ZIP 12144 (Rensselaer, NY) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 12144: 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 has lower values than New York for 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% 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
December has the most truck crashes, 10.7% of the yearly total, while March has the fewest (6.1%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 41.7% of truck crashes, vs 41.8% for New York.
By time of day, 8–9 am stands out with 9.7% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 11.3% of truck crashes, compared with 9.4% in New York.
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks within 10 miles of ZIP 12144 is I-787, with 4 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. Next come SR-5 (3), I-90 (2) and SR-787 (2).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 20 of the truck crashes here, or 3.3%, compared with 3.6% in New York.
Their busiest month is November, with 35% of garbage-truck crashes.
Route planning tips for ZIP 12144 fleets
- Build extra time into December routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Look at alternatives to I-787 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- Waste haulers: November is the peak month for garbage-truck crashes in Rensselaer County.
- 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 was incomplete in 2023 and 2024, so those years are greyed out and left out of rates and comparisons.
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) |
|---|---|
| I-787 | 4 |
| SR-5 | 3 |
| I-90 | 2 |
| SR-787 | 2 |
| Broadway | 1 |
| CR-378 | 1 |
| Church St | 1 |
| E Highland Dr | 1 |
| SR-155 | 1 |
| SR-9 | 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 12144 at a glance
| Population | 22,111 |
| Density | 466 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $90,738 |
| Median home value | $251,505 |
| Home ownership | 59% |
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. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 1.8 a year in 2016–19 and 0.8 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 12144
How many truck accidents are there in ZIP 12144?
608 truck crashes have been reported in Rensselaer County since 2015, with 11 deaths and 282 injuries.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in ZIP 12144?
NHTSA data shows I-787 with 4 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 12144 since 2015, the highest of any road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in ZIP 12144?
Truck crashes in Rensselaer County peak in December, with 10.7% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in ZIP 12144?
Since 2015, Rensselaer County has reported 20 garbage-truck crashes, or 3.3% of its truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in ZIP 12144 compare with New York?
The yearly rate is 40.4 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Rensselaer County, vs 28.0 for New York.
How can I plan a safer truck route in ZIP 12144?
Paste your stops into the free CurbWaste Route Planner: it scores your route against fatal-crash locations, suggests safer alternatives and flags low bridges.
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.