Berkeley, NJ truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Berkeley: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Berkeley and Ocean County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Ocean County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
3.8 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 2.5 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Ocean County compares with New Jersey
Ocean County against New Jersey and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Ocean County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Ocean County | New Jersey | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 27.2 | 56.6 | 49.7 | 52% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.5 | 1.6 | 3.4 | 1.6× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.67 | 0.58 | 0.49 | 1.2× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 6.5% | 3.6% | 2.3% | 1.8× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 1.9% | 3.3% | 6.2% | 44% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 27.1% | 26.0% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 13.6% | 13.7% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 37.4% | 40.9% | 41.9% | 9% below the state |
| After dark | 13.0% | 19.9% | 24.8% | 35% below the state |
Ocean County sits below New Jersey on crashes per 100k residents / yr, on snow, slush or ice and winter months (nov–mar). It runs above New Jersey on deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share.
Ocean County at a glance: 1 in 15 crashes involve a garbage truck (140 since 2015), vs 3.6% across New Jersey.
Overview
Ocean County has recorded 2,142 truck crashes since 2015, with 1,416 people injured and 52 killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 2 days.
Berkeley had 82 reported truck crashes since 2015, too few for reliable patterns, so the charts and findings on this page use Ocean County numbers.
When crashes happen
The worst month is July with 10.5% of truck crashes; the quietest is February at 6.3%.
November through March accounts for 37.4% of truck crashes here, compared with 40.9% in New Jersey.
By time of day, 2–3 pm stands out with 8.7% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 1.9% of truck crashes, compared with 3.3% in New Jersey.
Where crashes happen
Fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Berkeley since 2015 were spread across roads: 444-Garden State Parkway (2), Gsp-444 (2), SR-37 (2), CR-527 Lakehurst Rd (1) and CR-549 Brick Blvd (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 140 crashes, 6.5% of the total, against 3.6% across New Jersey.
Garbage-truck crashes peak in September (11% of them).
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 3.8, vs 2.5 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for Berkeley fleets
- Plan July schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Ocean County.
- For residential and commercial waste routes, look again at September schedules: garbage-truck crashes peak then.
- 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 Ocean County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| 444-Garden State Parkway | 2 |
| Gsp-444 | 2 |
| SR-37 | 2 |
| CR-527 Lakehurst Rd | 1 |
| CR-549 Brick Blvd | 1 |
| CR-571 | 1 |
| CR-571 Ridgeway Rd | 1 |
| CR-614 Lacey Rd | 1 |
| SR-70 | 1 |
| US-9 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Ocean County) |
|---|---|
| US-9 | 233 |
| Garden State Parkway | 188 |
| Nj 70 | 131 |
| SR-528 | 79 |
| Nj 72 | 65 |
| Nj 37 | 64 |
| SR-571 | 63 |
| SR-539 | 60 |
Berkeley at a glance
| Population | 45,211 |
| Land area | 42.7 sq mi |
| Density | 1,059 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 08721) | $105,273 |
| Median home value (ZIP 08721) | $380,793 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Ocean 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 | 46 | — | 3.6 |
| 2000s | 223 | +386% | 3.6 |
| 2010s | 184 | -17% | 3.2 |
| 2020s | 180 | -2% | 3.8 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 46 a year in the 1990s and 180 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal large-truck crashes: 3.5 a year in 2016–19, 3.8 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Berkeley
How many truck crashes happen in Berkeley?
Since 2015, 2,142 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Ocean County (1,416 injured, 52 killed).
Which month has the most truck crashes in Berkeley?
July has the most truck crashes in Ocean County, 10.5% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Berkeley?
Garbage trucks were involved in 140 reported crashes in Ocean County since 2015 (6.5% of truck crashes).
How does Berkeley compare with New Jersey for truck crashes?
The yearly rate is 27.2 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Ocean County, vs 56.6 for New Jersey.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Berkeley?
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.