Plainfield, NJ truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Plainfield: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Plainfield and Union County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Union County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
1.3 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 1.1 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Union County compares with New Jersey
Union County against New Jersey and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Union County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Union County | New Jersey | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 78.1 | 56.6 | 49.7 | 1.4× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 1.1 | 1.6 | 3.4 | 31% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.52 | 0.58 | 0.49 | 10% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 3.1% | 3.6% | 2.3% | 13% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 2.5% | 3.3% | 6.2% | 23% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 26.7% | 26.0% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 12.9% | 13.7% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 41.7% | 40.9% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 19.9% | 19.9% | 24.8% | same |
Compared with New Jersey, Union County is lower on deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share. It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr.
The headline for Plainfield: I-95 most fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of Plainfield: 10 since 2015.
Overview
Union County has recorded 5,456 truck crashes since 2015, with 2,850 people injured and 55 killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly 1 truck crash every day.
With 120 truck crashes reported in Plainfield since 2015, this page uses Union County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
The worst month is October with 9.3% of truck crashes; the quietest is January at 7.5%.
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 41.7% of truck crashes, vs 40.9% for New Jersey.
More truck crashes happen at 9–10 am than at any other hour (8.2%).
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 2.5% of truck crashes, compared with 3.3% in New Jersey.
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks within 10 miles of Plainfield is I-95, with 10 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. After it: I-78 (6), US-1 (6) and I-287 (4).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 169 crashes, 3.1% of the total, against 3.6% across New Jersey.
Garbage-truck crashes peak in September (11% of them).
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 1.3, vs 1.1 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for Plainfield fleets
- Review driver schedules for October, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Where you can, review stops along I-95; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- Waste haulers: September is the peak month for garbage-truck crashes in Union County.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
About the data
Crash counts come from the FMCSA crash file (police-reported crashes involving trucks over 10,000 lb); fatal-crash locations come from NHTSA FARS. Text on this page states only what these numbers show.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Union County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-95 | 10 |
| I-78 | 6 |
| US-1 | 6 |
| I-287 | 4 |
| SR-28 | 3 |
| SR-440 | 3 |
| SR-24 | 2 |
| US-9 | 2 |
| 444 Gsp | 1 |
| Blair Rd | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Union County) |
|---|---|
| I-95, N.J. Turnpike | 1,041 |
| US-1 | 473 |
| I-78 | 426 |
| I-95 | 249 |
| US-22 | 228 |
| Division St | 135 |
| I-95 Secondary | 126 |
| Nj 27 | 92 |
Plainfield at a glance
| Population | 56,507 |
| Land area | 6.0 sq mi |
| Density | 9,483 per sq mi |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Union 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 | 227 | — | 4.8 |
| 2000s | 530 | +134% | 4.8 |
| 2010s | 424 | -20% | 3.3 |
| 2020s | 470 | +11% | 4.0 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 227 a year in the 1990s and 470 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal large-truck crashes: 3.8 a year in 2016–19, 4.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Plainfield
How many truck crashes happen in Plainfield?
Union County has had 5,456 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 2,850 people and killing 55.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Plainfield?
I-95 had 10 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Plainfield since 2015, more than any other road.
When do most truck crashes happen in Plainfield?
Truck crashes in Union County peak in October, with 9.3% of the year's crashes.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Plainfield?
169 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Union County since 2015, 3.1% of all truck crashes.
How does Plainfield compare with New Jersey for truck crashes?
Per 100,000 residents, Union County has 78.1 truck crashes a year; New Jersey has 56.6.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Plainfield?
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.