ZIP 12138 (Petersburg, NY) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 12138: 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 |
Compared with New York, Rensselaer County is lower on injuries per crash, garbage-truck share and in rain, sleet or snow. It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr, on snow, slush or ice and morning rush (6–10 am).
The headline for Rensselaer County: +89% change in yearly reported truck crashes from the 2000s (30) to the 2010s (57).
Overview
Since 2015, 608 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Rensselaer County. They injured 282 people and killed 11.
That averages about one truck crash every 6 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
December has the most truck crashes, 10.7% of the yearly total, while March has the fewest (6.1%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 41.7% of truck crashes, against 41.8% across New York.
By time of day, 8–9 am stands out with 9.7% of truck crashes.
11.3% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 9.4% across New York.
Where crashes happen
Within this area, SR-7 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (3). After it: SR-2 (1) and SR-22 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 20 crashes, 3.3% of the total, against 3.6% across New York.
Their busiest month is November, with 35% of garbage-truck crashes.
Route planning tips for ZIP 12138 fleets
- Build extra time into December routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Where you can, review stops along SR-7; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in November; review collection routes for that month.
- 27.9% of truck crashes happen between 6 and 10 am, above New York; consider earlier or later starts where possible.
- With 11.3% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above New York), plan winter equipment checks early.
- 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.
Reporting to FMCSA was incomplete in 2023 and 2024; rates and comparisons skip those years.
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-7 | 3 |
| 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 12138 at a glance
| Population | 2,695 |
| Density | 12 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $75,833 |
| Median home value | $197,685 |
| Home ownership | 91% |
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 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 27 a year in the 1990s and 59 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. NHTSA counts 1.8 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 0.8 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 12138
How common are truck crashes in ZIP 12138?
608 truck crashes have been reported in Rensselaer County since 2015, with 11 deaths and 282 injuries.
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in ZIP 12138?
NHTSA data shows SR-7 with 3 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 12138 since 2015, the highest of any road.
Which month has the most truck crashes in ZIP 12138?
The worst month is December: 10.7% of truck crashes in Rensselaer County happen then.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in ZIP 12138?
Since 2015, Rensselaer County has reported 20 garbage-truck crashes, or 3.3% of its truck crashes.
How does ZIP 12138 compare with New York for truck crashes?
The yearly rate is 40.4 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Rensselaer County, vs 28.0 for New York.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in ZIP 12138?
The free Route Planner takes your stops and returns a route risk score, safer alternatives and low-bridge warnings.
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.