ZIP 19539 (Mertztown, PA) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 19539: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Berks 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
2.5 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 2.6 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Berks County compares with Pennsylvania
Berks County against Pennsylvania and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Berks County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Berks County | Pennsylvania | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 81.3 | 57.2 | 49.7 | 1.4× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.6 | 2.6 | 3.4 | same |
| Injuries per crash | 0.47 | 0.47 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 4.1% | 3.6% | 2.3% | 1.1× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 8.5% | 9.1% | 6.2% | same |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 25.5% | 24.5% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 18.1% | 19.0% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 43.5% | 42.7% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 23.4% | 24.2% | 24.8% | same |
It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr and garbage-truck share.
What stands out in ZIP 19539: US-222 deadliest road: 12 fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 19539 since 2015.
Overview
Berks County has recorded 4,182 truck crashes since 2015, with 1,968 people injured and 108 killed.
That averages about 1 truck crash a day in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in January (9.5% of the year) and are lowest in April (7.3%).
November through March accounts for 43.5% of truck crashes here, compared with 42.7% in Pennsylvania.
By time of day, 8–9 am stands out with 7.1% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 8.5% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Pennsylvania: 9.1%).
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks within 10 miles of ZIP 19539 is US-222, with 12 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. Next come I-78 (10), Schantz Rd (2) and US-22 (2).
Garbage & waste trucks
168 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 4.0% share (Pennsylvania: 3.6%).
Garbage-truck crashes peak in March (13% of them).
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 2.5, vs 2.6 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for ZIP 19539 fleets
- Build extra time into January routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Where you can, review stops along US-222; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- For residential and commercial waste routes, look again at March schedules: garbage-truck crashes peak then.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
About the data
Sources: the FMCSA crash file for all reported truck crashes and NHTSA FARS for fatal crashes with a large truck. Every statement here comes straight from those numbers.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Berks County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-222 | 12 |
| I-78 | 10 |
| Schantz Rd | 2 |
| US-22 | 2 |
| I-476 | 1 |
| SR-1022 | 1 |
| SR-1024 | 1 |
| SR-2017 | 1 |
| SR-29 | 1 |
| SR-3012 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Berks County) |
|---|---|
| I-0078 | 1,095 |
| SR-0222 | 639 |
| SR-0422 | 349 |
| SR-0061 | 231 |
| SR-0183 | 147 |
| SR-0073 | 92 |
| SR-0012 | 70 |
| SR-0724 | 56 |
ZIP 19539 at a glance
| Population | 3,823 |
| Density | 68 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $107,656 |
| Median home value | $264,192 |
| Home ownership | 94% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Berks 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 | 256 | — | 7.2 |
| 2000s | 283 | +11% | 7.7 |
| 2010s | 278 | -2% | 5.7 |
| 2020s | 374 | +34% | 5.4 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 256 a year in the 1990s and 374 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 7.0 a year in 2016–19 and 5.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 19539
How many truck accidents are there in ZIP 19539?
Berks County has had 4,182 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 1,968 people and killing 108.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in ZIP 19539?
Since 2015, US-222 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 19539: 12.
Which month has the most truck crashes in ZIP 19539?
Truck crashes in Berks County peak in January, with 9.5% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in ZIP 19539?
168 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Berks County since 2015, 4.0% of all truck crashes.
How does ZIP 19539 compare with Pennsylvania for truck crashes?
Per 100,000 residents, Berks County has 81.3 truck crashes a year; Pennsylvania has 57.2.
How can I plan a safer truck route in ZIP 19539?
Paste your stops into the free CurbWaste Route Planner: it scores your route against fatal-crash locations, suggests safer alternatives and flags low bridges.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.