ZIP 18509 (Scranton, PA) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 18509: 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 |
Lackawanna County sits below Pennsylvania on deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and morning rush (6–10 am). It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr, garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice.
What stands out in ZIP 18509: I-81 12 fatal truck crashes since 2015, more than any other road within 10 miles of ZIP 18509.
Overview
Police reported 1,696 crashes involving commercial trucks in Lackawanna County since 2015: 743 people were injured and 37 were killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 3 days.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in January (9.5% of the year) and are lowest in April (6.0%).
November through March accounts for 44.2% of truck crashes here, compared with 42.7% in Pennsylvania.
More truck crashes happen at 10–11 am than at any other hour (7.7%).
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 11.5% 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 (12). After it: I-84 (5), I-0081 (2) and SR-3011 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 76 crashes, 4.5% of the total, against 3.6% across Pennsylvania.
Their busiest month is January, with 12% of garbage-truck crashes.
They recorded 2.8 deaths per 100 crashes, against 2.3 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for ZIP 18509 fleets
- Plan January schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Lackawanna County.
- Look at alternatives to I-81 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in January; review collection routes for that month.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 11.5% of truck crashes here, more than Pennsylvania; schedule winter checks early.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
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 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 |
| I-0081 | 2 |
| SR-3011 | 1 |
| SR-348 | 1 |
| SR-435 | 1 |
| SR-632 | 1 |
| Ssr-2008 Marshwood Rd | 1 |
| US-6 | 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 18509 at a glance
| Population | 13,055 |
| Density | 1,704 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $51,062 |
| Median home value | $183,195 |
| Home ownership | 49% |
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 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 112 a year in the 1990s and 151 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 3.0 a year in 2016–19 and 2.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 18509
How common are truck crashes in ZIP 18509?
Since 2015, 1,696 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Lackawanna County (743 injured, 37 killed).
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in ZIP 18509?
I-81 had 12 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of ZIP 18509 since 2015, more than any other road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in ZIP 18509?
January has the most truck crashes in Lackawanna County, 9.5% of the yearly total.
Are garbage truck crashes common in ZIP 18509?
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 18509 compared with Pennsylvania?
Lackawanna County records 66.9 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 57.2 across Pennsylvania.
How can I plan a safer truck route in ZIP 18509?
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.