ZIP 01970 (Salem, MA) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 01970: 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 |
Compared with Massachusetts, Essex County is lower on crashes per 100k residents / yr and deaths per 100 crashes. Where it is higher: garbage-truck share.
The headline for ZIP 01970: US-1 most fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 01970: 2 since 2015.
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
The worst month is December with 10.9% of truck crashes; the quietest is April at 6.8%.
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 43.3% of truck crashes, vs 41.9% for Massachusetts.
More truck crashes happen at 11 am–12 pm than at any other hour (8.1%).
Road surface: 6.6% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Massachusetts: 6.6%).
Where crashes happen
Within this area, US-1 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (2). It is followed by I-95 (1), Newbury St (1) and Washington St (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%).
They recorded 0.8 deaths per 100 crashes, against 1.7 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for ZIP 01970 fleets
- Build extra time into December routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Check whether your routes use US-1, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in December; review collection routes for that month.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
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 Essex County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-1 | 2 |
| I-95 | 1 |
| Newbury St | 1 |
| Washington St | 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 01970 at a glance
| Population | 44,738 |
| Density | 2,096 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $85,041 |
| Median home value | $542,958 |
| Home ownership | 50% |
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 01970
How common are truck crashes in ZIP 01970?
Essex County has had 1,776 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 816 people and killing 33.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in ZIP 01970?
NHTSA data shows US-1 with 2 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 01970 since 2015, the highest of any road.
Which month has the most truck crashes in ZIP 01970?
December has the most truck crashes in Essex County, 10.9% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in ZIP 01970?
137 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Essex County since 2015, 7.7% of all truck crashes.
How does ZIP 01970 compare with Massachusetts for truck crashes?
Essex County records 18.6 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 22.9 across Massachusetts.
How can I plan a safer truck route in ZIP 01970?
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.