ZIP 17980 (Tower City, PA) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 17980: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Dauphin 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
5.9 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 2.0 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Dauphin County compares with Pennsylvania
Dauphin County against Pennsylvania and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Dauphin County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Dauphin County | Pennsylvania | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 93.8 | 57.2 | 49.7 | 1.6× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.0 | 2.6 | 3.4 | 23% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.38 | 0.47 | 0.49 | 19% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.1% | 3.6% | 2.3% | 69% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 5.7% | 9.1% | 6.2% | 37% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 22.6% | 24.5% | 23.7% | 8% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 20.8% | 19.0% | 13.8% | 1.1× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 40.1% | 42.7% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 24.2% | 24.2% | 24.8% | same |
Dauphin County sits below Pennsylvania on deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share. It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr and in rain, sleet or snow.
The headline for Dauphin County: 1 in 88 crashes involve a garbage truck (35 since 2015), vs 3.6% across Pennsylvania.
Overview
Dauphin County has recorded 3,229 truck crashes since 2015, with 1,233 people injured and 62 killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about 1 truck crash a day.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in August (9.4% of the year) and are lowest in April (6.7%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 40.1% of truck crashes, vs 42.7% for Pennsylvania.
More truck crashes happen at 3–4 pm than at any other hour (7.8%).
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 5.7% of truck crashes, compared with 9.1% in Pennsylvania.
Where crashes happen
Within this area, I-81 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (13). It is followed by SR-72 (2), I-78 (1) and SR-25 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 35 of the truck crashes here, or 1.1%, compared with 3.6% in Pennsylvania.
The most garbage-truck crashes happen in March (17%).
They recorded 5.9 deaths per 100 crashes, against 2.0 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for ZIP 17980 fleets
- Plan August schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Dauphin County.
- Look at alternatives to I-81 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- Waste haulers: March is the peak month for garbage-truck crashes in Dauphin County.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
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.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Dauphin County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-81 | 13 |
| SR-72 | 2 |
| I-78 | 1 |
| SR-25 | 1 |
| US-209 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Dauphin County) |
|---|---|
| I-0081 | 856 |
| I-0083 | 545 |
| SR-0022 | 325 |
| SR-0300 | 146 |
| I-6000 | 142 |
| I-0283 | 132 |
| SR-0230 | 98 |
| SR-0039 | 61 |
ZIP 17980 at a glance
| Population | 3,342 |
| Density | 37 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $71,210 |
| Median home value | $146,613 |
| Home ownership | 79% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Dauphin 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 | 192 | — | 3.8 |
| 2000s | 216 | +12% | 4.9 |
| 2010s | 222 | +3% | 4.6 |
| 2020s | 265 | +20% | 4.2 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 192 a year in the 1990s and 265 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 4.2 a year in 2016–19 and 4.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 17980
How common are truck crashes in ZIP 17980?
Since 2015, 3,229 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Dauphin County (1,233 injured, 62 killed).
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in ZIP 17980?
NHTSA data shows I-81 with 13 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 17980 since 2015, the highest of any road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in ZIP 17980?
Truck crashes in Dauphin County peak in August, with 9.4% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in ZIP 17980?
Garbage trucks were involved in 35 reported crashes in Dauphin County since 2015 (1.1% of truck crashes).
How does ZIP 17980 compare with Pennsylvania for truck crashes?
Per 100,000 residents, Dauphin County has 93.8 truck crashes a year; Pennsylvania has 57.2.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in ZIP 17980?
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.