Chatham, MA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Chatham: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Chatham and Barnstable County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Barnstable County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
0.0 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 2.6 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Barnstable County compares with Massachusetts
Barnstable County against Massachusetts and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Barnstable County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Barnstable County | Massachusetts | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 21.0 | 22.9 | 49.7 | 8% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.6 | 2.0 | 3.4 | 1.3× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.53 | 0.46 | 0.49 | 1.2× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 5.8% | 5.3% | 2.3% | 1.1× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 4.3% | 6.6% | 6.2% | 35% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 34.1% | 27.3% | 23.7% | 1.2× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 9.1% | 13.2% | 13.8% | 31% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 33.0% | 41.9% | 41.9% | 21% below the state |
| After dark | 8.6% | 19.2% | 24.8% | 55% below the state |
Barnstable County has lower values than Massachusetts for crashes per 100k residents / yr, on snow, slush or ice and in rain, sleet or snow. It runs above Massachusetts on deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share.
The headline for Barnstable County: June garbage-truck crashes peak in June (24% of the year's total).
Overview
Barnstable County has recorded 569 truck crashes since 2015, with 298 people injured and 14 killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 7 days.
With 10 truck crashes reported in Chatham since 2015, this page uses Barnstable County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in June (12.8% of the year) and are lowest in November (4.0%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 33.0% of truck crashes, against 41.9% across Massachusetts.
The busiest hour is 8–9 am, with 11.2% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 4.3% of truck crashes, compared with 6.6% in Massachusetts.
Where crashes happen
Roads with fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Chatham since 2015: US-6 (2) and Old Chatham Rd (1). No single road stands out.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 34 of the truck crashes here, or 6.0%, compared with 5.3% in Massachusetts.
The most garbage-truck crashes happen in June (24%).
They recorded 0.0 deaths per 100 crashes, against 2.6 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for Chatham fleets
- Plan June schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Barnstable County.
- Waste haulers: June is the peak month for garbage-truck crashes in Barnstable County.
- Morning starts matter: 34.1% of truck crashes fall between 6 and 10 am, higher than Massachusetts.
- 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.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Barnstable County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-6 | 2 |
| Old Chatham Rd | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Barnstable County) |
|---|---|
| Sandwich Rd | 13 |
| Macarthur Blvd | 12 |
| Rte 6 | 7 |
| Main St | 6 |
| Iyannough Rd | 5 |
| Rte 25 Eb Mm 9 | 5 |
| Scenic Hwy | 5 |
| Falmouth Rd Rte 28 | 4 |
Chatham at a glance
| Population | 6,711 |
| Land area | 2.6 sq mi |
| Density | 2,545 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 02633) | $85,483 |
| Median home value (ZIP 02633) | $981,686 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Barnstable 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 | 12 | — | 1.3 |
| 2000s | 35 | +201% | 1.8 |
| 2010s | 58 | +67% | 0.9 |
| 2020s | 46 | -21% | 2.0 |
In the 1990s about 12 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 46. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal large-truck crashes: 1.5 a year in 2016–19, 2.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Chatham
How common are truck crashes in Chatham?
Since 2015, 569 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Barnstable County (298 injured, 14 killed).
When do most truck crashes happen in Chatham?
Truck crashes in Barnstable County peak in June, with 12.8% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Chatham?
Garbage trucks were involved in 34 reported crashes in Barnstable County since 2015 (6.0% of truck crashes).
How do truck crashes in Chatham compare with Massachusetts?
The yearly rate is 21.0 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Barnstable County, vs 22.9 for Massachusetts.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Chatham?
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.