Essex County, NY truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Essex 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
4 of 239 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Essex County compares with New York State
Essex 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 Essex County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2022) | Essex County | New York State | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 71.4 | 28.0 | 49.7 | 2.6× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 1.0 | 2.0 | 3.4 | 50% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.38 | 0.73 | 0.49 | 48% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.4% | 3.6% | 2.3% | 60% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 30.9% | 9.4% | 6.2% | 3.3× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 27.1% | 25.1% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 37.1% | 17.9% | 13.8% | 2.1× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 52.9% | 41.8% | 41.9% | 1.3× the state |
| After dark | 26.2% | 22.1% | 24.8% | 1.2× the state |
Essex County has lower values than New York for deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share. It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr, on snow, slush or ice and morning rush (6–10 am).
Essex County at a glance: 30.9% on snowy, slushy or icy roads, against 9.4% across New York.
Overview
Police reported 239 crashes involving commercial trucks in Essex County since 2015: 85 people were injured and 4 were killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 14 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in February (13.4% of the year) and are lowest in July (3.8%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 52.9% of truck crashes, vs 41.8% for New York.
By time of day, 7–8 am stands out with 8.4% of truck crashes.
30.9% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 9.4% across New York.
Where crashes happen
Roads with fatal crashes involving a large truck in Essex County since 2015: I-87 (1) and SR-28N (1). No single road stands out.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 4 crashes, 1.7% of the total, against 3.6% across New York.
Route planning tips for Essex County fleets
- Plan February schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Essex County.
- The morning rush (6–10 am) holds 27.1% of truck crashes here, more than New York; adjust start times where you can.
- 30.9% 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.
Crash reporting for 2023, 2024 and 2025 is incomplete; those years are shown in grey and not used for rates.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Essex County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Essex County) |
|---|---|
| I-87 | 1 |
| SR-28N | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Essex County) |
|---|---|
| I-87 | 3 |
| SR-73 | 1 |
Essex County at a glance
| Population | 36,744 |
| Land area | 1,794.1 sq mi |
| Density | 20 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $72,973 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Essex 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 | 33 | — | 0.7 |
| 2000s | 30 | -7% | 1.1 |
| 2010s | 25 | -17% | 0.2 |
| 2020s | 26 | +4% | 0.4 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 33 to 26. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal large-truck crashes: 0.0 a year in 2016–19, 0.4 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in Essex County
ZIP codes in Essex County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Essex County
How common are truck crashes in Essex County?
Since 2015, 239 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Essex County (85 injured, 4 killed).
Which month has the most truck crashes in Essex County?
Truck crashes in Essex County peak in February, with 13.4% of the year's crashes.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Essex County?
Since 2015, Essex County has reported 4 garbage-truck crashes, or 1.7% of its truck crashes.
How does Essex County compare with New York for truck crashes?
Per 100,000 residents, Essex County has 71.4 truck crashes a year; New York has 28.0.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Essex County?
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, 2024 and 2025; those years are greyed out and left out of rates. 2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.