Wharton, NJ truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Wharton: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Wharton and Morris County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Morris County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
3.4 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 1.6 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Morris County compares with New Jersey
Morris County against New Jersey and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Morris County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Morris County | New Jersey | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 67.5 | 56.6 | 49.7 | 1.2× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 1.6 | 1.6 | 3.4 | same |
| Injuries per crash | 0.55 | 0.58 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 3.1% | 3.6% | 2.3% | 14% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 5.2% | 3.3% | 6.2% | 1.6× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 26.4% | 26.0% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 15.5% | 13.7% | 13.8% | 1.1× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 42.4% | 40.9% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 19.4% | 19.9% | 24.8% | same |
Compared with New Jersey, Morris County is lower on garbage-truck share. It runs above New Jersey on crashes per 100k residents / yr, on snow, slush or ice and in rain, sleet or snow.
What stands out in Morris County: 5.2% on snowy, slushy or icy roads, against 3.3% across New Jersey.
Overview
Police reported 4,205 crashes involving commercial trucks in Morris County since 2015: 2,279 people were injured and 62 were killed.
That averages about 1 truck crash a day in fully reported years.
With 84 truck crashes reported in Wharton since 2015, this page uses Morris County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in August (9.4% of the year) and are lowest in April (7.1%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 42.4% of truck crashes, vs 40.9% for New Jersey.
The busiest hour is 8–9 am, with 8.6% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 5.2% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (New Jersey: 3.3%).
Where crashes happen
Within this area, I-80 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (9). Next come SR-15 (3), US-206 (3) and US-46 (2).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 128 of the truck crashes here, or 3.0%, compared with 3.6% in New Jersey.
Garbage-truck crashes peak in October (12% of them).
Per 100 crashes, garbage trucks recorded 3.4 deaths compared with 1.6 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for Wharton fleets
- Build extra time into August 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.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in October; review collection routes for that month.
- With 5.2% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above New Jersey), plan winter equipment checks early.
- 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 Morris County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-80 | 9 |
| SR-15 | 3 |
| US-206 | 3 |
| US-46 | 2 |
| CR-510 | 1 |
| CR-513 | 1 |
| CR-615 Howard Blvd | 1 |
| CR-650 Hanover Ave | 1 |
| North Bergen St | 1 |
| SR-124 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Morris County) |
|---|---|
| I-80 | 965 |
| I-287 | 731 |
| US-46 | 166 |
| Nj 10 | 128 |
| Nj 24 | 125 |
| I-80 Secondary | 121 |
| Nj 15 | 117 |
| US-206 | 111 |
Wharton at a glance
| Population | 7,444 |
| Land area | 2.1 sq mi |
| Density | 3,581 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 07803) | $119,583 |
| Median home value (ZIP 07803) | $434,760 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Morris 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 | 181 | — | 4.2 |
| 2000s | 425 | +135% | 3.4 |
| 2010s | 372 | -12% | 3.5 |
| 2020s | 318 | -14% | 2.8 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 181 to 318. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal large-truck crashes: 4.5 a year in 2016–19, 2.8 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Wharton
How many truck crashes happen in Wharton?
4,205 truck crashes have been reported in Morris County since 2015, with 62 deaths and 2,279 injuries.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Wharton?
I-80 had 9 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Wharton since 2015, more than any other road.
When do most truck crashes happen in Wharton?
The worst month is August: 9.4% of truck crashes in Morris County happen then.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Wharton?
Garbage trucks were involved in 128 reported crashes in Morris County since 2015 (3.0% of truck crashes).
What is the truck crash rate in Wharton compared with New Jersey?
Morris County records 67.5 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 56.6 across New Jersey.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Wharton?
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.