Lancaster, PA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Lancaster: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Lancaster and Lancaster County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Lancaster County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
2.4 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 2.4 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Lancaster County compares with Pennsylvania
Lancaster County against Pennsylvania and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Lancaster County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Lancaster County | Pennsylvania | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 63.9 | 57.2 | 49.7 | 1.1× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.4 | 2.6 | 3.4 | 8% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.44 | 0.47 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 4.1% | 3.6% | 2.3% | 1.2× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 5.5% | 9.1% | 6.2% | 39% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 27.0% | 24.5% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 15.4% | 19.0% | 13.8% | 19% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 40.3% | 42.7% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 19.2% | 24.2% | 24.8% | 21% below the state |
Lancaster County has lower values than Pennsylvania for deaths per 100 crashes, on snow, slush or ice and in rain, sleet or snow. It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr, garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am).
Lancaster at a glance: US-30 6 fatal truck crashes since 2015, more than any other road within 10 miles of Lancaster.
Overview
Lancaster County has recorded 4,274 truck crashes since 2015, with 1,880 people injured and 104 killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about 1 truck crash a day.
With 161 truck crashes reported in Lancaster since 2015, this page uses Lancaster County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
October has the most truck crashes, 10.7% of the yearly total, while December has the fewest (7.3%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 40.3% of truck crashes, vs 42.7% for Pennsylvania.
By time of day, 7–8 am stands out with 7.8% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 5.5% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Pennsylvania: 9.1%).
Where crashes happen
US-30 leads within 10 miles of Lancaster with 6 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. After it: SR-72 (3), US-222 (3) and SR-0072 (2).
Garbage & waste trucks
174 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 4.1% share (Pennsylvania: 3.6%).
Their busiest month is January, with 13% of garbage-truck crashes.
They recorded 2.4 deaths per 100 crashes, against 2.4 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for Lancaster fleets
- Review driver schedules for October, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Look at alternatives to US-30 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- For residential and commercial waste routes, look again at January schedules: garbage-truck crashes peak then.
- Morning starts matter: 27.0% of truck crashes fall between 6 and 10 am, higher than Pennsylvania.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
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 Lancaster County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-30 | 6 |
| SR-72 | 3 |
| US-222 | 3 |
| SR-0072 | 2 |
| Ironville Pk | 1 |
| Junction Rd | 1 |
| SR-0272 | 1 |
| SR-0501 | 1 |
| SR-283 | 1 |
| SR-30 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Lancaster County) |
|---|---|
| SR-0030 | 693 |
| SR-0222 | 441 |
| I-6000 | 350 |
| SR-0300 | 257 |
| SR-0272 | 178 |
| SR-0072 | 147 |
| SR-0023 | 146 |
| SR-0322 | 130 |
Lancaster at a glance
| Population | 58,441 |
| Land area | 7.2 sq mi |
| Density | 8,086 per sq mi |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Lancaster 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 | 274 | — | 8.3 |
| 2000s | 275 | +1% | 6.5 |
| 2010s | 287 | +4% | 6.9 |
| 2020s | 378 | +32% | 8.6 |
In the 1990s about 274 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 378. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal large-truck crashes: 7.2 a year in 2016–19, 8.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Lancaster
How many truck crashes happen in Lancaster?
4,274 truck crashes have been reported in Lancaster County since 2015, with 104 deaths and 1,880 injuries.
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in Lancaster?
NHTSA data shows US-30 with 6 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Lancaster since 2015, the highest of any road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Lancaster?
October has the most truck crashes in Lancaster County, 10.7% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Lancaster?
Garbage trucks were involved in 174 reported crashes in Lancaster County since 2015 (4.1% of truck crashes).
What is the truck crash rate in Lancaster compared with Pennsylvania?
The yearly rate is 63.9 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Lancaster County, vs 57.2 for Pennsylvania.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Lancaster?
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.