Sterling, NE truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Sterling: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Sterling and Johnson County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Johnson County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
1 of 33 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Johnson County compares with Nebraska
Johnson County against Nebraska and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Johnson County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Johnson County | Nebraska | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 52.3 | 60.7 | 49.7 | 14% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 6.7 | 4.8 | 3.4 | 1.4× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.37 | 0.57 | 0.49 | 35% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 3.3% | 1.8% | 2.3% | 1.8× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 0.0% | 16.7% | 6.2% | 100% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 26.7% | 22.4% | 23.7% | 1.2× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 23.3% | 20.4% | 13.8% | 1.1× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 33.3% | 42.7% | 41.9% | 22% below the state |
| After dark | 13.3% | 24.5% | 24.8% | 46% below the state |
Compared with Nebraska, Johnson County is lower on crashes per 100k residents / yr, injuries per crash and on snow, slush or ice. It runs above Nebraska on deaths per 100 crashes, garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am).
What stands out in Johnson County: August the month with the most truck crashes: 18.2% of the year's total.
Overview
Police reported 33 crashes involving commercial trucks in Johnson County since 2015: 15 people were injured and 2 were killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 134 days in fully reported years.
Sterling had 4 reported truck crashes since 2015, too few for reliable patterns, so the charts and findings on this page use Johnson County numbers.
67% of truck crash reports in Johnson County since 2015 leave the city field blank; place counts include only reports that name the place.
When crashes happen
August has the most truck crashes, 18.2% of the yearly total, while November has the fewest (0.0%).
November through March accounts for 33.3% of truck crashes here, compared with 42.7% in Nebraska.
By time of day, 11 am–12 pm stands out with 12.1% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 0.0% of truck crashes, compared with 16.7% in Nebraska.
Where crashes happen
Since 2015, fatal crashes with a large truck within 10 miles of Sterling happened on CR-612 Road (1); no road leads clearly.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 1 of the truck crashes here, or 3.0%, compared with 1.8% in Nebraska.
Route planning tips for Sterling fleets
- Review driver schedules for August, the month with the most truck crashes.
- The morning rush (6–10 am) holds 26.7% of truck crashes here, more than Nebraska; adjust start times where you can.
- 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.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Johnson County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| CR-612 Road | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Johnson County) |
|---|---|
| US-6 | 3 |
| Ne-50 | 2 |
| 041 /101.500/N41 & 619Th Ave-Nw Of Tecumseh | 1 |
| 041 /102.310/N41 W Of 620Th Ave-Nw Of Tecumseh | 1 |
| 041 /90.980/N41 W Of 610Th Ave-W Of Sterling | 1 |
| 041 /91.480/N41 & 610Th Ave-W Of Sterling | 1 |
| 041 /91.990/N41 W Of Washington St-Ent | 1 |
| 041 /92.450/N41 Nw Of Broadway St-E Of Sterling | 1 |
Sterling at a glance
| Population | 484 |
| Land area | 0.4 sq mi |
| Density | 1,222 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 68443) | $67,969 |
| Median home value (ZIP 68443) | $160,419 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Johnson 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 | 2 | — | 0.0 |
| 2000s | 3 | +35% | 0.2 |
| 2010s | 2 | -34% | 0.1 |
| 2020s | 3 | +58% | 0.2 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 2 a year in the 1990s and 3 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal large-truck crashes: 0.0 a year in 2016–19, 0.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Sterling
How many truck accidents are there in Sterling?
Since 2015, 33 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Johnson County (15 injured, 2 killed).
When do most truck crashes happen in Sterling?
The worst month is August: 18.2% of truck crashes in Johnson County happen then.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Sterling?
1 crash involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Johnson County since 2015, 3.0% of all truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in Sterling compared with Nebraska?
Per 100,000 residents, Johnson County has 52.3 truck crashes a year; Nebraska has 60.7.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Sterling?
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.