ZIP 04422 (Charleston, ME) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 04422: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Penobscot 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
6.1 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 1.4 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Penobscot County compares with Maine
Penobscot County against Maine and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Penobscot County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Penobscot County | Maine | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 59.0 | 57.4 | 49.7 | same |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 1.4 | 2.6 | 3.4 | 46% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.73 | 0.58 | 0.49 | 1.3× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 3.2% | 3.4% | 2.3% | same |
| On snow, slush or ice | 24.9% | 20.2% | 6.2% | 1.2× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 25.1% | 26.5% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 23.5% | 20.8% | 13.8% | 1.1× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 51.8% | 48.2% | 41.9% | 1.1× the state |
| After dark | 23.5% | 19.1% | 24.8% | 1.2× the state |
Penobscot County has lower values than Maine for deaths per 100 crashes. It runs above Maine on injuries per crash, on snow, slush or ice and in rain, sleet or snow.
The headline for Penobscot County: March more garbage-truck crashes happen in March than in any other month (24%).
Overview
Since 2015, 1,066 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Penobscot County. They injured 771 people and killed 15.
That averages about one truck crash every 4 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in February (12.9% of the year) and are lowest in May (6.3%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 51.8% of truck crashes, against 48.2% across Maine.
By time of day, 12–1 pm stands out with 8.6% of truck crashes.
24.9% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 20.2% across Maine.
Where crashes happen
Fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 04422 since 2015 were spread across roads: Beans Mills Rd (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 37 of the truck crashes here, or 3.5%, compared with 3.4% in Maine.
Their busiest month is March, with 24% of garbage-truck crashes.
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 6.1, vs 1.4 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for ZIP 04422 fleets
- Build extra time into February routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in March; review collection routes for that month.
- 24.9% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice, above Maine; plan winter equipment checks before the season.
- 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.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Penobscot County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| Beans Mills Rd | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Penobscot County) |
|---|---|
| I-95 | 417 |
| Main Rd | 49 |
| Broadway | 24 |
| Main St | 23 |
| Hammond St | 16 |
| Parking Lot | 14 |
| Western Av | 14 |
| Airline Rd | 13 |
ZIP 04422 at a glance
| Population | 1,117 |
| Density | 11 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $75,250 |
| Median home value | $234,013 |
| Home ownership | 92% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Penobscot 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 | 77 | — | 2.4 |
| 2000s | 87 | +13% | 2.3 |
| 2010s | 89 | +2% | 1.3 |
| 2020s | 89 | +1% | 1.0 |
In the 1990s about 77 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 89. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 1.0 a year in 2016–19 and 1.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 04422
How common are truck crashes in ZIP 04422?
Penobscot County has had 1,066 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 771 people and killing 15.
Which month has the most truck crashes in ZIP 04422?
The worst month is February: 12.9% of truck crashes in Penobscot County happen then.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in ZIP 04422?
Since 2015, Penobscot County has reported 37 garbage-truck crashes, or 3.5% of its truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in ZIP 04422 compared with Maine?
Penobscot County records 59.0 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 57.4 across Maine.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in ZIP 04422?
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.