Elk, NJ truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Elk: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Elk and Gloucester County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Gloucester County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
0.0 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 2.8 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Gloucester County compares with New Jersey
Gloucester County against New Jersey and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Gloucester County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Gloucester County | New Jersey | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 61.3 | 56.6 | 49.7 | 1.1× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.8 | 1.6 | 3.4 | 1.7× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.60 | 0.58 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.8% | 3.6% | 2.3% | 22% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 3.5% | 3.3% | 6.2% | same |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 25.2% | 26.0% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 14.0% | 13.7% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 42.9% | 40.9% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 23.4% | 19.9% | 24.8% | 1.2× the state |
Compared with New Jersey, Gloucester County is lower on garbage-truck share. It runs above New Jersey on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and after dark.
The headline for Gloucester County: 2.8 deaths per 100 truck crashes, vs 1.6 in New Jersey.
Overview
Since 2015, 2,244 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Gloucester County. They injured 1,368 people and killed 61.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 2 days.
Only 84 truck crashes were reported in Elk since 2015; patterns below come from Gloucester County as a whole.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in November (9.7% of the year) and are lowest in May (6.6%).
November through March accounts for 42.9% of truck crashes here, compared with 40.9% in New Jersey.
The busiest hour is 2–3 pm, with 8.0% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 3.5% of truck crashes, compared with 3.3% in New Jersey.
Where crashes happen
Since 2015, fatal crashes with a large truck within 10 miles of Elk happened on US-322 (5), US-40 (5), CR-655 Fries Mill Rd (3), SR-42 (3) and SR-55 (3); no road leads clearly.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 59 of the truck crashes here, or 2.6%, compared with 3.6% in New Jersey.
The most garbage-truck crashes happen in August (15%).
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 0.0, vs 2.8 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for Elk fleets
- Plan November schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Gloucester County.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in August; review collection routes for that month.
- 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 Gloucester County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-322 | 5 |
| US-40 | 5 |
| CR-655 Fries Mill Rd | 3 |
| SR-42 | 3 |
| SR-55 | 3 |
| SR-77 | 3 |
| CR-615 West Blvd | 2 |
| 700-New Jersey Turnpike | 1 |
| CR-536 Spur Sickerville Rd | 1 |
| CR-538 Malaga Rd | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Gloucester County) |
|---|---|
| I-295 | 270 |
| US-322 | 218 |
| New Jersey Turnpike | 193 |
| Nj 55 | 156 |
| Nj 42 | 82 |
| Gloucester County 620 | 54 |
| I-295 Secondary | 54 |
| Nj 47 | 53 |
Elk at a glance
| Population | 4,506 |
| Land area | 19.2 sq mi |
| Density | 235 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 08343) | $141,842 |
| Median home value (ZIP 08343) | $342,030 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Gloucester 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 | 70 | — | 3.2 |
| 2000s | 184 | +163% | 3.1 |
| 2010s | 168 | -9% | 3.2 |
| 2020s | 195 | +16% | 5.4 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 70 to 195. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal large-truck crashes: 3.2 a year in 2016–19, 5.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Elk
How many truck accidents are there in Elk?
Gloucester County has had 2,244 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 1,368 people and killing 61.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Elk?
Truck crashes in Gloucester County peak in November, with 9.7% of the year's crashes.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Elk?
Since 2015, Gloucester County has reported 59 garbage-truck crashes, or 2.6% of its truck crashes.
How does Elk compare with New Jersey for truck crashes?
Gloucester County records 61.3 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 56.6 across New Jersey.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Elk?
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.