Penobscot, ME truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Penobscot: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Penobscot and Hancock County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Hancock County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
6 of 340 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Hancock County compares with Maine
Hancock County against Maine and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Hancock County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Hancock County | Maine | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 50.6 | 57.4 | 49.7 | 12% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.2 | 2.6 | 3.4 | 1.2× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.60 | 0.58 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.9% | 3.4% | 2.3% | 44% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 16.7% | 20.2% | 6.2% | 17% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 30.3% | 26.5% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 17.0% | 20.8% | 13.8% | 18% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 43.2% | 48.2% | 41.9% | 10% below the state |
| After dark | 12.6% | 19.1% | 24.8% | 34% below the state |
Hancock County sits below Maine on crashes per 100k residents / yr, garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice. It runs above Maine on deaths per 100 crashes and morning rush (6–10 am).
Hancock County at a glance: 1 in 53 of truck crashes here involve garbage trucks: 1.9%, vs 3.4% in Maine.
Overview
Hancock County has recorded 340 truck crashes since 2015, with 202 people injured and 10 killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 13 days.
Only 13 truck crashes were reported in Penobscot since 2015; patterns below come from Hancock County as a whole.
When crashes happen
December has the most truck crashes, 11.8% of the yearly total, while April has the fewest (4.4%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 43.2% of truck crashes, vs 48.2% for Maine.
The busiest hour is 1–2 pm, with 11.2% of truck crashes.
16.7% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 20.2% across Maine.
Where crashes happen
Fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Penobscot since 2015 were spread across roads: SR-46 (1) and US-1 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 6 of the truck crashes here, or 1.8%, compared with 3.4% in Maine.
Route planning tips for Penobscot fleets
- Plan December schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Hancock County.
- The morning rush (6–10 am) holds 30.3% of truck crashes here, more than Maine; adjust start times where you can.
- 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 Hancock County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-46 | 1 |
| US-1 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Hancock County) |
|---|---|
| Airline Rd | 23 |
| SR-1 | 23 |
| High St | 19 |
| Bangor Rd | 17 |
| Main St | 13 |
| Bar Harbor Rd | 11 |
| Front Ridge Rd | 10 |
| Bucksport Rd | 8 |
Penobscot at a glance
| Population | 1,152 |
| Land area | 39.9 sq mi |
| Density | 29 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 04476) | $63,194 |
| Median home value (ZIP 04476) | $308,012 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Hancock 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 | 25 | — | 0.9 |
| 2000s | 35 | +37% | 0.7 |
| 2010s | 26 | -26% | 0.7 |
| 2020s | 31 | +19% | 0.8 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 25 a year in the 1990s and 31 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. NHTSA counts 1.0 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 0.8 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Penobscot
How common are truck crashes in Penobscot?
Hancock County has had 340 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 202 people and killing 10.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Penobscot?
Truck crashes in Hancock County peak in December, with 11.8% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Penobscot?
Garbage trucks were involved in 6 reported crashes in Hancock County since 2015 (1.8% of truck crashes).
How do truck crashes in Penobscot compare with Maine?
Per 100,000 residents, Hancock County has 50.6 truck crashes a year; Maine has 57.4.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Penobscot?
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.