ZIP 18705 (Wilkes Barre, PA) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 18705: 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 |
Luzerne County has lower values than Pennsylvania for deaths per 100 crashes, garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am). It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr, on snow, slush or ice and after dark.
What stands out in Luzerne County: December is the peak month for garbage-truck crashes: 17% of them.
Overview
Police reported 2,881 crashes involving commercial trucks in Luzerne County since 2015: 1,313 people were injured and 56 were killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about 1 truck crash a day.
When crashes happen
The worst month is December with 9.3% of truck crashes; the quietest is November at 7.0%.
November through March accounts for 43.0% of truck crashes here, compared with 42.7% in Pennsylvania.
By time of day, 3–4 pm stands out with 7.4% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 10.4% 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 (4). Next come SR-2007 (2), SR-1044 (1) and SR-2004 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
82 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 2.8% share (Pennsylvania: 3.6%).
Garbage-truck crashes peak in December (17% of them).
Per 100 crashes, garbage trucks recorded 3.7 deaths compared with 2.0 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for ZIP 18705 fleets
- Plan December schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Luzerne County.
- Check whether your routes use I-81, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- For residential and commercial waste routes, look again at December schedules: garbage-truck crashes peak then.
- 10.4% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice, above Pennsylvania; plan winter equipment checks before the season.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
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-81 | 4 |
| SR-2007 | 2 |
| SR-1044 | 1 |
| SR-2004 | 1 |
| Ssr-2007 E Northampton St | 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 18705 at a glance
| Population | 15,624 |
| Density | 1,217 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $59,344 |
| Median home value | $139,154 |
| Home ownership | 61% |
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 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 147 a year in the 1990s and 257 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. 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 18705
How common are truck crashes in ZIP 18705?
2,881 truck crashes have been reported in Luzerne County since 2015, with 56 deaths and 1,313 injuries.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in ZIP 18705?
Since 2015, I-81 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 18705: 4.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in ZIP 18705?
The worst month is December: 9.3% of truck crashes in Luzerne County happen then.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in ZIP 18705?
82 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Luzerne County since 2015, 2.8% of all truck crashes.
How does ZIP 18705 compare with Pennsylvania for truck crashes?
Per 100,000 residents, Luzerne County has 74.6 truck crashes a year; Pennsylvania has 57.2.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in ZIP 18705?
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.