Independence, NJ truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Independence: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Independence and Warren County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Warren County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
0.0 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 2.0 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Warren County compares with New Jersey
Warren County against New Jersey and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Warren County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Warren County | New Jersey | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 102.7 | 56.6 | 49.7 | 1.8× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.0 | 1.6 | 3.4 | 1.2× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.53 | 0.58 | 0.49 | 9% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.9% | 3.6% | 2.3% | 20% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 9.1% | 3.3% | 6.2% | 2.7× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 19.8% | 26.0% | 23.7% | 24% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 24.2% | 13.7% | 13.8% | 1.8× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 43.4% | 40.9% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 26.5% | 19.9% | 24.8% | 1.3× the state |
Warren County sits below New Jersey on injuries per crash, garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am). It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and on snow, slush or ice.
The headline for Warren County: 9.1% share of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (New Jersey: 3.3%).
Overview
Police reported 1,292 crashes involving commercial trucks in Warren County since 2015: 670 people were injured and 29 were killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 3 days.
With 11 truck crashes reported in Independence since 2015, this page uses Warren County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
August has the most truck crashes, 10.3% of the yearly total, while May has the fewest (5.8%).
November through March accounts for 43.4% of truck crashes here, compared with 40.9% in New Jersey.
By time of day, 1–2 pm stands out with 7.5% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 9.1% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (New Jersey: 3.3%).
Where crashes happen
I-80 leads within 10 miles of Independence with 7 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. After it: US-206 (3), US-46 (2) and CR-517 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
39 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 3.0% share (New Jersey: 3.6%).
Garbage-truck crashes peak in March (15% of them).
They recorded 0.0 deaths per 100 crashes, against 2.0 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for Independence fleets
- Plan August schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Warren County.
- Check whether your routes use I-80, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- For residential and commercial waste routes, look again at March schedules: garbage-truck crashes peak then.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 9.1% of truck crashes here, more than New Jersey; schedule winter checks early.
- 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.
Reporting to FMCSA was incomplete in 2023; rates and comparisons skip those years.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Warren County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-80 | 7 |
| US-206 | 3 |
| US-46 | 2 |
| CR-517 | 1 |
| CR-519 Bridgeville Hope Rd | 1 |
| CR-521 Hope Blairstown Rd | 1 |
| CR-616 Knowlton Rd | 1 |
| CR-625 Bartley Rd | 1 |
| SR-31 | 1 |
| SR-57 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Warren County) |
|---|---|
| I-80 | 451 |
| I-78 | 208 |
| US-22 | 87 |
| Nj 31 | 60 |
| Nj 57 | 58 |
| I-80 Secondary | 56 |
| US-46 | 42 |
| SR-519 | 37 |
Independence at a glance
| Population | 5,651 |
| Land area | 19.8 sq mi |
| Density | 285 per sq mi |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Warren 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 | 42 | — | 2.2 |
| 2000s | 128 | +207% | 2.2 |
| 2010s | 125 | -3% | 1.5 |
| 2020s | 96 | -23% | 2.2 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 42 to 96. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. NHTSA counts 1.8 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 2.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Independence
How many truck crashes happen in Independence?
Since 2015, 1,292 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Warren County (670 injured, 29 killed).
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in Independence?
Since 2015, I-80 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Independence: 7.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Independence?
Truck crashes in Warren County peak in August, with 10.3% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Independence?
Since 2015, Warren County has reported 39 garbage-truck crashes, or 3.0% of its truck crashes.
How does Independence compare with New Jersey for truck crashes?
The yearly rate is 102.7 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Warren County, vs 56.6 for New Jersey.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Independence?
Use the free Route Planner: enter your stops to get a risk score, safer alternatives and the low bridges on your route.
Crash reporting to FMCSA was incomplete in 2023; those years are greyed out and left out of rates. 2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.