ZIP 20603 (Waldorf, MD) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 20603: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Charles 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
2.7 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 3.2 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Charles County compares with Maryland
Charles County against Maryland and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Charles County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Charles County | Maryland | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 35.3 | 49.3 | 49.7 | 28% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.2 | 2.2 | 3.4 | 1.5× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.52 | 0.53 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 5.5% | 3.1% | 2.3% | 1.8× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 1.6% | 2.4% | 6.2% | 33% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 23.6% | 24.7% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 12.7% | 13.8% | 13.8% | 8% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 37.3% | 40.4% | 41.9% | 8% below the state |
| After dark | 19.8% | 25.2% | 24.8% | 22% below the state |
Charles County has lower values than Maryland for crashes per 100k residents / yr, on snow, slush or ice and in rain, sleet or snow. Where it is higher: deaths per 100 crashes and garbage-truck share.
What stands out in Charles County: 1 in 18 of truck crashes here involve garbage trucks: 5.5%, vs 3.1% in Maryland.
Overview
Charles County has recorded 710 truck crashes since 2015, with 364 people injured and 23 killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 6 days.
When crashes happen
The worst month is October with 11.1% of truck crashes; the quietest is February at 5.9%.
November through March accounts for 37.3% of truck crashes here, compared with 40.4% in Maryland.
More truck crashes happen at 12–1 pm than at any other hour (8.9%).
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 1.6% of truck crashes, compared with 2.4% in Maryland.
Where crashes happen
SR-5 leads within 10 miles of ZIP 20603 with 8 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. After it: US-301 (7), CR-185 (2) and CR-50 Middletown Rd (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
39 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 5.5% share (Maryland: 3.1%).
The most garbage-truck crashes happen in October (15%).
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 2.7, vs 3.2 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for ZIP 20603 fleets
- Review driver schedules for October, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Look at alternatives to SR-5 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- Waste haulers: October is the peak month for garbage-truck crashes in Charles County.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
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 Charles County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-5 | 8 |
| US-301 | 7 |
| CR-185 | 2 |
| CR-50 Middletown Rd | 1 |
| CR-6 | 1 |
| SR-210 | 1 |
| SR-373 | 1 |
| Sr-5Bu Leonardtown Rd | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Charles County) |
|---|---|
| Crain Hwy | 170 |
| Leonardtown Rd | 81 |
| Billingsley Rd | 25 |
| Prince Frederick Rd | 23 |
| Mattawoman Beantown Rd | 23 |
| St Charles Pkwy | 20 |
| Charles St | 13 |
| Berry Rd | 13 |
ZIP 20603 at a glance
| Population | 31,844 |
| Density | 759 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $137,946 |
| Median home value | $453,665 |
| Home ownership | 84% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Charles 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 | 34 | — | 1.0 |
| 2000s | 46 | +38% | 0.8 |
| 2010s | 48 | +3% | 1.6 |
| 2020s | 70 | +46% | 1.8 |
In the 1990s about 34 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 70. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. NHTSA counts 1.2 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 1.8 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 20603
How many truck accidents are there in ZIP 20603?
Charles County has had 710 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 364 people and killing 23.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in ZIP 20603?
NHTSA data shows SR-5 with 8 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 20603 since 2015, the highest of any road.
When do most truck crashes happen in ZIP 20603?
The worst month is October: 11.1% of truck crashes in Charles County happen then.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in ZIP 20603?
Garbage trucks were involved in 39 reported crashes in Charles County since 2015 (5.5% of truck crashes).
How does ZIP 20603 compare with Maryland for truck crashes?
The yearly rate is 35.3 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Charles County, vs 49.3 for Maryland.
How can I plan a safer truck route in ZIP 20603?
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.