ZIP 08638 (Trenton, NJ) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 08638: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Mercer 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 2.2 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Mercer County compares with New Jersey
Mercer County against New Jersey and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Mercer County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Mercer County | New Jersey | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 54.1 | 56.6 | 49.7 | same |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.2 | 1.6 | 3.4 | 1.4× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.59 | 0.58 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 3.7% | 3.6% | 2.3% | same |
| On snow, slush or ice | 3.5% | 3.3% | 6.2% | same |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 28.1% | 26.0% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 12.6% | 13.7% | 13.8% | 8% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 42.0% | 40.9% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 19.9% | 19.9% | 24.8% | same |
Compared with New Jersey, Mercer County is lower on in rain, sleet or snow. It stands out for higher deaths per 100 crashes and morning rush (6–10 am).
ZIP 08638 at a glance: I-95 10 fatal truck crashes since 2015, more than any other road within 10 miles of ZIP 08638.
Overview
Mercer County has recorded 2,481 truck crashes since 2015, with 1,446 people injured and 51 killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 2 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
October has the most truck crashes, 10.2% of the yearly total, while June has the fewest (7.1%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 42.0% of truck crashes, vs 40.9% for New Jersey.
The busiest hour is 8–9 am, with 8.3% of truck crashes.
3.5% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 3.3% across New Jersey.
Where crashes happen
I-95 leads within 10 miles of ZIP 08638 with 10 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. Next come US-1 (3), I-195 (2) and I-295 (2).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 93 of the truck crashes here, or 3.7%, compared with 3.6% in New Jersey.
Garbage-truck crashes peak in March (14% of them).
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 0.0, vs 2.2 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for ZIP 08638 fleets
- Build extra time into October routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Where you can, review stops along I-95; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- Waste haulers: March is the peak month for garbage-truck crashes in Mercer County.
- 28.1% of truck crashes happen between 6 and 10 am, above New Jersey; consider earlier or later starts where possible.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
About the data
Crash counts come from the FMCSA crash file (police-reported crashes involving trucks over 10,000 lb); fatal-crash locations come from NHTSA FARS. Text on this page states only what these numbers show.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Mercer County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-95 | 10 |
| US-1 | 3 |
| I-195 | 2 |
| I-295 | 2 |
| Rising Sun Rd | 2 |
| SR-129 | 2 |
| SR-29 | 2 |
| US-130 | 2 |
| CR-571 Washington Rd | 1 |
| CR-579 Sullivan Way | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Mercer County) |
|---|---|
| I-95, N.J. Turnpike | 348 |
| US-1 | 281 |
| I-295 | 149 |
| I-195 | 130 |
| US-130 | 106 |
| Nj 31 | 102 |
| Nj 29 | 71 |
| US-206 | 70 |
ZIP 08638 at a glance
| Population | 22,816 |
| Density | 1,623 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $66,875 |
| Median home value | $234,649 |
| Home ownership | 58% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Mercer 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 | 127 | — | 3.2 |
| 2000s | 302 | +137% | 4.3 |
| 2010s | 241 | -20% | 3.6 |
| 2020s | 201 | -16% | 3.2 |
In the 1990s about 127 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 201. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal large-truck crashes: 4.0 a year in 2016–19, 3.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 08638
How common are truck crashes in ZIP 08638?
Since 2015, 2,481 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Mercer County (1,446 injured, 51 killed).
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in ZIP 08638?
I-95 had 10 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of ZIP 08638 since 2015, more than any other road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in ZIP 08638?
October has the most truck crashes in Mercer County, 10.2% of the yearly total.
Are garbage truck crashes common in ZIP 08638?
93 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Mercer County since 2015, 3.7% of all truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in ZIP 08638 compared with New Jersey?
Mercer County records 54.1 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 56.6 across New Jersey.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in ZIP 08638?
Paste your stops into the free CurbWaste Route Planner: it scores your route against fatal-crash locations, suggests safer alternatives and flags low bridges.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.