Bellingham, MA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Bellingham: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Bellingham and Norfolk County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Norfolk County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
1.0 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 1.8 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Norfolk County compares with Massachusetts
Norfolk County against Massachusetts and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Norfolk County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Norfolk County | Massachusetts | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 23.4 | 22.9 | 49.7 | same |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 1.8 | 2.0 | 3.4 | 10% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.48 | 0.46 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 5.5% | 5.3% | 2.3% | same |
| On snow, slush or ice | 4.1% | 6.6% | 6.2% | 38% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 28.5% | 27.3% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 11.5% | 13.2% | 13.8% | 12% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 42.0% | 41.9% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 15.9% | 19.2% | 24.8% | 17% below the state |
Compared with Massachusetts, Norfolk County is lower on deaths per 100 crashes, on snow, slush or ice and in rain, sleet or snow.
What stands out in Norfolk County: September garbage-truck crashes peak in September (12% of the year's total).
Overview
Police reported 2,034 crashes involving commercial trucks in Norfolk County since 2015: 980 people were injured and 38 were killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 2 days.
With 51 truck crashes reported in Bellingham since 2015, this page uses Norfolk County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
June has the most truck crashes, 9.5% of the yearly total, while February has the fewest (6.9%).
November through March accounts for 42.0% of truck crashes here, compared with 41.9% in Massachusetts.
The busiest hour is 8–9 am, with 7.8% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 4.1% of truck crashes, compared with 6.6% in Massachusetts.
Where crashes happen
Fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Bellingham since 2015 were spread across roads: I-495 (3), SR-16 (3), US-1 (3) and Rte 1 North Washington St (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 107 of the truck crashes here, or 5.3%, compared with 5.3% in Massachusetts.
Their busiest month is September, with 12% of garbage-truck crashes.
They recorded 1.0 deaths per 100 crashes, against 1.8 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for Bellingham fleets
- Build extra time into June routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in September; review collection routes for that month.
- 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 Norfolk County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-495 | 3 |
| SR-16 | 3 |
| US-1 | 3 |
| Rte 1 North Washington St | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Norfolk County) |
|---|---|
| Washington St | 29 |
| Main St | 19 |
| Rte 95 | 18 |
| Granite St | 12 |
| East St | 12 |
| Rte 93 | 12 |
| Central St | 9 |
| Washington Street | 9 |
Bellingham at a glance
| Population | 17,998 |
| Land area | 5.4 sq mi |
| Density | 3,338 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 02019) | $125,307 |
| Median home value (ZIP 02019) | $450,981 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Norfolk 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 | 72 | — | 3.3 |
| 2000s | 160 | +124% | 3.5 |
| 2010s | 200 | +25% | 1.9 |
| 2020s | 178 | -11% | 3.2 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 72 to 178. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal large-truck crashes: 1.2 a year in 2016–19, 3.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Bellingham
How many truck accidents are there in Bellingham?
Since 2015, 2,034 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Norfolk County (980 injured, 38 killed).
When do most truck crashes happen in Bellingham?
June has the most truck crashes in Norfolk County, 9.5% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Bellingham?
107 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Norfolk County since 2015, 5.3% of all truck crashes.
How does Bellingham compare with Massachusetts for truck crashes?
Per 100,000 residents, Norfolk County has 23.4 truck crashes a year; Massachusetts has 22.9.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Bellingham?
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.