Stow, MA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Stow: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Stow 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).
What stands out in Middlesex County: November is the peak month for garbage-truck crashes: 12% of them.
Overview
Since 2015, 4,505 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Middlesex County. They injured 1,863 people and killed 73.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly 1 truck crash every day.
With 7 truck crashes reported in Stow since 2015, this page uses Middlesex County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
The worst month is January with 9.5% of truck crashes; the quietest is April at 6.9%.
November through March accounts for 42.4% of truck crashes here, compared with 41.9% in Massachusetts.
The busiest hour is 8–9 am, 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
Roads with fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Stow since 2015: I-495 (3), I-90 (3), Alcott Rd (1), Littleton Rd (1) and SR-126 (1). No single road stands out.
Garbage & waste trucks
255 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 5.7% share (Massachusetts: 5.3%).
Their busiest month is November, with 12% of garbage-truck crashes.
Per 100 crashes, garbage trucks recorded 1.2 deaths compared with 1.7 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for Stow fleets
- Plan January schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Middlesex County.
- 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.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
About the data
Crash counts come from the FMCSA crash file (police-reported crashes involving trucks over 10,000 lb); fatal-crash locations come from NHTSA FARS. Text on this page states only what these numbers show.
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 | 3 |
| I-90 | 3 |
| Alcott Rd | 1 |
| Littleton Rd | 1 |
| SR-126 | 1 |
| SR-2A | 1 |
| US-20 | 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 |
Stow at a glance
| Population | 7,335 |
| Land area | 17.3 sq mi |
| Density | 423 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 01775) | $185,809 |
| Median home value (ZIP 01775) | $730,538 |
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. Fatal large-truck crashes: 4.2 a year in 2016–19, 7.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Stow
How many truck crashes happen in Stow?
Since 2015, 4,505 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Middlesex County (1,863 injured, 73 killed).
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Stow?
The worst month is January: 9.5% of truck crashes in Middlesex County happen then.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Stow?
Garbage trucks were involved in 255 reported crashes in Middlesex County since 2015 (5.7% of truck crashes).
What is the truck crash rate in Stow compared with Massachusetts?
The yearly rate is 23.2 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Middlesex County, vs 22.9 for Massachusetts.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Stow?
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.