ZIP 01226 (Dalton, MA) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 01226: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Berkshire County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
12 of 425 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Berkshire County compares with Massachusetts
Berkshire County against Massachusetts and the US, 2016–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Berkshire County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2016–2025) | Berkshire County | Massachusetts | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 29.6 | 22.9 | 49.7 | 1.3× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.4 | 2.0 | 3.4 | 1.2× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.39 | 0.46 | 0.49 | 15% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.6% | 5.3% | 2.3% | 51% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 18.4% | 6.6% | 6.2% | 2.8× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 20.7% | 27.3% | 23.7% | 24% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 24.4% | 13.2% | 13.8% | 1.9× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 44.4% | 41.9% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 20.7% | 19.2% | 24.8% | 1.1× the state |
Compared with Massachusetts, Berkshire County is lower on injuries per crash, garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am). It runs above Massachusetts on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and on snow, slush or ice.
What stands out in Berkshire County: 18.4% on snowy, slushy or icy roads, against 6.6% across Massachusetts.
Overview
Berkshire County has recorded 425 truck crashes since 2015, with 169 people injured and 11 killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 10 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
The worst month is January with 14.1% of truck crashes; the quietest is May at 5.6%.
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 44.4% of truck crashes, vs 41.9% for Massachusetts.
More truck crashes happen at 11 am–12 pm than at any other hour (9.4%).
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 18.4% of truck crashes, compared with 6.6% in Massachusetts.
Where crashes happen
Fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 01226 since 2015 were spread across roads: SR-9 (1) and South St (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 12 crashes, 2.8% of the total, against 5.3% across Massachusetts.
Route planning tips for ZIP 01226 fleets
- Plan January schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Berkshire County.
- With 18.4% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above Massachusetts), plan winter equipment checks early.
- 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.
Reporting to FMCSA was incomplete in 2015; rates and comparisons skip those years.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Berkshire County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-9 | 1 |
| South St | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Berkshire County) |
|---|---|
| Rte 90 W Mm 16 | 5 |
| South St | 5 |
| Cheshire Rd | 4 |
| Cold Spring Rd | 4 |
| Main St | 4 |
| State Rd | 3 |
| Rte 90 Wb Mm 19.8 | 3 |
| Rte 90 W Mm 0.6 | 3 |
ZIP 01226 at a glance
| Population | 6,256 |
| Density | 111 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $79,438 |
| Median home value | $302,304 |
| Home ownership | 71% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Berkshire 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 | 17 | — | 1.6 |
| 2000s | 38 | +118% | 1.1 |
| 2010s | 38 | +2% | 1.0 |
| 2020s | 39 | +1% | 0.8 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 17 a year in the 1990s and 39 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal large-truck crashes: 1.5 a year in 2016–19, 0.8 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 01226
How many truck crashes happen in ZIP 01226?
Since 2015, 425 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Berkshire County (169 injured, 11 killed).
When do most truck crashes happen in ZIP 01226?
The worst month is January: 14.1% of truck crashes in Berkshire County happen then.
Are garbage truck crashes common in ZIP 01226?
Since 2015, Berkshire County has reported 12 garbage-truck crashes, or 2.8% of its truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in ZIP 01226 compared with Massachusetts?
The yearly rate is 29.6 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Berkshire County, vs 22.9 for Massachusetts.
How can I plan a safer truck route in ZIP 01226?
The free Route Planner takes your stops and returns a route risk score, safer alternatives and low-bridge warnings.
Crash reporting to FMCSA was incomplete in 2015; those years are greyed out and left out of rates. 2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.