Bedford, MA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Bedford: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Bedford 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 |
Middlesex County has lower values than Massachusetts for deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and on snow, slush or ice. It runs above Massachusetts on garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am).
Middlesex County at a glance: November is the peak month for garbage-truck crashes: 12% of them.
Overview
Police reported 4,505 crashes involving commercial trucks in Middlesex County since 2015: 1,863 people were injured and 73 were killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about 1 truck crash a day.
Only 43 truck crashes were reported in Bedford since 2015; patterns below come from Middlesex County as a whole.
When crashes happen
The worst month is January with 9.5% of truck crashes; the quietest is April at 6.9%.
The five winter months (November to March) hold 42.4% of truck crashes, against 41.9% across Massachusetts.
By time of day, 8–9 am stands out with 9.1% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 6.2% of truck crashes, compared with 6.6% in Massachusetts.
Where crashes happen
Fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Bedford since 2015 were spread across roads: I-495 (4), I-93 (4), Common St (2), I-95 (2) and Alcott Rd (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 255 crashes, 5.7% of the total, against 5.3% across Massachusetts.
The most garbage-truck crashes happen in November (12%).
Per 100 crashes, garbage trucks recorded 1.2 deaths compared with 1.7 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for Bedford fleets
- Build extra time into January routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Waste haulers: November is the peak month for garbage-truck crashes in Middlesex County.
- 30.4% of truck crashes happen between 6 and 10 am, above Massachusetts; consider earlier or later starts where possible.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
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 Middlesex County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-495 | 4 |
| I-93 | 4 |
| Common St | 2 |
| I-95 | 2 |
| Alcott Rd | 1 |
| Franklin St | 1 |
| Pleasant St | 1 |
| SR-110 | 1 |
| SR-126 | 1 |
| SR-4 | 1 |
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 |
Bedford at a glance
| Population | 14,955 |
| Land area | 13.7 sq mi |
| Density | 1,095 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 01730) | $172,400 |
| Median home value (ZIP 01730) | $903,795 |
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 |
In the 1990s about 107 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 406. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal large-truck crashes: 4.2 a year in 2016–19, 7.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Bedford
How many truck crashes happen in Bedford?
Since 2015, 4,505 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Middlesex County (1,863 injured, 73 killed).
When do most truck crashes happen in Bedford?
January has the most truck crashes in Middlesex County, 9.5% of the yearly total.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Bedford?
Garbage trucks were involved in 255 reported crashes in Middlesex County since 2015 (5.7% of truck crashes).
How do truck crashes in Bedford compare with Massachusetts?
Per 100,000 residents, Middlesex County has 23.2 truck crashes a year; Massachusetts has 22.9.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Bedford?
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.