Orono, ME truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Orono: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Orono and Penobscot County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Penobscot County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
6.1 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 1.4 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Penobscot County compares with Maine
Penobscot County against Maine and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Penobscot County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Penobscot County | Maine | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 59.0 | 57.4 | 49.7 | same |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 1.4 | 2.6 | 3.4 | 46% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.73 | 0.58 | 0.49 | 1.3× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 3.2% | 3.4% | 2.3% | same |
| On snow, slush or ice | 24.9% | 20.2% | 6.2% | 1.2× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 25.1% | 26.5% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 23.5% | 20.8% | 13.8% | 1.1× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 51.8% | 48.2% | 41.9% | 1.1× the state |
| After dark | 23.5% | 19.1% | 24.8% | 1.2× the state |
Penobscot County sits below Maine on deaths per 100 crashes. It runs above Maine on injuries per crash, on snow, slush or ice and in rain, sleet or snow.
The headline for Penobscot County: March is the peak month for garbage-truck crashes: 24% of them.
Overview
Penobscot County has recorded 1,066 truck crashes since 2015, with 771 people injured and 15 killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 4 days.
With 31 truck crashes reported in Orono since 2015, this page uses Penobscot County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in February (12.9% of the year) and are lowest in May (6.3%).
November through March accounts for 51.8% of truck crashes here, compared with 48.2% in Maine.
More truck crashes happen at 12–1 pm than at any other hour (8.6%).
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 24.9% of truck crashes, compared with 20.2% in Maine.
Where crashes happen
Since 2015, fatal crashes with a large truck within 10 miles of Orono happened on SR-15B (1) and US-1A (1); no road leads clearly.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 37 of the truck crashes here, or 3.5%, compared with 3.4% in Maine.
The most garbage-truck crashes happen in March (24%).
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 6.1, vs 1.4 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for Orono fleets
- Review driver schedules for February, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Waste haulers: March is the peak month for garbage-truck crashes in Penobscot County.
- 24.9% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice, above Maine; plan winter equipment checks before the season.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
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 Penobscot County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-15B | 1 |
| US-1A | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Penobscot County) |
|---|---|
| I-95 | 417 |
| Main Rd | 49 |
| Broadway | 24 |
| Main St | 23 |
| Hammond St | 16 |
| Parking Lot | 14 |
| Western Av | 14 |
| Airline Rd | 13 |
Orono at a glance
| Population | 12,199 |
| Land area | 7.1 sq mi |
| Density | 1,730 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 04473) | $61,528 |
| Median home value (ZIP 04473) | $270,540 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Penobscot 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 | 77 | — | 2.4 |
| 2000s | 87 | +13% | 2.3 |
| 2010s | 89 | +2% | 1.3 |
| 2020s | 89 | +1% | 1.0 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 77 to 89. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. NHTSA counts 1.0 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 1.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Orono
How many truck crashes happen in Orono?
Since 2015, 1,066 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Penobscot County (771 injured, 15 killed).
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Orono?
February has the most truck crashes in Penobscot County, 12.9% of the yearly total.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Orono?
37 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Penobscot County since 2015, 3.5% of all truck crashes.
How does Orono compare with Maine for truck crashes?
Per 100,000 residents, Penobscot County has 59.0 truck crashes a year; Maine has 57.4.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Orono?
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.