Merrimac, MA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Merrimac: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Merrimac and Essex County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Essex County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
0.8 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 1.7 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Essex County compares with Massachusetts
Essex County against Massachusetts and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Essex County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Essex County | Massachusetts | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 18.6 | 22.9 | 49.7 | 19% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 1.7 | 2.0 | 3.4 | 15% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.46 | 0.46 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 7.7% | 5.3% | 2.3% | 1.5× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 6.6% | 6.6% | 6.2% | same |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 26.8% | 27.3% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 12.6% | 13.2% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 43.3% | 41.9% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 19.9% | 19.2% | 24.8% | same |
Compared with Massachusetts, Essex County is lower on crashes per 100k residents / yr and deaths per 100 crashes. Where it is higher: garbage-truck share.
Essex County at a glance: 1 in 13 of truck crashes here involve garbage trucks: 7.7%, vs 5.3% in Massachusetts.
Overview
Essex County has recorded 1,776 truck crashes since 2015, with 816 people injured and 33 killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 2 days in fully reported years.
With 29 truck crashes reported in Merrimac since 2015, this page uses Essex County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
December has the most truck crashes, 10.9% of the yearly total, while April has the fewest (6.8%).
November through March accounts for 43.3% of truck crashes here, compared with 41.9% in Massachusetts.
More truck crashes happen at 11 am–12 pm than at any other hour (8.1%).
Road surface: 6.6% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Massachusetts: 6.6%).
Where crashes happen
Roads with fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Merrimac since 2015: I-495 (2), SR-125 (2), SR-286 (2), I-95 (1) and SR-110 (1). No single road stands out.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 137 of the truck crashes here, or 7.7%, compared with 5.3% in Massachusetts.
Their busiest month is December, with 12% of garbage-truck crashes.
They recorded 0.8 deaths per 100 crashes, against 1.7 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for Merrimac fleets
- Review driver schedules for December, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in December; review collection routes for that month.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
About the data
Sources: the FMCSA crash file for all reported truck crashes and NHTSA FARS for fatal crashes with a large truck. Every statement here comes straight from those numbers.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Essex County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-495 | 2 |
| SR-125 | 2 |
| SR-286 | 2 |
| I-95 | 1 |
| SR-110 | 1 |
| SR-121A | 1 |
| US-1 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Essex County) |
|---|---|
| Rte 495 | 23 |
| Rte 1 | 17 |
| Broadway | 12 |
| Main St | 12 |
| Rte 95 | 11 |
| Lowell St | 7 |
| Washington St | 7 |
| Rte 495 S X 97A | 6 |
Merrimac at a glance
| Population | 6,810 |
| Land area | 8.5 sq mi |
| Density | 801 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 01860) | $123,054 |
| Median home value (ZIP 01860) | $554,596 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Essex 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 | 40 | — | 3.4 |
| 2000s | 112 | +183% | 2.4 |
| 2010s | 158 | +42% | 2.8 |
| 2020s | 159 | +1% | 2.4 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 40 to 159. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. NHTSA counts 2.5 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 2.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Merrimac
How many truck accidents are there in Merrimac?
1,776 truck crashes have been reported in Essex County since 2015, with 33 deaths and 816 injuries.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Merrimac?
Truck crashes in Essex County peak in December, with 10.9% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Merrimac?
137 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Essex County since 2015, 7.7% of all truck crashes.
How does Merrimac compare with Massachusetts for truck crashes?
The yearly rate is 18.6 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Essex County, vs 22.9 for Massachusetts.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Merrimac?
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.