ZIP 04861 (Thomaston, ME) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 04861: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Knox 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 of 181 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Knox County compares with Maine
Knox County against Maine and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Knox County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Knox County | Maine | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 36.6 | 57.4 | 49.7 | 36% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 4.2 | 2.6 | 3.4 | 1.6× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.64 | 0.58 | 0.49 | 1.1× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 3.0% | 3.4% | 2.3% | 11% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 12.7% | 20.2% | 6.2% | 37% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 29.7% | 26.5% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 15.2% | 20.8% | 13.8% | 27% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 39.4% | 48.2% | 41.9% | 18% below the state |
| After dark | 11.5% | 19.1% | 24.8% | 40% below the state |
Compared with Maine, Knox County is lower on crashes per 100k residents / yr, garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice. It stands out for higher deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and morning rush (6–10 am).
Knox County at a glance: 4.2 deaths for every 100 truck crashes, against 2.6 across Maine.
Overview
Since 2015, 181 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Knox County. They injured 109 people and killed 7.
That averages about one truck crash every 24 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
The worst month is October with 12.2% of truck crashes; the quietest is September at 5.0%.
The five winter months (November to March) hold 39.4% of truck crashes, against 48.2% across Maine.
The busiest hour is 9–10 am, with 10.5% of truck crashes.
12.7% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 20.2% across Maine.
Where crashes happen
Roads with fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of ZIP 04861 since 2015: US-1 (2), SR-1 (1) and Sr- 17 Heald Hwy (1). No single road stands out.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 6 of the truck crashes here, or 3.3%, compared with 3.4% in Maine.
Route planning tips for ZIP 04861 fleets
- Plan October schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Knox County.
- The morning rush (6–10 am) holds 29.7% of truck crashes here, more than Maine; adjust start times where you can.
- 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 Knox County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-1 | 2 |
| SR-1 | 1 |
| Sr- 17 Heald Hwy | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Knox County) |
|---|---|
| Augusta Rd | 12 |
| Main St | 12 |
| Camden Rd | 10 |
| Atlantic Hwy | 10 |
| Heald Hwy | 8 |
| Commercial St | 7 |
| Old County Rd | 7 |
| West St | 6 |
ZIP 04861 at a glance
| Population | 2,769 |
| Density | 98 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $56,435 |
| Median home value | $271,771 |
| Home ownership | 74% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Knox 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 | 12 | — | 0.4 |
| 2000s | 13 | +11% | 0.5 |
| 2010s | 17 | +26% | 0.3 |
| 2020s | 13 | -25% | 0.4 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 12 to 13. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. NHTSA counts 0.8 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 0.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 04861
How many truck accidents are there in ZIP 04861?
Since 2015, 181 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Knox County (109 injured, 7 killed).
When do most truck crashes happen in ZIP 04861?
The worst month is October: 12.2% of truck crashes in Knox County happen then.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in ZIP 04861?
6 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Knox County since 2015, 3.3% of all truck crashes.
How does ZIP 04861 compare with Maine for truck crashes?
Per 100,000 residents, Knox County has 36.6 truck crashes a year; Maine has 57.4.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in ZIP 04861?
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.