ZIP 01852 (Lowell, MA) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 01852: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Middlesex 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
1.2 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 1.7 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Middlesex County compares with Massachusetts
Middlesex County against Massachusetts and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Middlesex County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Middlesex County | Massachusetts | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 23.2 | 22.9 | 49.7 | same |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 1.7 | 2.0 | 3.4 | 15% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.41 | 0.46 | 0.49 | 11% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 5.7% | 5.3% | 2.3% | 1.1× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 6.2% | 6.6% | 6.2% | 7% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 30.4% | 27.3% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 11.8% | 13.2% | 13.8% | 10% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 42.4% | 41.9% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 17.5% | 19.2% | 24.8% | 9% below the state |
Middlesex County has lower values than Massachusetts for deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and on snow, slush or ice. Where it is higher: garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am).
ZIP 01852 at a glance: I-495 7 fatal truck crashes since 2015, more than any other road within 10 miles of ZIP 01852.
Overview
Since 2015, 4,505 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Middlesex County. They injured 1,863 people and killed 73.
That averages about 1 truck crash a day in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in January (9.5% of the year) and are lowest in April (6.9%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 42.4% of truck crashes, vs 41.9% for Massachusetts.
By time of day, 8–9 am stands out with 9.1% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 6.2% of truck crashes, compared with 6.6% in Massachusetts.
Where crashes happen
Within this area, I-495 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (7). After it: SR-110 (3), I-93 (2) and SR-125 (2).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 255 crashes, 5.7% of the total, against 5.3% across Massachusetts.
The most garbage-truck crashes happen in November (12%).
Per 100 crashes, garbage trucks recorded 1.2 deaths compared with 1.7 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for ZIP 01852 fleets
- Review driver schedules for January, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Check whether your routes use I-495, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- For residential and commercial waste routes, look again at November schedules: garbage-truck crashes peak then.
- Morning starts matter: 30.4% of truck crashes fall between 6 and 10 am, higher than Massachusetts.
- 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 Middlesex County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-495 | 7 |
| SR-110 | 3 |
| I-93 | 2 |
| SR-125 | 2 |
| Bridge St | 1 |
| Broadway Rd | 1 |
| Elm St | 1 |
| Route 110 | 1 |
| SR-128 | 1 |
| SR-38 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Middlesex County) |
|---|---|
| Main St | 52 |
| Rte 495 | 24 |
| Washington St | 19 |
| Ballardvale St | 19 |
| Main Street | 16 |
| Boston Post Rd | 16 |
| Rte 90 E X 123 | 15 |
| Lowell St | 13 |
ZIP 01852 at a glance
| Population | 37,144 |
| Density | 2,884 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $80,906 |
| Median home value | $424,218 |
| Home ownership | 44% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Middlesex 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 | 107 | — | 5.5 |
| 2000s | 284 | +165% | 4.7 |
| 2010s | 398 | +40% | 4.5 |
| 2020s | 406 | +2% | 7.0 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 107 to 406. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 4.2 a year in 2016–19 and 7.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 01852
How many truck accidents are there in ZIP 01852?
Middlesex County has had 4,505 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 1,863 people and killing 73.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in ZIP 01852?
NHTSA data shows I-495 with 7 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 01852 since 2015, the highest of any road.
Which month has the most truck crashes in ZIP 01852?
The worst month is January: 9.5% of truck crashes in Middlesex County happen then.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in ZIP 01852?
255 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Middlesex County since 2015, 5.7% of all truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in ZIP 01852 compare with Massachusetts?
Middlesex County records 23.2 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 22.9 across Massachusetts.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in ZIP 01852?
Paste your stops into the free CurbWaste Route Planner: it scores your route against fatal-crash locations, suggests safer alternatives and flags low bridges.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.