Onondaga County, NY truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Onondaga 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
1.5 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 1.3 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Onondaga County compares with New York State
Onondaga 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 Onondaga County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2022) | Onondaga County | New York State | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 45.3 | 28.0 | 49.7 | 1.6× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 1.3 | 2.0 | 3.4 | 35% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.50 | 0.73 | 0.49 | 32% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 4.0% | 3.6% | 2.3% | 1.1× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 19.9% | 9.4% | 6.2% | 2.1× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 27.2% | 25.1% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 28.4% | 17.9% | 13.8% | 1.6× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 47.3% | 41.8% | 41.9% | 1.1× the state |
| After dark | 21.8% | 22.1% | 24.8% | same |
Compared with New York, Onondaga County is lower on deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash. It runs above New York on crashes per 100k residents / yr, garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice.
Onondaga County at a glance: 19.9% on snowy, slushy or icy roads, against 9.4% across New York.
Overview
Since 2015, 1,848 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Onondaga County. They injured 947 people and killed 28.
That averages about one truck crash every 2 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
January has the most truck crashes, 12.0% of the yearly total, while April has the fewest (5.9%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 47.3% of truck crashes, vs 41.8% for New York.
The busiest hour is 7–8 am, with 7.8% of truck crashes.
19.9% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 9.4% across New York.
Where crashes happen
Within this area, I-81 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (5). After it: US-20 (3), I-90 (2) and Aspen Springs Dr (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 73 crashes, 4.0% of the total, against 3.6% across New York.
The most garbage-truck crashes happen in October (14%).
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 1.5, vs 1.3 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for Onondaga County fleets
- Plan January schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Onondaga County.
- Check whether your routes use I-81, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- Waste haulers: October is the peak month for garbage-truck crashes in Onondaga County.
- Morning starts matter: 27.2% of truck crashes fall between 6 and 10 am, higher than New York.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 19.9% of truck crashes here, more than New York; schedule winter checks early.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
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, 2024 and 2025; rates and comparisons skip those years.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Onondaga County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Onondaga County) |
|---|---|
| I-81 | 5 |
| US-20 | 3 |
| I-90 | 2 |
| Aspen Springs Dr | 1 |
| CR-41 | 1 |
| CR-45 | 1 |
| CR-45 7Th N St | 1 |
| Comstock Ave | 1 |
| E Molloy Rd | 1 |
| I-690 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Onondaga County) |
|---|---|
| I-90 | 3 |
| Cherry Valley Turnpike | 2 |
| Sysco Drwy | 2 |
| I - 90 Exit 36 | 1 |
| I 81 Sb To I 90 | 1 |
| I-81 | 1 |
| I481 To I90 | 1 |
| Ifo 4900 Route 80 | 1 |
Onondaga County at a glance
| Population | 469,812 |
| Land area | 778.4 sq mi |
| Density | 604 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $80,277 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Onondaga 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 | 103 | — | 2.6 |
| 2000s | 121 | +18% | 2.2 |
| 2010s | 194 | +60% | 3.3 |
| 2020s | 187 | -4% | 1.2 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 103 a year in the 1990s and 187 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 3.5 a year in 2016–19 and 1.2 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in Onondaga County
ZIP codes in Onondaga County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Onondaga County
How many truck accidents are there in Onondaga County?
Onondaga County has had 1,848 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 947 people and killing 28.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in Onondaga County?
Since 2015, I-81 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes in Onondaga County: 5.
When do most truck crashes happen in Onondaga County?
Truck crashes in Onondaga County peak in January, with 12.0% of the year's crashes.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Onondaga County?
73 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Onondaga County since 2015, 4.0% of all truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in Onondaga County compare with New York?
The yearly rate is 45.3 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Onondaga County, vs 28.0 for New York.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Onondaga 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.