Cortland County, NY truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Cortland County: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
8 of 451 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Cortland County compares with New York State
Cortland County against New York State and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Cortland County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Cortland County | New York State | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 103.5 | 28.0 | 49.7 | 3.7× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 1.2 | 2.0 | 3.4 | 40% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.33 | 0.73 | 0.49 | 55% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.9% | 3.6% | 2.3% | 47% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 35.5% | 9.4% | 6.2% | 3.8× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 27.3% | 25.1% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 42.3% | 17.9% | 13.8% | 2.4× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 56.8% | 41.8% | 41.9% | 1.4× the state |
| After dark | 32.5% | 22.1% | 24.8% | 1.5× the state |
Compared with New York, Cortland County is lower on deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share. It runs above New York on crashes per 100k residents / yr, on snow, slush or ice and morning rush (6–10 am).
Cortland County at a glance: 35.5% on snowy, slushy or icy roads, against 9.4% across New York.
Overview
Cortland County has recorded 451 truck crashes since 2015, with 154 people injured and 6 killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 8 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in January (16.0% of the year) and are lowest in May (3.5%).
November through March accounts for 56.8% of truck crashes here, compared with 41.8% in New York.
By time of day, 1–2 pm stands out with 8.6% of truck crashes.
35.5% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 9.4% across New York.
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks in Cortland County is I-81, with 3 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. Next come SR-281 (1) and SR-90 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 8 of the truck crashes here, or 1.8%, compared with 3.6% in New York.
Route planning tips for Cortland County fleets
- Review driver schedules for January, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Look at alternatives to I-81 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- 27.3% of truck crashes happen between 6 and 10 am, above New York; consider earlier or later starts where possible.
- 35.5% 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
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 and 2024; rates and comparisons skip those years.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Cortland County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Cortland County) |
|---|---|
| I-81 | 3 |
| SR-281 | 1 |
| SR-90 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Cortland County) |
|---|---|
| SR-81 | 2 |
| Exit 50 I 81 Nb To Sr 41 | 1 |
| Sr 281 To I 81 | 1 |
Cortland County at a glance
| Population | 45,945 |
| Land area | 498.8 sq mi |
| Density | 92 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $70,083 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Cortland 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 | 34 | — | 1.3 |
| 2000s | 41 | +21% | 1.0 |
| 2010s | 49 | +19% | 0.8 |
| 2020s | 44 | -10% | 0.4 |
In the 1990s about 34 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 44. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. NHTSA counts 0.8 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 0.4 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in Cortland County
ZIP codes in Cortland County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Cortland County
How common are truck crashes in Cortland County?
451 truck crashes have been reported in Cortland County since 2015, with 6 deaths and 154 injuries.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in Cortland County?
I-81 had 3 fatal crashes involving a large truck in Cortland County since 2015, more than any other road.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Cortland County?
January has the most truck crashes in Cortland County, 16.0% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Cortland County?
Since 2015, Cortland County has reported 8 garbage-truck crashes, or 1.8% of its truck crashes.
How does Cortland County compare with New York for truck crashes?
The yearly rate is 103.5 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Cortland County, vs 28.0 for New York.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Cortland County?
The free Route Planner takes your stops and returns a route risk score, safer alternatives and low-bridge warnings.
Crash reporting to FMCSA was incomplete in 2023 and 2024; those years are greyed out and left out of rates. 2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.