ZIP 18503 (Scranton, PA) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 18503: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Lackawanna 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
2.8 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 2.3 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Lackawanna County compares with Pennsylvania
Lackawanna County against Pennsylvania and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Lackawanna County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Lackawanna County | Pennsylvania | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 66.9 | 57.2 | 49.7 | 1.2× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.3 | 2.6 | 3.4 | 12% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.43 | 0.47 | 0.49 | 9% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 4.5% | 3.6% | 2.3% | 1.3× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 11.5% | 9.1% | 6.2% | 1.3× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 22.0% | 24.5% | 23.7% | 10% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 16.7% | 19.0% | 13.8% | 12% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 44.2% | 42.7% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 23.2% | 24.2% | 24.8% | same |
Compared with Pennsylvania, Lackawanna County is lower on deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and morning rush (6–10 am). It runs above Pennsylvania on crashes per 100k residents / yr, garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice.
The headline for ZIP 18503: I-81 deadliest road: 12 fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 18503 since 2015.
Overview
Since 2015, 1,696 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Lackawanna County. They injured 743 people and killed 37.
That averages about one truck crash every 3 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
The worst month is January with 9.5% of truck crashes; the quietest is April at 6.0%.
November through March accounts for 44.2% of truck crashes here, compared with 42.7% in Pennsylvania.
By time of day, 10–11 am stands out with 7.7% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 11.5% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Pennsylvania: 9.1%).
Where crashes happen
Within this area, I-81 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (12). Next come I-84 (5), SR-3011 (1) and SR-348 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
76 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 4.5% share (Pennsylvania: 3.6%).
Garbage-truck crashes peak in January (12% of them).
They recorded 2.8 deaths per 100 crashes, against 2.3 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for ZIP 18503 fleets
- Plan January schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Lackawanna County.
- Where you can, review stops along I-81; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- For residential and commercial waste routes, look again at January schedules: garbage-truck crashes peak then.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 11.5% of truck crashes here, more than Pennsylvania; schedule winter checks early.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
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 Lackawanna County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-81 | 12 |
| I-84 | 5 |
| SR-3011 | 1 |
| SR-348 | 1 |
| SR-435 | 1 |
| SR-632 | 1 |
| Ssr-2008 Marshwood Rd | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Lackawanna County) |
|---|---|
| I-0081 | 473 |
| I-0084 | 143 |
| I-0380 | 81 |
| SR-0011 | 75 |
| SR-0006 | 73 |
| SR-6006 | 53 |
| SR-3013 | 45 |
| I-7476 | 33 |
ZIP 18503 at a glance
| Population | 1,629 |
| Density | 1,327 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $36,107 |
| Home ownership | 2% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Lackawanna 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 | 112 | — | 3.3 |
| 2000s | 130 | +16% | 1.9 |
| 2010s | 121 | -6% | 2.2 |
| 2020s | 151 | +25% | 2.6 |
In the 1990s about 112 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 151. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal large-truck crashes: 3.0 a year in 2016–19, 2.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 18503
How many truck accidents are there in ZIP 18503?
1,696 truck crashes have been reported in Lackawanna County since 2015, with 37 deaths and 743 injuries.
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in ZIP 18503?
Since 2015, I-81 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 18503: 12.
Which month has the most truck crashes in ZIP 18503?
The worst month is January: 9.5% of truck crashes in Lackawanna County happen then.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in ZIP 18503?
Since 2015, Lackawanna County has reported 76 garbage-truck crashes, or 4.5% of its truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in ZIP 18503 compared with Pennsylvania?
The yearly rate is 66.9 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Lackawanna County, vs 57.2 for Pennsylvania.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in ZIP 18503?
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.