ZIP 12040 (Cherry Plain, NY) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 12040: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Rensselaer 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
20 of 608 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Rensselaer County compares with New York State
Rensselaer County against New York State and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Rensselaer County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Rensselaer County | New York State | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 40.4 | 28.0 | 49.7 | 1.4× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 1.9 | 2.0 | 3.4 | same |
| Injuries per crash | 0.46 | 0.73 | 0.49 | 37% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 3.2% | 3.6% | 2.3% | 9% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 11.3% | 9.4% | 6.2% | 1.2× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 27.9% | 25.1% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 16.2% | 17.9% | 13.8% | 10% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 41.7% | 41.8% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 16.6% | 22.1% | 24.8% | 25% below the state |
Rensselaer County sits below New York on injuries per crash, garbage-truck share and in rain, sleet or snow. It runs above New York on crashes per 100k residents / yr, on snow, slush or ice and morning rush (6–10 am).
Rensselaer County at a glance: +89% reported truck crashes a year in the 2010s vs the 2000s (57 vs 30).
Overview
Police reported 608 crashes involving commercial trucks in Rensselaer County since 2015: 282 people were injured and 11 were killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 6 days.
When crashes happen
The worst month is December with 10.7% of truck crashes; the quietest is March at 6.1%.
The five winter months (November to March) hold 41.7% of truck crashes, against 41.8% across New York.
The busiest hour is 8–9 am, with 9.7% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 11.3% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (New York: 9.4%).
Where crashes happen
Roads with fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of ZIP 12040 since 2015: SR-2 (1) and SR-22 (1). No single road stands out.
Garbage & waste trucks
20 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 3.3% share (New York: 3.6%).
The most garbage-truck crashes happen in November (35%).
Route planning tips for ZIP 12040 fleets
- Plan December schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Rensselaer County.
- For residential and commercial waste routes, look again at November schedules: garbage-truck crashes peak then.
- 27.9% of truck crashes happen between 6 and 10 am, above New York; consider earlier or later starts where possible.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 11.3% of truck crashes here, more than New York; schedule winter checks early.
- 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.
Crash reporting for 2023 and 2024 is incomplete; those years are shown in grey and not used for rates.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Rensselaer County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-2 | 1 |
| SR-22 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Rensselaer County) |
|---|---|
| Berkshire Spur | 1 |
| Berkshire Spur Bridge | 1 |
| Columbia Tnpk | 1 |
| I-90 | 1 |
| Longwoods Dr. | 1 |
| Morrison Ave | 1 |
| Pinewoods Ave. | 1 |
| SR-2 | 1 |
ZIP 12040 at a glance
| Population | 27 |
| Density | 174 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $57,955 |
| Home ownership | 100% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Rensselaer 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 | 27 | — | 1.7 |
| 2000s | 30 | +12% | 1.4 |
| 2010s | 54 | +78% | 1.4 |
| 2020s | 59 | +10% | 0.8 |
In the 1990s about 27 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 59. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal large-truck crashes: 1.8 a year in 2016–19, 0.8 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 12040
How many truck crashes happen in ZIP 12040?
Since 2015, 608 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Rensselaer County (282 injured, 11 killed).
When do most truck crashes happen in ZIP 12040?
The worst month is December: 10.7% of truck crashes in Rensselaer County happen then.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in ZIP 12040?
Garbage trucks were involved in 20 reported crashes in Rensselaer County since 2015 (3.3% of truck crashes).
What is the truck crash rate in ZIP 12040 compared with New York?
Per 100,000 residents, Rensselaer County has 40.4 truck crashes a year; New York has 28.0.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in ZIP 12040?
Use the free Route Planner: enter your stops to get a risk score, safer alternatives and the low bridges on your route.
Crash reporting to FMCSA was incomplete in 2023 and 2024; those years are greyed out and left out of rates. 2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.