ZIP 20855 (Derwood, MD) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 20855: 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 runs above Maryland on garbage-truck share and in rain, sleet or snow.
What stands out in Montgomery County: 1 in 21 of truck crashes here involve garbage trucks: 4.8%, vs 3.1% in Maryland.
Overview
Police reported 3,957 crashes involving commercial trucks in Montgomery County since 2015: 2,079 people were injured and 38 were killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly 1 truck crash every day.
When crashes happen
The worst month is December with 9.6% of truck crashes; the quietest is February at 6.8%.
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 40.1% of truck crashes, vs 40.4% for Maryland.
More truck crashes happen at 8–9 am than at any other hour (8.4%).
Road surface: 1.9% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Maryland: 2.4%).
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks within 10 miles of ZIP 20855 is I-270, with 4 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. Next come I-495 (3), SR-200 (2) and SR-355 (2).
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 20855 fleets
- Plan December schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Montgomery County.
- Check whether your routes use I-270, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- Waste haulers: September is the peak month for garbage-truck crashes in Montgomery County.
- 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 Montgomery County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-270 | 4 |
| I-495 | 3 |
| SR-200 | 2 |
| SR-355 | 2 |
| Ashbury Dr | 1 |
| CR-124 Arcola Ave | 1 |
| CR-212 Shady Grove Rd | 1 |
| CR-3283 | 1 |
| CR-4139 Wightman Rd | 1 |
| I-97 | 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 20855 at a glance
| Population | 17,279 |
| Density | 510 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $149,110 |
| Median home value | $640,379 |
| Home ownership | 74% |
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 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 177 to 354. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. NHTSA counts 2.0 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 3.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 20855
How many truck crashes happen in ZIP 20855?
Montgomery County has had 3,957 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 2,079 people and killing 38.
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in ZIP 20855?
NHTSA data shows I-270 with 4 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 20855 since 2015, the highest of any road.
When do most truck crashes happen in ZIP 20855?
Truck crashes in Montgomery County peak in December, with 9.6% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in ZIP 20855?
Garbage trucks were involved in 190 reported crashes in Montgomery County since 2015 (4.8% of truck crashes).
How does ZIP 20855 compare with Maryland for truck crashes?
The yearly rate is 31.8 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Montgomery County, vs 49.3 for Maryland.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in ZIP 20855?
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.