Caldwell, NJ truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Caldwell: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Caldwell and Essex County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Essex County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
2.6 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 1.3 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Essex County compares with New Jersey
Essex County against New Jersey and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Essex County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Essex County | New Jersey | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 49.5 | 56.6 | 49.7 | 13% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 1.3 | 1.6 | 3.4 | 19% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.54 | 0.58 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 4.0% | 3.6% | 2.3% | 1.1× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 2.9% | 3.3% | 6.2% | 13% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 28.3% | 26.0% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 12.6% | 13.7% | 13.8% | 8% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 42.5% | 40.9% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 18.9% | 19.9% | 24.8% | same |
Essex County sits below New Jersey on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and on snow, slush or ice. Where it is higher: garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am).
The headline for Caldwell: I-80 deadliest road: 9 fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of Caldwell since 2015.
Overview
Police reported 5,012 crashes involving commercial trucks in Essex County since 2015: 2,742 people were injured and 67 were killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly 1 truck crash every day.
With 24 truck crashes reported in Caldwell since 2015, this page uses Essex County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
The worst month is October with 9.8% of truck crashes; the quietest is April at 7.2%.
The five winter months (November to March) hold 42.5% of truck crashes, against 40.9% across New Jersey.
By time of day, 9–10 am stands out with 8.2% of truck crashes.
2.9% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 3.3% across New Jersey.
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks within 10 miles of Caldwell is I-80, with 9 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. After it: I-280 (7), I-78 (5) and SR-21 (4).
Garbage & waste trucks
200 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 4.0% share (New Jersey: 3.6%).
Their busiest month is October, with 12% of garbage-truck crashes.
Per 100 crashes, garbage trucks recorded 2.6 deaths compared with 1.3 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for Caldwell fleets
- Build extra time into October routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Where you can, review stops along I-80; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- For residential and commercial waste routes, look again at October schedules: garbage-truck crashes peak then.
- The morning rush (6–10 am) holds 28.3% of truck crashes here, more than New Jersey; adjust start times where you can.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
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 Essex County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-80 | 9 |
| I-280 | 7 |
| I-78 | 5 |
| SR-21 | 4 |
| SR-124 | 3 |
| SR-3 | 3 |
| CR-506 Bloomfield Ave | 2 |
| SR-23 | 2 |
| SR-24 | 2 |
| Albion Ave | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Essex County) |
|---|---|
| I-95, N.J. Turnpike | 745 |
| I-280 | 380 |
| I-78 | 357 |
| US-1 | 313 |
| Nj 21 | 270 |
| SR-506 | 95 |
| I-80 | 79 |
| Doremus Ave | 64 |
Caldwell at a glance
| Population | 9,326 |
| Land area | 1.2 sq mi |
| Density | 7,917 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 07021) | $250,001 |
| Median home value (ZIP 07021) | $1,078,377 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Essex 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 | 226 | — | 5.7 |
| 2000s | 558 | +146% | 3.1 |
| 2010s | 448 | -20% | 3.8 |
| 2020s | 397 | -11% | 5.2 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 226 a year in the 1990s and 397 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. NHTSA counts 4.0 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 5.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Caldwell
How many truck accidents are there in Caldwell?
Essex County has had 5,012 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 2,742 people and killing 67.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in Caldwell?
NHTSA data shows I-80 with 9 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Caldwell since 2015, the highest of any road.
When do most truck crashes happen in Caldwell?
October has the most truck crashes in Essex County, 9.8% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Caldwell?
200 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Essex County since 2015, 4.0% of all truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in Caldwell compare with New Jersey?
Per 100,000 residents, Essex County has 49.5 truck crashes a year; New Jersey has 56.6.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Caldwell?
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.