ZIP 18224 (Freeland, PA) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 18224: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Luzerne 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
3.7 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 2.0 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Luzerne County compares with Pennsylvania
Luzerne County against Pennsylvania and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Luzerne County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Luzerne County | Pennsylvania | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 74.6 | 57.2 | 49.7 | 1.3× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.0 | 2.6 | 3.4 | 23% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.46 | 0.47 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 3.0% | 3.6% | 2.3% | 17% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 10.4% | 9.1% | 6.2% | 1.2× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 21.9% | 24.5% | 23.7% | 11% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 17.8% | 19.0% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 43.0% | 42.7% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 26.9% | 24.2% | 24.8% | 1.1× the state |
Compared with Pennsylvania, Luzerne County is lower on deaths per 100 crashes, garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am). Where it is higher: crashes per 100k residents / yr, on snow, slush or ice and after dark.
The headline for Luzerne County: December garbage-truck crashes peak in December (17% of the year's total).
Overview
Since 2015, 2,881 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Luzerne County. They injured 1,313 people and killed 56.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly 1 truck crash every day.
When crashes happen
December has the most truck crashes, 9.3% of the yearly total, while November has the fewest (7.0%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 43.0% of truck crashes, vs 42.7% for Pennsylvania.
More truck crashes happen at 3–4 pm than at any other hour (7.4%).
Road surface: 10.4% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Pennsylvania: 9.1%).
Where crashes happen
Within this area, I-80 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (10). Next come I-81 (4), SR-924 (2) and SR-437 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 82 of the truck crashes here, or 2.8%, compared with 3.6% in Pennsylvania.
The most garbage-truck crashes happen in December (17%).
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 3.7, vs 2.0 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for ZIP 18224 fleets
- Review driver schedules for December, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Where you can, review stops along I-80; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in December; review collection routes for that month.
- 10.4% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice, above Pennsylvania; plan winter equipment checks before the season.
- 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 Luzerne County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-80 | 10 |
| I-81 | 4 |
| SR-924 | 2 |
| SR-437 | 1 |
| SR-93 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Luzerne County) |
|---|---|
| I-0081 | 818 |
| I-0080 | 562 |
| SR-0309 | 167 |
| I-7476 | 113 |
| SR-0315 | 104 |
| SR-0093 | 95 |
| SR-0924 | 86 |
| SR-0011 | 75 |
ZIP 18224 at a glance
| Population | 6,031 |
| Density | 163 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $69,620 |
| Median home value | $130,073 |
| Home ownership | 67% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Luzerne 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 | 147 | — | 4.4 |
| 2000s | 194 | +32% | 4.6 |
| 2010s | 182 | -6% | 3.2 |
| 2020s | 257 | +41% | 3.8 |
In the 1990s about 147 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 257. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. NHTSA counts 2.5 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 3.8 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 18224
How common are truck crashes in ZIP 18224?
Luzerne County has had 2,881 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 1,313 people and killing 56.
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in ZIP 18224?
Since 2015, I-80 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 18224: 10.
Which month has the most truck crashes in ZIP 18224?
Truck crashes in Luzerne County peak in December, with 9.3% of the year's crashes.
Are garbage truck crashes common in ZIP 18224?
Garbage trucks were involved in 82 reported crashes in Luzerne County since 2015 (2.8% of truck crashes).
How do truck crashes in ZIP 18224 compare with Pennsylvania?
Luzerne County records 74.6 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 57.2 across Pennsylvania.
How can I plan a safer truck route in ZIP 18224?
Use the free Route Planner: enter your stops to get a risk score, safer alternatives and the low bridges on your route.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.