Herscher, IL truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Herscher: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Herscher and Kankakee County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Kankakee County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
7 of 839 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Kankakee County compares with Illinois
Kankakee County against Illinois and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Kankakee County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Kankakee County | Illinois | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 67.7 | 56.0 | 49.7 | 1.2× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 4.3 | 2.6 | 3.4 | 1.7× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.59 | 0.50 | 0.49 | 1.2× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.9% | 1.4% | 2.3% | 35% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 12.9% | 9.0% | 6.2% | 1.4× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 21.7% | 24.3% | 23.7% | 11% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 18.9% | 17.9% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 42.4% | 42.0% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 25.4% | 24.1% | 24.8% | same |
Compared with Illinois, Kankakee County is lower on garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am). Where it is higher: crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash.
The headline for Herscher: SR-17 deadliest road: 2 fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of Herscher since 2015.
Overview
Kankakee County has recorded 839 truck crashes since 2015, with 485 people injured and 37 killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 5 days.
Only 1 truck crash was reported in Herscher since 2015; patterns below come from Kankakee County as a whole.
When crashes happen
The worst month is January with 11.4% of truck crashes; the quietest is April at 6.7%.
November through March accounts for 42.4% of truck crashes here, compared with 42.0% in Illinois.
The busiest hour is 12–1 pm, with 7.6% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 12.9% of truck crashes, compared with 9.0% in Illinois.
Where crashes happen
SR-17 leads within 10 miles of Herscher with 2 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. It is followed by 3600E (1), CR-4 (1) and SR-115 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
7 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 0.8% share (Illinois: 1.4%).
Route planning tips for Herscher fleets
- Build extra time into January routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Where you can, review stops along SR-17; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- With 12.9% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above Illinois), plan winter equipment checks early.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
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.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Kankakee County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-17 | 2 |
| 3600E | 1 |
| CR-4 | 1 |
| SR-115 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Kankakee County) |
|---|---|
| I-57 | 244 |
| Il-17 | 34 |
| Dixie Hwy | 24 |
| E 12000N Rd | 15 |
| Il-1 | 15 |
| Il-50 | 11 |
| W Court St | 10 |
| E 5000N Rd | 9 |
Herscher at a glance
| Population | 1,493 |
| Land area | 1.8 sq mi |
| Density | 823 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 60941) | $85,000 |
| Median home value (ZIP 60941) | $204,036 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Kankakee County 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 | 29 | — | 2.4 |
| 2000s | 56 | +93% | 2.4 |
| 2010s | 69 | +23% | 3.4 |
| 2020s | 70 | +2% | 1.4 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 29 a year in the 1990s and 70 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. NHTSA counts 4.5 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 1.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Herscher
How common are truck crashes in Herscher?
Kankakee County has had 839 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 485 people and killing 37.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Herscher?
Since 2015, SR-17 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Herscher: 2.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Herscher?
The worst month is January: 11.4% of truck crashes in Kankakee County happen then.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Herscher?
7 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Kankakee County since 2015, 0.8% of all truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in Herscher compared with Illinois?
Kankakee County records 67.7 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 56.0 across Illinois.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Herscher?
Use the free Route Planner: enter your stops to get a risk score, safer alternatives and the low bridges on your route.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.