ZIP 04961 (New Portland, ME) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 04961: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Somerset 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
0.0 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 2.8 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
No fatal large-truck crashes with a road name recorded here since 2015.
How Somerset County compares with Maine
Somerset County against Maine and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Somerset County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Somerset County | Maine | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 100.4 | 57.4 | 49.7 | 1.7× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.8 | 2.6 | 3.4 | 1.1× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.56 | 0.58 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 3.9% | 3.4% | 2.3% | 1.1× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 25.8% | 20.2% | 6.2% | 1.3× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 26.8% | 26.5% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 19.8% | 20.8% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 50.8% | 48.2% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 20.8% | 19.1% | 24.8% | 1.1× the state |
It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and garbage-truck share.
Somerset County at a glance: January 11.5% of truck crashes happen in January, more than any other month.
Overview
Since 2015, 600 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Somerset County. They injured 328 people and killed 17.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 7 days.
When crashes happen
The worst month is January with 11.5% of truck crashes; the quietest is April at 4.5%.
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 50.8% of truck crashes, vs 48.2% for Maine.
The busiest hour is 12–1 pm, with 8.8% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 25.8% of truck crashes, compared with 20.2% in Maine.
Where crashes happen
No fatal crash involving a large truck has a recorded location within 10 miles of ZIP 04961 since 2015.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 23 of the truck crashes here, or 3.8%, compared with 3.4% in Maine.
The most garbage-truck crashes happen in May (17%).
They recorded 0.0 deaths per 100 crashes, against 2.8 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for ZIP 04961 fleets
- Build extra time into January routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Waste haulers: May is the peak month for garbage-truck crashes in Somerset County.
- With 25.8% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above Maine), plan winter equipment checks early.
- 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 Somerset County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
No fatal crashes involving a large truck with a road name were recorded within 10 miles since 2015.
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Somerset County) |
|---|---|
| I-95 | 100 |
| Main St | 69 |
| Us Rte 201 | 27 |
| Norridgewock Rd | 27 |
| Waterville Rd | 26 |
| Canaan Rd | 18 |
| Madison Ave | 16 |
| Skowhegan Rd | 15 |
ZIP 04961 at a glance
| Population | 919 |
| Density | 1 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $53,750 |
| Median home value | $158,822 |
| Home ownership | 94% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Somerset 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 | 38 | — | 2.0 |
| 2000s | 46 | +21% | 1.7 |
| 2010s | 46 | +0% | 0.9 |
| 2020s | 50 | +9% | 1.0 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 38 to 50. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 1.2 a year in 2016–19 and 1.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 04961
How common are truck crashes in ZIP 04961?
Somerset County has had 600 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 328 people and killing 17.
When do most truck crashes happen in ZIP 04961?
January has the most truck crashes in Somerset County, 11.5% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in ZIP 04961?
Since 2015, Somerset County has reported 23 garbage-truck crashes, or 3.8% of its truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in ZIP 04961 compared with Maine?
The yearly rate is 100.4 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Somerset County, vs 57.4 for Maine.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in ZIP 04961?
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.