Independence, OH truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Independence: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Independence 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 runs above Ohio on injuries per crash, garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice.
The headline for Independence: 2.0× yearly fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of Independence: 4.2 in 2016–19, 8.4 in 2020–24.
Overview
Since 2015, 4,613 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Cuyahoga County. They injured 2,960 people and killed 108.
That averages about 1 truck crash a day in fully reported years.
With 126 truck crashes reported in Independence since 2015, this page uses Cuyahoga County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in January (10.6% of the year) and are lowest in April (6.6%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 42.2% of truck crashes, against 42.3% across Ohio.
By time of day, 8–9 am stands out with 7.9% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 9.4% of truck crashes, compared with 7.8% in Ohio.
Where crashes happen
Within this area, I-480 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (9). It is followed by I-271 (6), I-80 (6) and I-77 (5).
Garbage & waste trucks
164 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 3.6% share (Ohio: 2.5%).
Garbage-truck crashes peak in January (14% of them).
Per 100 crashes, garbage trucks recorded 6.4 deaths compared with 2.3 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for Independence fleets
- Build extra time into January routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Where you can, review stops along I-480; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- For residential and commercial waste routes, look again at January schedules: garbage-truck crashes peak then.
- 24.0% of truck crashes happen between 6 and 10 am, above Ohio; consider earlier or later starts where possible.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 9.4% of truck crashes here, more than Ohio; schedule winter checks early.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
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.
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-480 | 9 |
| I-271 | 6 |
| I-80 | 6 |
| I-77 | 5 |
| I-90 | 4 |
| I-71 | 3 |
| SR-17 | 2 |
| SR-176 | 2 |
| US-322 | 2 |
| US-42 | 2 |
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 |
Independence at a glance
| Population | 7,518 |
| Land area | 9.5 sq mi |
| Density | 789 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 44131) | $100,594 |
| Median home value (ZIP 44131) | $270,220 |
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 Independence
How common are truck crashes in Independence?
Cuyahoga County has had 4,613 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 2,960 people and killing 108.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Independence?
I-480 had 9 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Independence since 2015, more than any other road.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Independence?
Truck crashes in Cuyahoga County peak in January, with 10.6% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Independence?
Since 2015, Cuyahoga County has reported 164 garbage-truck crashes, or 3.6% of its truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in Independence compare with Ohio?
The yearly rate is 31.9 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Cuyahoga County, vs 50.8 for Ohio.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Independence?
Use the free Route Planner: enter your stops to get a risk score, safer alternatives and the low bridges on your route.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.