ZIP 21251 (Baltimore, MD) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 21251: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Baltimore city, 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
4.6 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 2.4 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Baltimore city compares with Maryland
Baltimore city against Maryland and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Baltimore city stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Baltimore city | Maryland | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 44.2 | 49.3 | 49.7 | 10% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.4 | 2.2 | 3.4 | 1.1× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.86 | 0.53 | 0.49 | 1.6× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 3.9% | 3.1% | 2.3% | 1.3× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 2.6% | 2.4% | 6.2% | 1.1× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 24.6% | 24.7% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 13.2% | 13.8% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 41.7% | 40.4% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 23.6% | 25.2% | 24.8% | same |
Baltimore city has lower values than Maryland for crashes per 100k residents / yr. It runs above Maryland on deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share.
Baltimore city at a glance: +173% change in yearly reported truck crashes from the 2000s (75) to the 2010s (204).
Overview
Since 2015, 2,912 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Baltimore city. They injured 2,436 people and killed 66.
That averages about 1 truck crash a day in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in December (9.5% of the year) and are lowest in November (7.1%).
November through March accounts for 41.7% of truck crashes here, compared with 40.4% in Maryland.
By time of day, 8–9 am stands out with 7.9% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 2.6% of truck crashes, compared with 2.4% in Maryland.
Where crashes happen
Within this area, I-95 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (13). After it: I-695 (11), US-40 (7) and I-83 (3).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 111 crashes, 3.8% of the total, against 3.1% across Maryland.
Garbage-truck crashes peak in July (12% of them).
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 4.6, vs 2.4 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for ZIP 21251 fleets
- Build extra time into December routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Look at alternatives to I-95 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in July; review collection routes for that month.
- With 2.6% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above Maryland), plan winter equipment checks early.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
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 Baltimore city
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-95 | 13 |
| I-695 | 11 |
| US-40 | 7 |
| I-83 | 3 |
| SR-151 | 3 |
| I-70 | 2 |
| Mu-1370 | 2 |
| SR-7 | 2 |
| US-1 | 2 |
| CR-3739 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Baltimore city) |
|---|---|
| Fort Mchenry Tunnel | 479 |
| Harbor Tunnel Thruway | 50 |
| Acrs Marked Off Road | 44 |
| Balto Beltway | 36 |
| Is 95 - Fort Mchenry Tunnel | 31 |
| E Monument St | 25 |
| Reisterstown Rd | 25 |
| Pulaski Hwy | 24 |
ZIP 21251 at a glance
| Population | 191 |
| Density | 623 per sq mi |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Baltimore city 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 | 31 | — | 4.3 |
| 2000s | 61 | +96% | 4.4 |
| 2010s | 204 | +233% | 1.9 |
| 2020s | 274 | +34% | 3.4 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 31 to 274. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 2.8 a year in 2016–19 and 3.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 21251
How many truck crashes happen in ZIP 21251?
Since 2015, 2,912 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Baltimore city (2,436 injured, 66 killed).
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in ZIP 21251?
NHTSA data shows I-95 with 13 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 21251 since 2015, the highest of any road.
Which month has the most truck crashes in ZIP 21251?
The worst month is December: 9.5% of truck crashes in Baltimore city happen then.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in ZIP 21251?
Since 2015, Baltimore city has reported 111 garbage-truck crashes, or 3.8% of its truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in ZIP 21251 compared with Maryland?
The yearly rate is 44.2 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Baltimore city, vs 49.3 for Maryland.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in ZIP 21251?
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.