ZIP 20842 (Dickerson, MD) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 20842: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Montgomery 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
2.2 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 1.0 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Montgomery County compares with Maryland
Montgomery County against Maryland and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Montgomery County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Montgomery County | Maryland | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 31.8 | 49.3 | 49.7 | 35% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 1.0 | 2.2 | 3.4 | 55% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.53 | 0.53 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 4.8% | 3.1% | 2.3% | 1.6× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 1.9% | 2.4% | 6.2% | 19% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 26.3% | 24.7% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 15.9% | 13.8% | 13.8% | 1.1× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 40.1% | 40.4% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 24.9% | 25.2% | 24.8% | same |
Montgomery County sits below Maryland on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and on snow, slush or ice. It stands out for higher garbage-truck share and in rain, sleet or snow.
The headline for Montgomery County: 1 in 21 crashes involve a garbage truck (190 since 2015), vs 3.1% across Maryland.
Overview
Police reported 3,957 crashes involving commercial trucks in Montgomery County since 2015: 2,079 people were injured and 38 were killed.
That averages about 1 truck crash a day in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
December has the most truck crashes, 9.6% of the yearly total, while February has the fewest (6.8%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 40.1% of truck crashes, vs 40.4% for Maryland.
The busiest hour is 8–9 am, with 8.4% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 1.9% of truck crashes, compared with 2.4% in Maryland.
Where crashes happen
Within this area, US-15 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (4). After it: I-270 (3), CR-39 (1) and I-97 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 190 crashes, 4.8% of the total, against 3.1% across Maryland.
The most garbage-truck crashes happen in September (12%).
Per 100 crashes, garbage trucks recorded 2.2 deaths compared with 1.0 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for ZIP 20842 fleets
- Review driver schedules for December, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Where you can, review stops along US-15; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in September; review collection routes for that month.
- 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 Montgomery County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-15 | 4 |
| I-270 | 3 |
| CR-39 | 1 |
| I-97 | 1 |
| SR-355 | 1 |
| SR-80 | 1 |
| Sr-Green Valley Rd | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Montgomery County) |
|---|---|
| Capital Beltway | 851 |
| Eisenhower Memorial Hwy | 456 |
| Georgia Ave | 92 |
| Shady Grove Rd | 83 |
| Frederick Rd | 82 |
| Acrs Marked Off Road | 75 |
| New Hampshire Ave | 72 |
| Rockville Pike | 55 |
ZIP 20842 at a glance
| Population | 2,369 |
| Density | 16 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $204,013 |
| Median home value | $722,684 |
| Home ownership | 82% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Montgomery 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 | 177 | — | 3.7 |
| 2000s | 206 | +17% | 3.6 |
| 2010s | 262 | +27% | 2.6 |
| 2020s | 354 | +35% | 3.0 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 177 a year in the 1990s and 354 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 2.0 a year in 2016–19 and 3.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 20842
How many truck crashes happen in ZIP 20842?
Since 2015, 3,957 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Montgomery County (2,079 injured, 38 killed).
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in ZIP 20842?
NHTSA data shows US-15 with 4 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 20842 since 2015, the highest of any road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in ZIP 20842?
Truck crashes in Montgomery County peak in December, with 9.6% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in ZIP 20842?
Since 2015, Montgomery County has reported 190 garbage-truck crashes, or 4.8% of its truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in ZIP 20842 compared with Maryland?
Per 100,000 residents, Montgomery County has 31.8 truck crashes a year; Maryland has 49.3.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in ZIP 20842?
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.