Metuchen, NJ truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Metuchen: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Metuchen and Middlesex County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Middlesex County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
2.0 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 1.2 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Middlesex County compares with New Jersey
Middlesex County against New Jersey and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Middlesex County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Middlesex County | New Jersey | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 86.6 | 56.6 | 49.7 | 1.5× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 1.2 | 1.6 | 3.4 | 25% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.56 | 0.58 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.4% | 3.6% | 2.3% | 34% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 2.8% | 3.3% | 6.2% | 16% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 25.8% | 26.0% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 12.4% | 13.7% | 13.8% | 10% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 41.2% | 40.9% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 20.3% | 19.9% | 24.8% | same |
Middlesex County has lower values than New Jersey for deaths per 100 crashes, garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice. It runs above New Jersey on crashes per 100k residents / yr.
What stands out in Metuchen: I-95 most fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of Metuchen: 15 since 2015.
Overview
Since 2015, 9,132 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Middlesex County. They injured 5,085 people and killed 119.
In complete reporting years that works out to about 2 truck crashes a day.
Metuchen had 128 reported truck crashes since 2015, too few for reliable patterns, so the charts and findings on this page use Middlesex County numbers.
When crashes happen
October has the most truck crashes, 10.1% of the yearly total, while April has the fewest (7.4%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 41.2% of truck crashes, vs 40.9% for New Jersey.
By time of day, 12–1 pm stands out with 7.8% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 2.8% of truck crashes, compared with 3.3% in New Jersey.
Where crashes happen
I-95 leads within 10 miles of Metuchen with 15 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. It is followed by US-9 (8), US-1 (7) and SR-440 (5).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 210 of the truck crashes here, or 2.3%, compared with 3.6% in New Jersey.
The most garbage-truck crashes happen in February (10%).
They recorded 2.0 deaths per 100 crashes, against 1.2 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for Metuchen fleets
- Review driver schedules for October, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Check whether your routes use I-95, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- Waste haulers: February is the peak month for garbage-truck crashes in Middlesex County.
- 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 Middlesex County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-95 | 15 |
| US-9 | 8 |
| US-1 | 7 |
| SR-440 | 5 |
| I-287 | 3 |
| I-78 | 3 |
| US-130 | 3 |
| SR-35 | 2 |
| 444 Gsp | 1 |
| Blair Rd | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Middlesex County) |
|---|---|
| I-95, N.J. Turnpike | 1,496 |
| US-1 | 852 |
| US-9 | 578 |
| I-287 | 477 |
| Nj 18 | 355 |
| I-95 | 313 |
| I-95 Secondary | 305 |
| US-130 | 251 |
Metuchen at a glance
| Population | 15,470 |
| Land area | 2.8 sq mi |
| Density | 5,453 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 08840) | $146,635 |
| Median home value (ZIP 08840) | $559,193 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Middlesex 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 | 253 | — | 8.5 |
| 2000s | 895 | +254% | 7.1 |
| 2010s | 747 | -17% | 6.6 |
| 2020s | 745 | -0% | 7.4 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 253 to 745. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal large-truck crashes: 6.8 a year in 2016–19, 7.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Metuchen
How many truck accidents are there in Metuchen?
Middlesex County has had 9,132 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 5,085 people and killing 119.
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in Metuchen?
NHTSA data shows I-95 with 15 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Metuchen since 2015, the highest of any road.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Metuchen?
The worst month is October: 10.1% of truck crashes in Middlesex County happen then.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Metuchen?
210 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Middlesex County since 2015, 2.3% of all truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in Metuchen compared with New Jersey?
Per 100,000 residents, Middlesex County has 86.6 truck crashes a year; New Jersey has 56.6.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Metuchen?
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.