ZIP 04986 (Thorndike, ME) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 04986: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Waldo 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
11 of 217 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Waldo County compares with Maine
Waldo County against Maine and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Waldo County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Waldo County | Maine | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 45.9 | 57.4 | 49.7 | 20% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.4 | 2.6 | 3.4 | 1.3× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.52 | 0.58 | 0.49 | 10% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 4.9% | 3.4% | 2.3% | 1.4× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 21.5% | 20.2% | 6.2% | same |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 31.7% | 26.5% | 23.7% | 1.2× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 20.5% | 20.8% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 46.3% | 48.2% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 13.7% | 19.1% | 24.8% | 29% below the state |
Waldo County sits below Maine on crashes per 100k residents / yr, injuries per crash and after dark. Where it is higher: deaths per 100 crashes, garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am).
What stands out in Waldo County: January 13.4% of truck crashes happen in January, more than any other month.
Overview
Waldo County has recorded 217 truck crashes since 2015, with 113 people injured and 7 killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 20 days.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in January (13.4% of the year) and are lowest in April (5.1%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 46.3% of truck crashes, vs 48.2% for Maine.
By time of day, 11 am–12 pm stands out with 10.1% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 21.5% of truck crashes, compared with 20.2% in Maine.
Where crashes happen
Fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 04986 since 2015 were spread across roads: Sr-N Palermo Rd (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 11 crashes, 5.1% of the total, against 3.4% across Maine.
Route planning tips for ZIP 04986 fleets
- Plan January schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Waldo County.
- The morning rush (6–10 am) holds 31.7% of truck crashes here, more than Maine; adjust start times where you can.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
About the data
Sources: the FMCSA crash file for all reported truck crashes and NHTSA FARS for fatal crashes with a large truck. Every statement here comes straight from those numbers.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Waldo County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| Sr-N Palermo Rd | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Waldo County) |
|---|---|
| Atlantic Hwy | 12 |
| E Main St | 11 |
| Belfast Augusta Rd | 8 |
| SR-3 | 7 |
| SR-1 | 7 |
| Belmont Av | 7 |
| Searsport Av | 6 |
| US-1 | 6 |
ZIP 04986 at a glance
| Population | 2,228 |
| Density | 16 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $71,833 |
| Median home value | $179,822 |
| Home ownership | 84% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Waldo 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 | 10 | — | 0.8 |
| 2000s | 19 | +80% | 0.6 |
| 2010s | 18 | -6% | 0.6 |
| 2020s | 18 | +5% | 0.6 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 10 a year in the 1990s and 18 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal large-truck crashes: 0.8 a year in 2016–19, 0.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 04986
How many truck accidents are there in ZIP 04986?
217 truck crashes have been reported in Waldo County since 2015, with 7 deaths and 113 injuries.
When do most truck crashes happen in ZIP 04986?
Truck crashes in Waldo County peak in January, with 13.4% of the year's crashes.
Are garbage truck crashes common in ZIP 04986?
Garbage trucks were involved in 11 reported crashes in Waldo County since 2015 (5.1% of truck crashes).
How do truck crashes in ZIP 04986 compare with Maine?
Per 100,000 residents, Waldo County has 45.9 truck crashes a year; Maine has 57.4.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in ZIP 04986?
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.