ZIP 01860 (Merrimac, MA) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 01860: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Essex 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
0.8 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 1.7 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Essex County compares with Massachusetts
Essex County against Massachusetts and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Essex County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Essex County | Massachusetts | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 18.6 | 22.9 | 49.7 | 19% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 1.7 | 2.0 | 3.4 | 15% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.46 | 0.46 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 7.7% | 5.3% | 2.3% | 1.5× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 6.6% | 6.6% | 6.2% | same |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 26.8% | 27.3% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 12.6% | 13.2% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 43.3% | 41.9% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 19.9% | 19.2% | 24.8% | same |
Essex County sits below Massachusetts on crashes per 100k residents / yr and deaths per 100 crashes. It stands out for higher garbage-truck share.
The headline for Essex County: 1 in 13 of truck crashes here involve garbage trucks: 7.7%, vs 5.3% in Massachusetts.
Overview
Police reported 1,776 crashes involving commercial trucks in Essex County since 2015: 816 people were injured and 33 were killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 2 days.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in December (10.9% of the year) and are lowest in April (6.8%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 43.3% of truck crashes, against 41.9% across Massachusetts.
By time of day, 11 am–12 pm stands out with 8.1% of truck crashes.
6.6% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 6.6% across Massachusetts.
Where crashes happen
Fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 01860 since 2015 were spread across roads: I-495 (2), SR-125 (2), SR-286 (2), I-95 (1) and SR-110 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 137 of the truck crashes here, or 7.7%, compared with 5.3% in Massachusetts.
The most garbage-truck crashes happen in December (12%).
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 0.8, vs 1.7 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for ZIP 01860 fleets
- Build extra time into December routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Waste haulers: December is the peak month for garbage-truck crashes in Essex County.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
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.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Essex County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-495 | 2 |
| SR-125 | 2 |
| SR-286 | 2 |
| I-95 | 1 |
| SR-110 | 1 |
| SR-121A | 1 |
| US-1 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Essex County) |
|---|---|
| Rte 495 | 23 |
| Rte 1 | 17 |
| Broadway | 12 |
| Main St | 12 |
| Rte 95 | 11 |
| Lowell St | 7 |
| Washington St | 7 |
| Rte 495 S X 97A | 6 |
ZIP 01860 at a glance
| Population | 6,748 |
| Density | 307 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $123,054 |
| Median home value | $554,596 |
| Home ownership | 81% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Essex 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 | 40 | — | 3.4 |
| 2000s | 112 | +183% | 2.4 |
| 2010s | 158 | +42% | 2.8 |
| 2020s | 159 | +1% | 2.4 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 40 a year in the 1990s and 159 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. NHTSA counts 2.5 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 2.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 01860
How common are truck crashes in ZIP 01860?
Since 2015, 1,776 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Essex County (816 injured, 33 killed).
When do most truck crashes happen in ZIP 01860?
The worst month is December: 10.9% of truck crashes in Essex County happen then.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in ZIP 01860?
Garbage trucks were involved in 137 reported crashes in Essex County since 2015 (7.7% of truck crashes).
What is the truck crash rate in ZIP 01860 compared with Massachusetts?
The yearly rate is 18.6 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Essex County, vs 22.9 for Massachusetts.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in ZIP 01860?
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.