ZIP 01331 (Athol, MA) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 01331: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Worcester 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
3.5 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 1.7 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Worcester County compares with Massachusetts
Worcester County against Massachusetts and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Worcester County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Worcester County | Massachusetts | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 35.7 | 22.9 | 49.7 | 1.6× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 1.7 | 2.0 | 3.4 | 15% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.43 | 0.46 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 4.1% | 5.3% | 2.3% | 23% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 9.3% | 6.6% | 6.2% | 1.4× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 24.7% | 27.3% | 23.7% | 10% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 16.7% | 13.2% | 13.8% | 1.3× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 43.7% | 41.9% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 22.8% | 19.2% | 24.8% | 1.2× the state |
Compared with Massachusetts, Worcester County is lower on deaths per 100 crashes, garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am). It runs above Massachusetts on crashes per 100k residents / yr, on snow, slush or ice and in rain, sleet or snow.
What stands out in ZIP 01331: SR-140 3 fatal truck crashes since 2015, more than any other road within 10 miles of ZIP 01331.
Overview
Police reported 3,757 crashes involving commercial trucks in Worcester County since 2015: 1,623 people were injured and 63 were killed.
That averages about 1 truck crash a day in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in August (9.4% of the year) and are lowest in November (7.4%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 43.7% of truck crashes, against 41.9% across Massachusetts.
More truck crashes happen at 8–9 am than at any other hour (7.4%).
Road surface: 9.3% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Massachusetts: 6.6%).
Where crashes happen
Within this area, SR-140 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (3). It is followed by Coleman St (1) and SR-2 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 148 crashes, 3.9% of the total, against 5.3% across Massachusetts.
Garbage-truck crashes peak in January (14% of them).
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 3.5, vs 1.7 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for ZIP 01331 fleets
- Plan August schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Worcester County.
- Check whether your routes use SR-140, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- Waste haulers: January is the peak month for garbage-truck crashes in Worcester County.
- With 9.3% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above Massachusetts), plan winter equipment checks early.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
About the data
Sources: the FMCSA crash file for all reported truck crashes and NHTSA FARS for fatal crashes with a large truck. Every statement here comes straight from those numbers.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Worcester County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-140 | 3 |
| Coleman St | 1 |
| SR-2 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Worcester County) |
|---|---|
| Main St | 54 |
| Cambridge St | 49 |
| Hammond St | 26 |
| Southwest Cutoff | 26 |
| Turnpike Rd | 23 |
| Webster St | 19 |
| E Main St | 13 |
| Southbridge St | 12 |
ZIP 01331 at a glance
| Population | 13,922 |
| Density | 99 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $72,181 |
| Median home value | $281,968 |
| Home ownership | 75% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Worcester 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 | 76 | — | 6.7 |
| 2000s | 220 | +190% | 4.4 |
| 2010s | 295 | +34% | 5.3 |
| 2020s | 352 | +19% | 4.8 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 76 a year in the 1990s and 352 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal large-truck crashes: 5.2 a year in 2016–19, 4.8 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 01331
How many truck crashes happen in ZIP 01331?
3,757 truck crashes have been reported in Worcester County since 2015, with 63 deaths and 1,623 injuries.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in ZIP 01331?
NHTSA data shows SR-140 with 3 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 01331 since 2015, the highest of any road.
When do most truck crashes happen in ZIP 01331?
The worst month is August: 9.4% of truck crashes in Worcester County happen then.
Are garbage truck crashes common in ZIP 01331?
148 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Worcester County since 2015, 3.9% of all truck crashes.
How does ZIP 01331 compare with Massachusetts for truck crashes?
The yearly rate is 35.7 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Worcester County, vs 22.9 for Massachusetts.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in ZIP 01331?
The free Route Planner takes your stops and returns a route risk score, safer alternatives and low-bridge warnings.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.