Potsdam, NY truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Potsdam: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Potsdam and St. Lawrence County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use St. Lawrence County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
8 of 357 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How St. Lawrence County compares with New York State
St. Lawrence 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 St. Lawrence County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2022) | St. Lawrence County | New York State | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 38.5 | 28.0 | 49.7 | 1.4× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 1.2 | 2.0 | 3.4 | 40% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.53 | 0.73 | 0.49 | 27% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.1% | 3.6% | 2.3% | 40% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 22.3% | 9.4% | 6.2% | 2.4× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 24.8% | 25.1% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 23.5% | 17.9% | 13.8% | 1.3× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 53.8% | 41.8% | 41.9% | 1.3× the state |
| After dark | 15.9% | 22.1% | 24.8% | 28% below the state |
Compared with New York, St. Lawrence County is lower on 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 in rain, sleet or snow.
What stands out in St. Lawrence County: 22.3% of truck crashes happened on snow, slush or ice, vs 9.4% in New York.
Overview
Police reported 357 crashes involving commercial trucks in St. Lawrence County since 2015: 186 people were injured and 15 were killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 9 days.
With 1 truck crash reported in Potsdam since 2015, this page uses St. Lawrence County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
96% of truck crash reports in St. Lawrence County since 2015 leave the city field blank; place counts include only reports that name the place.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in January (13.7% of the year) and are lowest in May (5.0%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 53.8% of truck crashes, against 41.8% across New York.
By time of day, 1–2 pm stands out with 10.1% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 22.3% of truck crashes, compared with 9.4% in New York.
Where crashes happen
Fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Potsdam since 2015 were spread across roads: SR-310 (2).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 8 crashes, 2.2% of the total, against 3.6% across New York.
Route planning tips for Potsdam fleets
- Plan January schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in St. Lawrence County.
- 22.3% 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 St. Lawrence County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-310 | 2 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (St. Lawrence County) |
|---|---|
| Cr 35 | 1 |
| E Orvis St | 1 |
| SR-37T | 1 |
| SR-68 | 1 |
| Us Rt 11 | 1 |
Potsdam at a glance
| Population | 8,162 |
| Land area | 4.9 sq mi |
| Density | 1,660 per sq mi |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in St. Lawrence 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 | 38 | — | 2.0 |
| 2000s | 32 | -16% | 1.5 |
| 2010s | 38 | +18% | 0.4 |
| 2020s | 37 | -2% | 1.4 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 38 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: 0.8 a year in 2016–19, 1.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Potsdam
How many truck accidents are there in Potsdam?
357 truck crashes have been reported in St. Lawrence County since 2015, with 15 deaths and 186 injuries.
When do most truck crashes happen in Potsdam?
January has the most truck crashes in St. Lawrence County, 13.7% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Potsdam?
Since 2015, St. Lawrence County has reported 8 garbage-truck crashes, or 2.2% of its truck crashes.
How does Potsdam compare with New York for truck crashes?
The yearly rate is 38.5 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in St. Lawrence County, vs 28.0 for New York.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Potsdam?
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, 2024 and 2025; those years are greyed out and left out of rates. 2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.