Nanticoke, PA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Nanticoke: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Nanticoke and Luzerne County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Luzerne County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
3.7 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 2.0 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Luzerne County compares with Pennsylvania
Luzerne County against Pennsylvania and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Luzerne County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Luzerne County | Pennsylvania | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 74.6 | 57.2 | 49.7 | 1.3× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.0 | 2.6 | 3.4 | 23% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.46 | 0.47 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 3.0% | 3.6% | 2.3% | 17% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 10.4% | 9.1% | 6.2% | 1.2× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 21.9% | 24.5% | 23.7% | 11% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 17.8% | 19.0% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 43.0% | 42.7% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 26.9% | 24.2% | 24.8% | 1.1× the state |
Luzerne County has lower values than Pennsylvania for deaths per 100 crashes, garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am). It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr, on snow, slush or ice and after dark.
The headline for Luzerne County: December garbage-truck crashes peak in December (17% of the year's total).
Overview
Since 2015, 2,881 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Luzerne County. They injured 1,313 people and killed 56.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly 1 truck crash every day.
With 15 truck crashes reported in Nanticoke since 2015, this page uses Luzerne County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
December has the most truck crashes, 9.3% of the yearly total, while November has the fewest (7.0%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 43.0% of truck crashes, vs 42.7% for Pennsylvania.
By time of day, 3–4 pm stands out with 7.4% of truck crashes.
10.4% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 9.1% across Pennsylvania.
Where crashes happen
I-81 leads within 10 miles of Nanticoke with 4 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. After it: SR-2007 (2), SR-0239 (1) and SR-2004 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
82 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 2.8% share (Pennsylvania: 3.6%).
The most garbage-truck crashes happen in December (17%).
Per 100 crashes, garbage trucks recorded 3.7 deaths compared with 2.0 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for Nanticoke fleets
- Build extra time into December routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Where you can, review stops along I-81; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in December; review collection routes for that month.
- 10.4% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice, above Pennsylvania; plan winter equipment checks before the season.
- 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 Luzerne County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-81 | 4 |
| SR-2007 | 2 |
| SR-0239 | 1 |
| SR-2004 | 1 |
| Ssr-2007 E Northampton St | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Luzerne County) |
|---|---|
| I-0081 | 818 |
| I-0080 | 562 |
| SR-0309 | 167 |
| I-7476 | 113 |
| SR-0315 | 104 |
| SR-0093 | 95 |
| SR-0924 | 86 |
| SR-0011 | 75 |
Nanticoke at a glance
| Population | 10,730 |
| Land area | 3.5 sq mi |
| Density | 3,104 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 18634) | $61,439 |
| Median home value (ZIP 18634) | $111,024 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Luzerne 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 | 147 | — | 4.4 |
| 2000s | 194 | +32% | 4.6 |
| 2010s | 182 | -6% | 3.2 |
| 2020s | 257 | +41% | 3.8 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 147 a year in the 1990s and 257 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 2.5 a year in 2016–19 and 3.8 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Nanticoke
How common are truck crashes in Nanticoke?
Since 2015, 2,881 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Luzerne County (1,313 injured, 56 killed).
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in Nanticoke?
NHTSA data shows I-81 with 4 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Nanticoke since 2015, the highest of any road.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Nanticoke?
Truck crashes in Luzerne County peak in December, with 9.3% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Nanticoke?
Garbage trucks were involved in 82 reported crashes in Luzerne County since 2015 (2.8% of truck crashes).
How does Nanticoke compare with Pennsylvania for truck crashes?
Luzerne County records 74.6 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 57.2 across Pennsylvania.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Nanticoke?
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.