Plymouth County, MA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Plymouth County: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
1.7 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 2.8 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Plymouth County compares with Massachusetts
Plymouth County against Massachusetts and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Plymouth County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Plymouth County | Massachusetts | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 17.2 | 22.9 | 49.7 | 25% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.8 | 2.0 | 3.4 | 1.4× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.58 | 0.46 | 0.49 | 1.3× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 5.9% | 5.3% | 2.3% | 1.1× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 3.7% | 6.6% | 6.2% | 44% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 25.6% | 27.3% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 12.1% | 13.2% | 13.8% | 8% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 39.3% | 41.9% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 17.2% | 19.2% | 24.8% | 10% below the state |
Plymouth County has lower values than Massachusetts for crashes per 100k residents / yr, on snow, slush or ice and in rain, sleet or snow. It runs above Massachusetts on deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share.
Plymouth County at a glance: August is the peak month for garbage-truck crashes: 15% of them.
Overview
Since 2015, 1,072 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Plymouth County. They injured 616 people and killed 30.
That averages about one truck crash every 4 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
May has the most truck crashes, 10.4% of the yearly total, while March has the fewest (5.6%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 39.3% of truck crashes, vs 41.9% for Massachusetts.
More truck crashes happen at 12–1 pm than at any other hour (9.3%).
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 3.7% of truck crashes, compared with 6.6% in Massachusetts.
Where crashes happen
Roads with fatal crashes involving a large truck in Plymouth County since 2015: I-495 (2), SR-18 (2), SR-24 (2), SR-28 (2) and 28 George Washington Boulevard (1). No single road stands out.
Garbage & waste trucks
62 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 5.8% share (Massachusetts: 5.3%).
Garbage-truck crashes peak in August (15% of them).
Per 100 crashes, garbage trucks recorded 1.7 deaths compared with 2.8 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for Plymouth County fleets
- Plan May schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Plymouth County.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in August; review collection routes for that month.
- 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 Plymouth County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Plymouth County) |
|---|---|
| I-495 | 2 |
| SR-18 | 2 |
| SR-24 | 2 |
| SR-28 | 2 |
| 28 George Washington Boulevard | 1 |
| Forest St | 1 |
| I-195 | 1 |
| Oak St | 1 |
| Oar And Line Rd | 1 |
| Parsonage Rd | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Plymouth County) |
|---|---|
| Bedford St | 14 |
| Main St | 12 |
| Main Street | 9 |
| Plymouth St | 8 |
| State Rd | 8 |
| Washington St | 7 |
| Pleasant St | 7 |
| Cranberry Hwy | 7 |
Plymouth County at a glance
| Population | 542,090 |
| Land area | 658.5 sq mi |
| Density | 823 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $119,139 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Plymouth 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 | 20 | — | 1.5 |
| 2000s | 91 | +347% | 2.4 |
| 2010s | 120 | +32% | 2.6 |
| 2020s | 91 | -25% | 2.4 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 20 a year in the 1990s and 91 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 2.8 a year in 2016–19 and 2.4 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in Plymouth County
ZIP codes in Plymouth County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Plymouth County
How many truck crashes happen in Plymouth County?
Plymouth County has had 1,072 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 616 people and killing 30.
When do most truck crashes happen in Plymouth County?
May has the most truck crashes in Plymouth County, 10.4% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Plymouth County?
Garbage trucks were involved in 62 reported crashes in Plymouth County since 2015 (5.8% of truck crashes).
How does Plymouth County compare with Massachusetts for truck crashes?
Per 100,000 residents, Plymouth County has 17.2 truck crashes a year; Massachusetts has 22.9.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Plymouth County?
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.