
Reporting to FMCSA was incomplete in 2020 and 2021; rates and comparisons skip those years.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Matanuska-Susitna Borough
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-1 | 3 |
| Glenn Hwy | 1 |
| Seldon Rd | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Matanuska-Susitna Borough) |
|---|---|
| Mp 133 Parks Highway | 2 |
| Big Lake Rd And Parks Hwy | 1 |
| Big Lake Rd At Intersection With Birch Lake Drive | 1 |
| E Parks Hwy, Wasilla, Ak | 1 |
| Glenn Highway And Cienna Avenue | 1 |
| Glenn Hihgway And Pinochle Lane | 1 |
| Glenn Hwy & Arctic Ave | 1 |
| Glenn Hwy 111 Ft S Of Mp 31 | 1 |
Palmer at a glance
| Population | 6,626 |
| Land area | 5.1 sq mi |
| Density | 1,306 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 99645) | $100,455 |
| Median home value (ZIP 99645) | $364,265 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Matanuska-Susitna Borough since the 1990s
Combines the FMCSA crash file (all reported truck crashes, real coverage from about 1990) with NHTSA FARS (fatal crashes involving a large truck, 1982–2024).
| Decade | Truck crashes / yr | Change | Fatal crashes / yr (FARS) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 2 | — | 1.1 |
| 2000s | 9 | +420% | 0.9 |
| 2010s | 11 | +18% | 1.5 |
| 2020s | 2 | -81% | 2.0 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 2 to 2. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 2.8 a year in 2016–19 and 2.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Palmer
How common are truck crashes in Palmer?
52 truck crashes have been reported in Matanuska-Susitna Borough since 2015, with 14 deaths and 33 injuries.
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in Palmer?
NHTSA data shows SR-1 with 3 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Palmer since 2015, the highest of any road.
When do most truck crashes happen in Palmer?
January has the most truck crashes in Matanuska-Susitna Borough, 19.2% of the yearly total.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Palmer?
1 crash involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Matanuska-Susitna Borough since 2015, 1.9% of all truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in Palmer compared with Alaska?
Matanuska-Susitna Borough records 4.8 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 5.7 across Alaska.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Palmer?
Paste your stops into the free CurbWaste Route Planner: it scores your route against fatal-crash locations, suggests safer alternatives and flags low bridges.
Crash reporting to FMCSA was incomplete in 2020 and 2021; those years are greyed out and left out of rates. 2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.