Chatham, NY truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Chatham: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Chatham and Columbia County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Columbia County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
9 of 366 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Columbia County compares with New York State
Columbia County against New York State and the US, 2015–2022 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Columbia County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2022) | Columbia County | New York State | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 68.0 | 28.0 | 49.7 | 2.4× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.0 | 2.0 | 3.4 | 1.5× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.49 | 0.73 | 0.49 | 33% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.4% | 3.6% | 2.3% | 31% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 16.5% | 9.4% | 6.2% | 1.7× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 23.5% | 25.1% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 23.5% | 17.9% | 13.8% | 1.3× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 46.0% | 41.8% | 41.9% | 1.1× the state |
| After dark | 16.5% | 22.1% | 24.8% | 26% below the state |
Compared with New York, Columbia County is lower on injuries per crash, garbage-truck share and after dark. It runs above New York on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and on snow, slush or ice.
What stands out in Columbia County: 16.5% of truck crashes happened on snow, slush or ice, vs 9.4% in New York.
Overview
Police reported 366 crashes involving commercial trucks in Columbia County since 2015: 184 people were injured and 12 were killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 9 days.
Only 1 truck crash was reported in Chatham since 2015; patterns below come from Columbia County as a whole.
96% of truck crash reports in Columbia County since 2015 leave the city field blank; place counts include only reports that name the place.
When crashes happen
December has the most truck crashes, 11.2% of the yearly total, while May has the fewest (4.9%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 46.0% of truck crashes, against 41.8% across New York.
More truck crashes happen at 10–11 am than at any other hour (9.3%).
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 16.5% of truck crashes, compared with 9.4% in New York.
Where crashes happen
Roads with fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Chatham since 2015: I-90 (3) and SR-22 (1). No single road stands out.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 9 crashes, 2.5% of the total, against 3.6% across New York.
Route planning tips for Chatham fleets
- Plan December schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Columbia County.
- 16.5% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice, above New York; plan winter equipment checks before the season.
- 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.
Reporting was incomplete in 2023, 2024 and 2025, so those years are greyed out and left out of rates and comparisons.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Columbia County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-90 | 3 |
| SR-22 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Columbia County) |
|---|---|
| I-90 | 2 |
| Crawford Ln | 1 |
| Other | 1 |
| Rte 66 | 1 |
| Rte 9H 23 | 1 |
Chatham at a glance
| Population | 1,547 |
| Land area | 1.2 sq mi |
| Density | 1,251 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 12037) | $89,844 |
| Median home value (ZIP 12037) | $353,619 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Columbia 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 | 23 | — | 1.4 |
| 2000s | 28 | +21% | 1.6 |
| 2010s | 37 | +32% | 1.0 |
| 2020s | 37 | +2% | 1.0 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 23 a year in the 1990s and 37 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal large-truck crashes: 1.8 a year in 2016–19, 1.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Chatham
How many truck crashes happen in Chatham?
366 truck crashes have been reported in Columbia County since 2015, with 12 deaths and 184 injuries.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Chatham?
The worst month is December: 11.2% of truck crashes in Columbia County happen then.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Chatham?
Since 2015, Columbia County has reported 9 garbage-truck crashes, or 2.5% of its truck crashes.
How does Chatham compare with New York for truck crashes?
The yearly rate is 68.0 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Columbia County, vs 28.0 for New York.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Chatham?
Paste your stops into the free CurbWaste Route Planner: it scores your route against fatal-crash locations, suggests safer alternatives and flags low bridges.
Crash reporting to FMCSA was incomplete in 2023, 2024 and 2025; those years are greyed out and left out of rates. 2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.