Ross Township, Luzerne County, PA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Ross Township, Luzerne County: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Ross Township, Luzerne County 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). Where it is higher: crashes per 100k residents / yr, on snow, slush or ice and after dark.
What stands out in Luzerne County: December more garbage-truck crashes happen in December than in any other month (17%).
Overview
Since 2015, 2,881 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Luzerne County. They injured 1,313 people and killed 56.
That averages about 1 truck crash a day in fully reported years.
With 7 truck crashes reported in Ross Township, Luzerne County since 2015, this page uses Luzerne County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
The worst month is December with 9.3% of truck crashes; the quietest is November at 7.0%.
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 43.0% of truck crashes, vs 42.7% for Pennsylvania.
The busiest hour is 3–4 pm, with 7.4% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 10.4% of truck crashes, compared with 9.1% in Pennsylvania.
Where crashes happen
Roads with fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Ross since 2015: SR-487 (1). No single road stands out.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 82 crashes, 2.8% of the total, against 3.6% across Pennsylvania.
The most garbage-truck crashes happen in December (17%).
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 3.7, vs 2.0 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for Ross Township, Luzerne County fleets
- Review driver schedules for December, the month with the most truck crashes.
- 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.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
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) |
|---|---|
| SR-487 | 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 |
Ross Township, Luzerne County at a glance
| Population | 2,782 |
| Land area | 43.4 sq mi |
| Density | 64 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 18656) | $76,804 |
| Median home value (ZIP 18656) | $231,744 |
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 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 147 to 257. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. 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 Ross Township, Luzerne County
How many truck crashes happen in Ross Township, Luzerne County?
2,881 truck crashes have been reported in Luzerne County since 2015, with 56 deaths and 1,313 injuries.
When do most truck crashes happen in Ross Township, Luzerne County?
December has the most truck crashes in Luzerne County, 9.3% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Ross Township, Luzerne County?
Garbage trucks were involved in 82 reported crashes in Luzerne County since 2015 (2.8% of truck crashes).
How does Ross Township, Luzerne County compare with Pennsylvania for truck crashes?
The yearly rate is 74.6 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Luzerne County, vs 57.2 for Pennsylvania.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Ross Township, Luzerne County?
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.