Northfield, MA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Northfield: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Northfield 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 |
Compared with Massachusetts, Franklin County is lower on garbage-truck share and winter months (nov–mar). It runs above Massachusetts on 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.
Northfield had 1 reported truck crash since 2015, too few for reliable patterns, so the charts and findings on this page use Franklin County numbers.
When crashes happen
August has the most truck crashes, 13.4% of the yearly total, while November has the fewest (2.7%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 35.5% of truck crashes, vs 41.9% for Massachusetts.
More truck crashes happen at 9–10 am than at any other hour (8.6%).
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 10.7% of truck crashes, compared with 6.6% in Massachusetts.
Where crashes happen
Fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Northfield since 2015 were spread across roads: Northfield Rd (1), SR-10 (1) and SR-2 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
2 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 1.1% share (Massachusetts: 5.3%).
Route planning tips for Northfield 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.
- 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 Franklin County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| Northfield Rd | 1 |
| SR-10 | 1 |
| SR-2 | 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 |
Northfield at a glance
| Population | 2,880 |
| Land area | 4.5 sq mi |
| Density | 647 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 01360) | $103,375 |
| Median home value (ZIP 01360) | $377,880 |
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 Northfield
How many truck crashes happen in Northfield?
Since 2015, 187 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Franklin County (84 injured, 12 killed).
When do most truck crashes happen in Northfield?
The worst month is August: 13.4% of truck crashes in Franklin County happen then.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Northfield?
Garbage trucks were involved in 2 reported crashes in Franklin County since 2015 (1.1% of truck crashes).
How do truck crashes in Northfield compare with Massachusetts?
The yearly rate is 21.7 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Franklin County, vs 22.9 for Massachusetts.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Northfield?
The free Route Planner takes your stops and returns a route risk score, safer alternatives and low-bridge warnings.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.