ZIP 19609 (Reading, PA) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 19609: 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.
ZIP 19609 at a glance: US-222 4 fatal truck crashes since 2015, more than any other road within 10 miles of ZIP 19609.
Overview
Since 2015, 4,182 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Berks County. They injured 1,968 people and killed 108.
That averages about 1 truck crash a day in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
The worst month is January with 9.5% of truck crashes; the quietest is April at 7.3%.
The five winter months (November to March) hold 43.5% of truck crashes, against 42.7% across Pennsylvania.
The busiest hour is 8–9 am, with 7.1% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 8.5% of truck crashes, compared with 9.1% in Pennsylvania.
Where crashes happen
US-222 leads within 10 miles of ZIP 19609 with 4 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. It is followed by SR-61 (3), I-176 (2) and I-76 (2).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 168 crashes, 4.0% of the total, against 3.6% across Pennsylvania.
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 19609 fleets
- Plan January schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Berks County.
- Check whether your routes use US-222, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in March; review collection routes for that month.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
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 Berks County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-222 | 4 |
| SR-61 | 3 |
| I-176 | 2 |
| I-76 | 2 |
| SR-183 | 2 |
| US-422 | 2 |
| E Mountain Ave | 1 |
| Oley St | 1 |
| Papermill Rd | 1 |
| Rising Sun Av | 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 19609 at a glance
| Population | 9,874 |
| Density | 1,660 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $82,576 |
| Median home value | $247,157 |
| Home ownership | 83% |
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 |
In the 1990s about 256 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 374. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. NHTSA counts 7.0 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 5.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 19609
How many truck accidents are there in ZIP 19609?
4,182 truck crashes have been reported in Berks County since 2015, with 108 deaths and 1,968 injuries.
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in ZIP 19609?
NHTSA data shows US-222 with 4 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 19609 since 2015, the highest of any road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in ZIP 19609?
January has the most truck crashes in Berks County, 9.5% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in ZIP 19609?
Garbage trucks were involved in 168 reported crashes in Berks County since 2015 (4.0% of truck crashes).
How do truck crashes in ZIP 19609 compare with Pennsylvania?
Berks County records 81.3 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 57.2 across Pennsylvania.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in ZIP 19609?
The free Route Planner takes your stops and returns a route risk score, safer alternatives and low-bridge warnings.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.