Scottdale, PA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Scottdale: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Scottdale and Westmoreland County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Westmoreland County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
2.2 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 2.5 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Westmoreland County compares with Pennsylvania
Westmoreland County against Pennsylvania and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Westmoreland County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Westmoreland County | Pennsylvania | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 58.7 | 57.2 | 49.7 | same |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.5 | 2.6 | 3.4 | same |
| Injuries per crash | 0.42 | 0.47 | 0.49 | 11% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 4.0% | 3.6% | 2.3% | 1.1× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 8.3% | 9.1% | 6.2% | 9% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 24.1% | 24.5% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 16.8% | 19.0% | 13.8% | 11% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 41.5% | 42.7% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 23.9% | 24.2% | 24.8% | same |
Westmoreland County has lower values than Pennsylvania for injuries per crash, on snow, slush or ice and in rain, sleet or snow. It runs above Pennsylvania on garbage-truck share.
The headline for Westmoreland County: September garbage-truck crashes peak in September (16% of the year's total).
Overview
Since 2015, 2,418 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Westmoreland County. They injured 1,010 people and killed 56.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 2 days.
With 3 truck crashes reported in Scottdale since 2015, this page uses Westmoreland County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
January has the most truck crashes, 9.9% of the yearly total, while March has the fewest (6.9%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 41.5% of truck crashes, against 42.7% across Pennsylvania.
By time of day, 2–3 pm stands out with 7.9% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 8.3% of truck crashes, compared with 9.1% in Pennsylvania.
Where crashes happen
SR-31 leads within 10 miles of Scottdale with 3 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. It is followed by I-70 (2), I-76 (2) and SR-0031 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
91 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 3.8% share (Pennsylvania: 3.6%).
Their busiest month is September, with 16% of garbage-truck crashes.
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 2.2, vs 2.5 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for Scottdale fleets
- Plan January schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Westmoreland County.
- Where you can, review stops along SR-31; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- For residential and commercial waste routes, look again at September schedules: garbage-truck crashes peak then.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
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 Westmoreland County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-31 | 3 |
| I-70 | 2 |
| I-76 | 2 |
| SR-0031 | 1 |
| SR-1042 | 1 |
| SR-981 | 1 |
| SR-982 | 1 |
| US-119 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Westmoreland County) |
|---|---|
| I-6000 | 518 |
| I-0070 | 348 |
| SR-0022 | 261 |
| SR-0030 | 192 |
| SR-0066 | 101 |
| SR-0119 | 85 |
| SR-0031 | 68 |
| SR-0051 | 48 |
Scottdale at a glance
| Population | 4,329 |
| Land area | 1.2 sq mi |
| Density | 3,716 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 15683) | $51,913 |
| Median home value (ZIP 15683) | $147,284 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Westmoreland 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 | 193 | — | 5.5 |
| 2000s | 197 | +2% | 5.0 |
| 2010s | 170 | -14% | 4.8 |
| 2020s | 201 | +19% | 4.2 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 193 a year in the 1990s and 201 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. NHTSA counts 4.5 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 4.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Scottdale
How many truck accidents are there in Scottdale?
Since 2015, 2,418 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Westmoreland County (1,010 injured, 56 killed).
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Scottdale?
NHTSA data shows SR-31 with 3 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Scottdale since 2015, the highest of any road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Scottdale?
January has the most truck crashes in Westmoreland County, 9.9% of the yearly total.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Scottdale?
Since 2015, Westmoreland County has reported 91 garbage-truck crashes, or 3.8% of its truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in Scottdale compared with Pennsylvania?
Westmoreland County records 58.7 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 57.2 across Pennsylvania.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Scottdale?
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.