Bernardston, MA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Bernardston: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Bernardston and Franklin County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Franklin County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
2 of 187 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Franklin County compares with Massachusetts
Franklin County against Massachusetts and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Franklin County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Franklin County | Massachusetts | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 21.7 | 22.9 | 49.7 | same |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 7.1 | 2.0 | 3.4 | 3.5× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.45 | 0.46 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.2% | 5.3% | 2.3% | 78% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 10.7% | 6.6% | 6.2% | 1.6× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 25.4% | 27.3% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 13.0% | 13.2% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 35.5% | 41.9% | 41.9% | 15% below the state |
| After dark | 19.5% | 19.2% | 24.8% | same |
Franklin County has lower values than Massachusetts for garbage-truck share and winter months (nov–mar). It stands out for higher deaths per 100 crashes and on snow, slush or ice.
The headline for Franklin County: 7.1 people killed per 100 truck crashes (Massachusetts: 2.0).
Overview
Franklin County has recorded 187 truck crashes since 2015, with 84 people injured and 12 killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 24 days in fully reported years.
Only 9 truck crashes were reported in Bernardston since 2015; patterns below come from Franklin County as a whole.
When crashes happen
The worst month is August with 13.4% of truck crashes; the quietest is November at 2.7%.
November through March accounts for 35.5% of truck crashes here, compared with 41.9% in Massachusetts.
More truck crashes happen at 9–10 am than at any other hour (8.6%).
Road surface: 10.7% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Massachusetts: 6.6%).
Where crashes happen
Since 2015, fatal crashes with a large truck within 10 miles of Bernardston happened on Northfield Rd (1), SR-112 (1) and US-5 (1); no road leads clearly.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 2 of the truck crashes here, or 1.1%, compared with 5.3% in Massachusetts.
Route planning tips for Bernardston fleets
- Plan August schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Franklin County.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 10.7% of truck crashes here, more than Massachusetts; schedule winter checks early.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
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 Franklin County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| Northfield Rd | 1 |
| SR-112 | 1 |
| US-5 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Franklin County) |
|---|---|
| Greenfield Rd | 4 |
| Mohawk Trail | 4 |
| 3Rd St @ Ave A St | 2 |
| Avery Brook Rd | 2 |
| Federal St | 2 |
| Northfield Road | 2 |
| Prescott Rd @ Daniel Shays Hwy | 2 |
| Rte 2 | 2 |
Bernardston at a glance
| Population | 2,109 |
| Land area | 23.4 sq mi |
| Density | 90 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 01337) | $85,045 |
| Median home value (ZIP 01337) | $329,982 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Franklin 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 | 8 | — | 1.0 |
| 2000s | 18 | +110% | 0.9 |
| 2010s | 16 | -9% | 0.8 |
| 2020s | 16 | +2% | 0.4 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 8 a year in the 1990s and 16 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 1.5 a year in 2016–19 and 0.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Bernardston
How common are truck crashes in Bernardston?
187 truck crashes have been reported in Franklin County since 2015, with 12 deaths and 84 injuries.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Bernardston?
Truck crashes in Franklin County peak in August, with 13.4% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Bernardston?
Since 2015, Franklin County has reported 2 garbage-truck crashes, or 1.1% of its truck crashes.
How does Bernardston compare with Massachusetts for truck crashes?
Per 100,000 residents, Franklin County has 21.7 truck crashes a year; Massachusetts has 22.9.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Bernardston?
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.