Cleveland Heights, OH truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Cleveland Heights: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Cleveland Heights and Cuyahoga County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Cuyahoga County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
6.4 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 2.3 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Cuyahoga County compares with Ohio
Cuyahoga County against Ohio and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Cuyahoga County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Cuyahoga County | Ohio | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 31.9 | 50.8 | 49.7 | 37% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.3 | 3.1 | 3.4 | 26% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.64 | 0.50 | 0.49 | 1.3× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 3.6% | 2.5% | 2.3% | 1.4× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 9.4% | 7.8% | 6.2% | 1.2× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 24.0% | 21.4% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 19.4% | 18.9% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 42.2% | 42.3% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 21.6% | 25.8% | 24.8% | 16% below the state |
Cuyahoga County sits below Ohio on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and after dark. It stands out for higher injuries per crash, garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice.
The headline for Cleveland Heights: I-90 10 fatal truck crashes since 2015, more than any other road within 10 miles of Cleveland Heights.
Overview
Cuyahoga County has recorded 4,613 truck crashes since 2015, with 2,960 people injured and 108 killed.
That averages about 1 truck crash a day in fully reported years.
With 35 truck crashes reported in Cleveland Heights since 2015, this page uses Cuyahoga County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
The worst month is January with 10.6% of truck crashes; the quietest is April at 6.6%.
The five winter months (November to March) hold 42.2% of truck crashes, against 42.3% across Ohio.
The busiest hour is 8–9 am, with 7.9% of truck crashes.
9.4% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 7.8% across Ohio.
Where crashes happen
Within this area, I-90 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (10). It is followed by I-271 (7), I-480 (5) and I-77 (4).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 164 of the truck crashes here, or 3.6%, compared with 2.5% in Ohio.
The most garbage-truck crashes happen in January (14%).
Per 100 crashes, garbage trucks recorded 6.4 deaths compared with 2.3 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for Cleveland Heights fleets
- Review driver schedules for January, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Check whether your routes use I-90, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in January; review collection routes for that month.
- Morning starts matter: 24.0% of truck crashes fall between 6 and 10 am, higher than Ohio.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 9.4% of truck crashes here, more than Ohio; schedule winter checks early.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
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.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Cuyahoga County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-90 | 10 |
| I-271 | 7 |
| I-480 | 5 |
| I-77 | 4 |
| US-322 | 3 |
| SR-176 | 2 |
| CR-13 Woodland Ave | 1 |
| CR-23 Cedar Rd | 1 |
| CR-279 Bringham Rd | 1 |
| CR-342 Hayden Rd. | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Cuyahoga County) |
|---|---|
| Ir 90 | 551 |
| Ir 480 | 399 |
| Ir 80 | 326 |
| Ir 271 | 228 |
| Ir 77 | 185 |
| Ir 71 | 159 |
| Broadway Av | 81 |
| US-422 | 55 |
Cleveland Heights at a glance
| Population | 44,064 |
| Land area | 8.1 sq mi |
| Density | 5,464 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 44118) | $77,555 |
| Median home value (ZIP 44118) | $224,166 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Cuyahoga 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 | 45 | — | 6.7 |
| 2000s | 272 | +504% | 5.6 |
| 2010s | 419 | +54% | 5.4 |
| 2020s | 328 | -22% | 9.2 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 45 to 328. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. NHTSA counts 6.5 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 9.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Cleveland Heights
How many truck accidents are there in Cleveland Heights?
4,613 truck crashes have been reported in Cuyahoga County since 2015, with 108 deaths and 2,960 injuries.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Cleveland Heights?
I-90 had 10 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Cleveland Heights since 2015, more than any other road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Cleveland Heights?
January has the most truck crashes in Cuyahoga County, 10.6% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Cleveland Heights?
164 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Cuyahoga County since 2015, 3.6% of all truck crashes.
How does Cleveland Heights compare with Ohio for truck crashes?
Per 100,000 residents, Cuyahoga County has 31.9 truck crashes a year; Ohio has 50.8.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Cleveland Heights?
Paste your stops into the free CurbWaste Route Planner: it scores your route against fatal-crash locations, suggests safer alternatives and flags low bridges.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.