Suffolk County, MA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Suffolk 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
4.9 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 1.9 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Suffolk County compares with Massachusetts
Suffolk County against Massachusetts and the US, 2016–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Suffolk County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2016–2025) | Suffolk County | Massachusetts | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 13.6 | 22.9 | 49.7 | 41% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 1.9 | 2.0 | 3.4 | same |
| Injuries per crash | 0.46 | 0.46 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 5.7% | 5.3% | 2.3% | same |
| On snow, slush or ice | 2.6% | 6.6% | 6.2% | 61% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 27.6% | 27.3% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 10.4% | 13.2% | 13.8% | 21% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 37.1% | 41.9% | 41.9% | 11% below the state |
| After dark | 23.0% | 19.2% | 24.8% | 1.2× the state |
Suffolk County has lower values than Massachusetts for crashes per 100k residents / yr, on snow, slush or ice and in rain, sleet or snow. It stands out for higher after dark.
The headline for Suffolk County: I-93 deadliest road: 3 fatal truck crashes in Suffolk County since 2015.
Overview
Police reported 1,179 crashes involving commercial trucks in Suffolk County since 2015: 552 people were injured and 23 were killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 3 days.
When crashes happen
October has the most truck crashes, 10.0% of the yearly total, while November has the fewest (6.5%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 37.1% of truck crashes, against 41.9% across Massachusetts.
By time of day, 12–1 pm stands out with 8.1% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 2.6% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Massachusetts: 6.6%).
Where crashes happen
Within this area, I-93 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (3). Next come Massachusetts Ave (2), Washington St (2) and Brookline Ave (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 67 of the truck crashes here, or 5.7%, compared with 5.3% in Massachusetts.
The most garbage-truck crashes happen in June (15%).
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 4.9, vs 1.9 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for Suffolk County fleets
- Plan October schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Suffolk County.
- Where you can, review stops along I-93; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- Waste haulers: June is the peak month for garbage-truck crashes in Suffolk County.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
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.
Reporting was incomplete in 2015, so those years are greyed out and left out of rates and comparisons.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Suffolk County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Suffolk County) |
|---|---|
| I-93 | 3 |
| Massachusetts Ave | 2 |
| Washington St | 2 |
| Brookline Ave | 1 |
| Cambridge St | 1 |
| Cambridge Street | 1 |
| Chelsea St | 1 |
| Dorchester Ave | 1 |
| East Cottage St | 1 |
| Haul Rd | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Suffolk County) |
|---|---|
| Rte 93 S X 15 | 9 |
| Frontage Rd @ Mass Ave Connector | 8 |
| Rte 1 | 8 |
| Rte 93 S X 14 | 7 |
| Eastern Ave | 7 |
| Rte 93 Sb @ Exit 23 | 6 |
| Rte 90 E Mm 131 | 6 |
| Lee Burbank Hwy | 6 |
Suffolk County at a glance
| Population | 793,144 |
| Land area | 58.3 sq mi |
| Density | 13,615 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $96,137 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Suffolk 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 | 29 | — | 2.2 |
| 2000s | 63 | +114% | 2.0 |
| 2010s | 106 | +69% | 2.2 |
| 2020s | 110 | +4% | 2.2 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 29 to 110. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. NHTSA counts 2.5 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 2.2 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in Suffolk County
ZIP codes in Suffolk County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Suffolk County
How common are truck crashes in Suffolk County?
Since 2015, 1,179 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Suffolk County (552 injured, 23 killed).
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in Suffolk County?
I-93 had 3 fatal crashes involving a large truck in Suffolk County since 2015, more than any other road.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Suffolk County?
October has the most truck crashes in Suffolk County, 10.0% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Suffolk County?
67 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Suffolk County since 2015, 5.7% of all truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in Suffolk County compared with Massachusetts?
The yearly rate is 13.6 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Suffolk County, vs 22.9 for Massachusetts.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Suffolk County?
The free Route Planner takes your stops and returns a route risk score, safer alternatives and low-bridge warnings.
Crash reporting to FMCSA was incomplete in 2015; those years are greyed out and left out of rates. 2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.