Surf City, NJ truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Surf City: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Surf City 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 |
Compared with New Jersey, Ocean County is lower on crashes per 100k residents / yr, on snow, slush or ice and winter months (nov–mar). Where it is higher: deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share.
The headline for Ocean County: 1 in 15 of truck crashes here involve garbage trucks: 6.5%, vs 3.6% in New Jersey.
Overview
Ocean County has recorded 2,142 truck crashes since 2015, with 1,416 people injured and 52 killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 2 days in fully reported years.
Only 7 truck crashes were reported in Surf City since 2015; patterns below come from Ocean County as a whole.
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.
The busiest hour is 2–3 pm, 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
Since 2015, fatal crashes with a large truck within 10 miles of Surf City happened on SR-72 (2) and CR-607 Long Beach Blvd (1); no road leads clearly.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 140 of the truck crashes here, or 6.5%, compared with 3.6% in New Jersey.
The most garbage-truck crashes happen in September (11%).
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 3.8, vs 2.5 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for Surf City fleets
- Build extra time into July routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in September; 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
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 Ocean County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-72 | 2 |
| CR-607 Long Beach Blvd | 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 |
Surf City at a glance
| Population | 1,298 |
| Land area | 0.7 sq mi |
| Density | 1,745 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 08008) | $120,054 |
| Median home value (ZIP 08008) | $1,165,400 |
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 |
In the 1990s about 46 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 180. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 3.5 a year in 2016–19 and 3.8 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Surf City
How many truck crashes happen in Surf City?
Ocean County has had 2,142 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 1,416 people and killing 52.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Surf City?
July has the most truck crashes in Ocean County, 10.5% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Surf City?
Garbage trucks were involved in 140 reported crashes in Ocean County since 2015 (6.5% of truck crashes).
How do truck crashes in Surf City compare with New Jersey?
Per 100,000 residents, Ocean County has 27.2 truck crashes a year; New Jersey has 56.6.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Surf City?
Paste your stops into the free CurbWaste Route Planner: it scores your route against fatal-crash locations, suggests safer alternatives and flags low bridges.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.