ZIP 02121 (Dorchester, MA) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 02121: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Suffolk 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
4.9 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 1.9 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Suffolk County compares with Massachusetts
Suffolk County against Massachusetts and the US, 2016–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Suffolk County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2016–2025) | Suffolk County | Massachusetts | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 13.6 | 22.9 | 49.7 | 41% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 1.9 | 2.0 | 3.4 | same |
| Injuries per crash | 0.46 | 0.46 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 5.7% | 5.3% | 2.3% | same |
| On snow, slush or ice | 2.6% | 6.6% | 6.2% | 61% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 27.6% | 27.3% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 10.4% | 13.2% | 13.8% | 21% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 37.1% | 41.9% | 41.9% | 11% below the state |
| After dark | 23.0% | 19.2% | 24.8% | 1.2× the state |
Compared with Massachusetts, Suffolk County is lower on crashes per 100k residents / yr, on snow, slush or ice and in rain, sleet or snow. It runs above Massachusetts on after dark.
Suffolk County at a glance: +69% change in yearly reported truck crashes from the 2000s (63) to the 2010s (106).
Overview
Since 2015, 1,179 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Suffolk County. They injured 552 people and killed 23.
That averages about one truck crash every 3 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
The worst month is October with 10.0% of truck crashes; the quietest is November at 6.5%.
November through March accounts for 37.1% of truck crashes here, compared with 41.9% in Massachusetts.
More truck crashes happen at 12–1 pm than at any other hour (8.1%).
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 2.6% of truck crashes, compared with 6.6% in Massachusetts.
Where crashes happen
Roads with fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of ZIP 02121 since 2015: I-93 (4), I-95 (4), SR-2A (4), I-90 (3) and SR-16 (3). No single road stands out.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 67 crashes, 5.7% of the total, against 5.3% across Massachusetts.
Garbage-truck crashes peak in June (15% of them).
Per 100 crashes, garbage trucks recorded 4.9 deaths compared with 1.9 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for ZIP 02121 fleets
- Build extra time into October routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Waste haulers: June is the peak month for garbage-truck crashes in Suffolk County.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
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 was incomplete in 2015, so those years are greyed out and left out of rates and comparisons.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Suffolk County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-93 | 4 |
| I-95 | 4 |
| SR-2A | 4 |
| I-90 | 3 |
| SR-16 | 3 |
| SR-28 | 3 |
| Washington St | 3 |
| Cambridge St | 2 |
| Massachusetts Ave | 2 |
| Putnam Ave | 2 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Suffolk County) |
|---|---|
| Rte 93 S X 15 | 9 |
| Frontage Rd @ Mass Ave Connector | 8 |
| Rte 1 | 8 |
| Rte 93 S X 14 | 7 |
| Eastern Ave | 7 |
| Rte 93 Sb @ Exit 23 | 6 |
| Rte 90 E Mm 131 | 6 |
| Lee Burbank Hwy | 6 |
ZIP 02121 at a glance
| Population | 29,040 |
| Density | 5,946 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $43,136 |
| Median home value | $587,599 |
| Home ownership | 23% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Suffolk 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 | 29 | — | 2.2 |
| 2000s | 63 | +114% | 2.0 |
| 2010s | 106 | +69% | 2.2 |
| 2020s | 110 | +4% | 2.2 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 29 a year in the 1990s and 110 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal large-truck crashes: 2.5 a year in 2016–19, 2.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 02121
How common are truck crashes in ZIP 02121?
Suffolk County has had 1,179 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 552 people and killing 23.
When do most truck crashes happen in ZIP 02121?
The worst month is October: 10.0% of truck crashes in Suffolk County happen then.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in ZIP 02121?
Garbage trucks were involved in 67 reported crashes in Suffolk County since 2015 (5.7% of truck crashes).
How does ZIP 02121 compare with Massachusetts for truck crashes?
The yearly rate is 13.6 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Suffolk County, vs 22.9 for Massachusetts.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in ZIP 02121?
Paste your stops into the free CurbWaste Route Planner: it scores your route against fatal-crash locations, suggests safer alternatives and flags low bridges.
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.