Sterling, MA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Sterling: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Sterling and Worcester County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Worcester County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
3.5 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 1.7 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Worcester County compares with Massachusetts
Worcester County against Massachusetts and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Worcester County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Worcester County | Massachusetts | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 35.7 | 22.9 | 49.7 | 1.6× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 1.7 | 2.0 | 3.4 | 15% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.43 | 0.46 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 4.1% | 5.3% | 2.3% | 23% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 9.3% | 6.6% | 6.2% | 1.4× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 24.7% | 27.3% | 23.7% | 10% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 16.7% | 13.2% | 13.8% | 1.3× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 43.7% | 41.9% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 22.8% | 19.2% | 24.8% | 1.2× the state |
Worcester County sits below Massachusetts on deaths per 100 crashes, garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am). It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr, on snow, slush or ice and in rain, sleet or snow.
Sterling at a glance: SR-12 most fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of Sterling: 3 since 2015.
Overview
Police reported 3,757 crashes involving commercial trucks in Worcester County since 2015: 1,623 people were injured and 63 were killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly 1 truck crash every day.
With 36 truck crashes reported in Sterling since 2015, this page uses Worcester County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
August has the most truck crashes, 9.4% of the yearly total, while November has the fewest (7.4%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 43.7% of truck crashes, vs 41.9% for Massachusetts.
By time of day, 8–9 am stands out with 7.4% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 9.3% of truck crashes, compared with 6.6% in Massachusetts.
Where crashes happen
SR-12 leads within 10 miles of Sterling with 3 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. After it: I-190 (2), Paul Tivnan Drive (1) and SR-110 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 148 crashes, 3.9% of the total, against 5.3% across Massachusetts.
The most garbage-truck crashes happen in January (14%).
They recorded 3.5 deaths per 100 crashes, against 1.7 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for Sterling fleets
- Build extra time into August routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Check whether your routes use SR-12, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- Waste haulers: January is the peak month for garbage-truck crashes in Worcester County.
- With 9.3% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above Massachusetts), plan winter equipment checks early.
- 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 Worcester County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-12 | 3 |
| I-190 | 2 |
| Paul Tivnan Drive | 1 |
| SR-110 | 1 |
| SR-2W | 1 |
| Upham St | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Worcester County) |
|---|---|
| Main St | 54 |
| Cambridge St | 49 |
| Hammond St | 26 |
| Southwest Cutoff | 26 |
| Turnpike Rd | 23 |
| Webster St | 19 |
| E Main St | 13 |
| Southbridge St | 12 |
Sterling at a glance
| Population | 8,310 |
| Land area | 30.6 sq mi |
| Density | 271 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 01564) | $129,063 |
| Median home value (ZIP 01564) | $500,065 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Worcester 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 | 76 | — | 6.7 |
| 2000s | 220 | +190% | 4.4 |
| 2010s | 295 | +34% | 5.3 |
| 2020s | 352 | +19% | 4.8 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 76 to 352. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal large-truck crashes: 5.2 a year in 2016–19, 4.8 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Sterling
How many truck crashes happen in Sterling?
3,757 truck crashes have been reported in Worcester County since 2015, with 63 deaths and 1,623 injuries.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in Sterling?
Since 2015, SR-12 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Sterling: 3.
When do most truck crashes happen in Sterling?
August has the most truck crashes in Worcester County, 9.4% of the yearly total.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Sterling?
148 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Worcester County since 2015, 3.9% of all truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in Sterling compare with Massachusetts?
Per 100,000 residents, Worcester County has 35.7 truck crashes a year; Massachusetts has 22.9.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Sterling?
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.