Wendell, MA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Wendell: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Wendell 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 stands out for higher deaths per 100 crashes and on snow, slush or ice.
What stands out in Franklin County: 7.1 people killed per 100 truck crashes (Massachusetts: 2.0).
Overview
Police reported 187 crashes involving commercial trucks in Franklin County since 2015: 84 people were injured and 12 were killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 24 days.
Only 1 truck crash was reported in Wendell since 2015; patterns below come from Franklin County as a whole.
When crashes happen
August has the most truck crashes, 13.4% of the yearly total, while November has the fewest (2.7%).
November through March accounts for 35.5% of truck crashes here, compared with 41.9% in Massachusetts.
By time of day, 9–10 am stands out 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
Roads with fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Wendell since 2015: Northfield Rd (1), SR-2 (1) and US-202 (1). No single road stands out.
Garbage & waste trucks
2 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 1.1% share (Massachusetts: 5.3%).
Route planning tips for Wendell 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.
- 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 Franklin County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| Northfield Rd | 1 |
| SR-2 | 1 |
| US-202 | 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 |
Wendell at a glance
| Population | 916 |
| Land area | 31.9 sq mi |
| Density | 29 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 01379) | $59,583 |
| Median home value (ZIP 01379) | $297,740 |
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 |
In the 1990s about 8 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 16. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal large-truck crashes: 1.5 a year in 2016–19, 0.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Wendell
How many truck crashes happen in Wendell?
Franklin County has had 187 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 84 people and killing 12.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Wendell?
August has the most truck crashes in Franklin County, 13.4% of the yearly total.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Wendell?
Since 2015, Franklin County has reported 2 garbage-truck crashes, or 1.1% of its truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in Wendell compare with Massachusetts?
Per 100,000 residents, Franklin County has 21.7 truck crashes a year; Massachusetts has 22.9.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Wendell?
Paste your stops into the free CurbWaste Route Planner: it scores your route against fatal-crash locations, suggests safer alternatives and flags low bridges.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.