Arlington, MA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Arlington: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Arlington and Middlesex County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Middlesex County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
1.2 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 1.7 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Middlesex County compares with Massachusetts
Middlesex County against Massachusetts and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Middlesex County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Middlesex County | Massachusetts | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 23.2 | 22.9 | 49.7 | same |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 1.7 | 2.0 | 3.4 | 15% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.41 | 0.46 | 0.49 | 11% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 5.7% | 5.3% | 2.3% | 1.1× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 6.2% | 6.6% | 6.2% | 7% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 30.4% | 27.3% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 11.8% | 13.2% | 13.8% | 10% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 42.4% | 41.9% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 17.5% | 19.2% | 24.8% | 9% below the state |
Compared with Massachusetts, Middlesex County is lower on deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and on snow, slush or ice. It stands out for higher garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am).
The headline for Arlington: I-93 6 fatal truck crashes since 2015, more than any other road within 10 miles of Arlington.
Overview
Middlesex County has recorded 4,505 truck crashes since 2015, with 1,863 people injured and 73 killed.
That averages about 1 truck crash a day in fully reported years.
With 55 truck crashes reported in Arlington since 2015, this page uses Middlesex County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in January (9.5% of the year) and are lowest in April (6.9%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 42.4% of truck crashes, vs 41.9% for Massachusetts.
More truck crashes happen at 8–9 am than at any other hour (9.1%).
6.2% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 6.6% across Massachusetts.
Where crashes happen
Within this area, I-93 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (6). It is followed by SR-2A (4), I-90 (3) and I-95 (3).
Garbage & waste trucks
255 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 5.7% share (Massachusetts: 5.3%).
The most garbage-truck crashes happen in November (12%).
They recorded 1.2 deaths per 100 crashes, against 1.7 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for Arlington fleets
- Plan January schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Middlesex County.
- Check whether your routes use I-93, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- For residential and commercial waste routes, look again at November schedules: garbage-truck crashes peak then.
- The morning rush (6–10 am) holds 30.4% of truck crashes here, more than Massachusetts; adjust start times where you can.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
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 Middlesex County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-93 | 6 |
| SR-2A | 4 |
| I-90 | 3 |
| I-95 | 3 |
| SR-16 | 3 |
| Cambridge St | 2 |
| Common St | 2 |
| Massachusetts Ave | 2 |
| Putnam Ave | 2 |
| SR-28 | 2 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Middlesex County) |
|---|---|
| Main St | 52 |
| Rte 495 | 24 |
| Washington St | 19 |
| Ballardvale St | 19 |
| Main Street | 16 |
| Boston Post Rd | 16 |
| Rte 90 E X 123 | 15 |
| Lowell St | 13 |
Arlington at a glance
| Population | 47,112 |
| Land area | 5.1 sq mi |
| Density | 9,162 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 02474) | $150,560 |
| Median home value (ZIP 02474) | $933,097 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Middlesex 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 | 107 | — | 5.5 |
| 2000s | 284 | +165% | 4.7 |
| 2010s | 398 | +40% | 4.5 |
| 2020s | 406 | +2% | 7.0 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 107 to 406. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. NHTSA counts 4.2 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 7.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Arlington
How many truck crashes happen in Arlington?
Since 2015, 4,505 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Middlesex County (1,863 injured, 73 killed).
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Arlington?
Since 2015, I-93 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Arlington: 6.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Arlington?
Truck crashes in Middlesex County peak in January, with 9.5% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Arlington?
Garbage trucks were involved in 255 reported crashes in Middlesex County since 2015 (5.7% of truck crashes).
How do truck crashes in Arlington compare with Massachusetts?
The yearly rate is 23.2 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Middlesex County, vs 22.9 for Massachusetts.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Arlington?
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.