Atlas, PA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Atlas: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Atlas and Northumberland County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Northumberland County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
19 of 607 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Northumberland County compares with Pennsylvania
Northumberland County against Pennsylvania and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Northumberland County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Northumberland County | Pennsylvania | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 56.9 | 57.2 | 49.7 | same |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.6 | 2.6 | 3.4 | 1.4× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.45 | 0.47 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 3.2% | 3.6% | 2.3% | 11% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 11.2% | 9.1% | 6.2% | 1.2× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 22.4% | 24.5% | 23.7% | 9% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 21.3% | 19.0% | 13.8% | 1.1× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 42.4% | 42.7% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 26.3% | 24.2% | 24.8% | 1.1× the state |
Compared with Pennsylvania, Northumberland County is lower on garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am). It runs above Pennsylvania on deaths per 100 crashes, on snow, slush or ice and in rain, sleet or snow.
The headline for Atlas: I-81 most fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of Atlas: 3 since 2015.
Overview
Northumberland County has recorded 607 truck crashes since 2015, with 273 people injured and 20 killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 7 days.
Atlas had 0 reported truck crashes since 2015, too few for reliable patterns, so the charts and findings on this page use Northumberland County numbers.
When crashes happen
June has the most truck crashes, 12.4% of the yearly total, while April has the fewest (5.6%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 42.4% of truck crashes, against 42.7% across Pennsylvania.
More truck crashes happen at 1–2 pm than at any other hour (8.4%).
Road surface: 11.2% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Pennsylvania: 9.1%).
Where crashes happen
I-81 leads within 10 miles of Atlas with 3 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. Next come SR-0901 (2), SR-487 (2) and Keystone Blvd (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 19 of the truck crashes here, or 3.1%, compared with 3.6% in Pennsylvania.
Route planning tips for Atlas fleets
- Review driver schedules for June, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Check whether your routes use I-81, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- 11.2% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice, above Pennsylvania; plan winter equipment checks before the season.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
About the data
Crash counts come from the FMCSA crash file (police-reported crashes involving trucks over 10,000 lb); fatal-crash locations come from NHTSA FARS. Text on this page states only what these numbers show.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Northumberland County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-81 | 3 |
| SR-0901 | 2 |
| SR-487 | 2 |
| Keystone Blvd | 1 |
| SR-2044 | 1 |
| SR-4002 | 1 |
| SR-4020 | 1 |
| SR-54 | 1 |
| SR-901 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Northumberland County) |
|---|---|
| I-0080 | 100 |
| SR-0054 | 91 |
| SR-0147 | 63 |
| SR-0011 | 46 |
| SR-0061 | 42 |
| I-0180 | 32 |
| SR-0254 | 32 |
| SR-0405 | 19 |
Atlas at a glance
| Land area | 0.3 sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 17851) | $53,637 |
| Median home value (ZIP 17851) | $77,458 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Northumberland 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 | 48 | — | 2.0 |
| 2000s | 39 | -20% | 2.0 |
| 2010s | 38 | -1% | 1.5 |
| 2020s | 56 | +45% | 1.8 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 48 a year in the 1990s and 56 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal large-truck crashes: 2.0 a year in 2016–19, 1.8 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Atlas
How many truck crashes happen in Atlas?
Since 2015, 607 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Northumberland County (273 injured, 20 killed).
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in Atlas?
NHTSA data shows I-81 with 3 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Atlas since 2015, the highest of any road.
When do most truck crashes happen in Atlas?
Truck crashes in Northumberland County peak in June, with 12.4% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Atlas?
Garbage trucks were involved in 19 reported crashes in Northumberland County since 2015 (3.1% of truck crashes).
How does Atlas compare with Pennsylvania for truck crashes?
The yearly rate is 56.9 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Northumberland County, vs 57.2 for Pennsylvania.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Atlas?
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.