Wilkes-Barre, PA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Wilkes-Barre: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Wilkes-Barre 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 sits below Pennsylvania on 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 more garbage-truck crashes happen in December than in any other month (17%).
Overview
Luzerne County has recorded 2,881 truck crashes since 2015, with 1,313 people injured and 56 killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly 1 truck crash every day.
Only 11 truck crashes were reported in Wilkes-Barre since 2015; patterns below come from Luzerne County as a whole.
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.
More truck crashes happen at 3–4 pm than at any other hour (7.4%).
Road surface: 10.4% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Pennsylvania: 9.1%).
Where crashes happen
I-81 leads within 10 miles of Wilkes-Barre with 3 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. After it: SR-2007 (2), SR-1044 (1) and SR-2004 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 82 of the truck crashes here, or 2.8%, compared with 3.6% in 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 Wilkes-Barre fleets
- Plan December schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Luzerne County.
- Where you can, review stops along I-81; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- For residential and commercial waste routes, look again at December schedules: garbage-truck crashes peak then.
- With 10.4% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above Pennsylvania), plan winter equipment 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 Luzerne County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-81 | 3 |
| SR-2007 | 2 |
| SR-1044 | 1 |
| SR-2004 | 1 |
| SR-437 | 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 |
Wilkes-Barre at a glance
| Population | 44,661 |
| Land area | 6.8 sq mi |
| Density | 6,522 per sq mi |
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 Wilkes-Barre
How common are truck crashes in Wilkes-Barre?
2,881 truck crashes have been reported in Luzerne County since 2015, with 56 deaths and 1,313 injuries.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in Wilkes-Barre?
I-81 had 3 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Wilkes-Barre since 2015, more than any other road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Wilkes-Barre?
December has the most truck crashes in Luzerne County, 9.3% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Wilkes-Barre?
Since 2015, Luzerne County has reported 82 garbage-truck crashes, or 2.8% of its truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in Wilkes-Barre compared with Pennsylvania?
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 Wilkes-Barre?
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.