Sunderland, MA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Sunderland: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Sunderland 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). Where it is higher: deaths per 100 crashes and on snow, slush or ice.
What stands out in Franklin County: 7.1 deaths per 100 truck crashes, vs 2.0 in Massachusetts.
Overview
Police reported 187 crashes involving commercial trucks in Franklin County since 2015: 84 people were injured and 12 were killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 24 days.
Only 4 truck crashes were reported in Sunderland since 2015; patterns below come from Franklin County as a whole.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in August (13.4% of the year) and are lowest in November (2.7%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 35.5% of truck crashes, against 41.9% across Massachusetts.
The busiest hour is 9–10 am, with 8.6% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 10.7% of truck crashes, compared with 6.6% in Massachusetts.
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks within 10 miles of Sunderland is SR-116, with 2 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. Next come I-91 (1), Kellogg Ave (1) and US-5 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 2 crashes, 1.1% of the total, against 5.3% across Massachusetts.
Route planning tips for Sunderland fleets
- Build extra time into August routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Look at alternatives to SR-116 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- With 10.7% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above Massachusetts), plan winter equipment 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) |
|---|---|
| SR-116 | 2 |
| I-91 | 1 |
| Kellogg Ave | 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 |
Sunderland at a glance
| Population | 3,628 |
| Land area | 14.2 sq mi |
| Density | 255 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 01375) | $68,083 |
| Median home value (ZIP 01375) | $452,095 |
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 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 8 to 16. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. NHTSA counts 1.5 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 0.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Sunderland
How common are truck crashes in Sunderland?
187 truck crashes have been reported in Franklin County since 2015, with 12 deaths and 84 injuries.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in Sunderland?
SR-116 had 2 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Sunderland since 2015, more than any other road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Sunderland?
Truck crashes in Franklin County peak in August, with 13.4% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Sunderland?
Garbage trucks were involved in 2 reported crashes in Franklin County since 2015 (1.1% of truck crashes).
How does Sunderland compare with Massachusetts for truck crashes?
Per 100,000 residents, Franklin County has 21.7 truck crashes a year; Massachusetts has 22.9.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Sunderland?
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.