ZIP 21788 (Thurmont, MD) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 21788: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Frederick 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
10.2 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 2.8 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Frederick County compares with Maryland
Frederick County against Maryland and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Frederick County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Frederick County | Maryland | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 61.2 | 49.3 | 49.7 | 1.2× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.8 | 2.2 | 3.4 | 1.3× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.46 | 0.53 | 0.49 | 13% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.4% | 3.1% | 2.3% | 21% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 2.7% | 2.4% | 6.2% | 1.1× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 26.6% | 24.7% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 14.6% | 13.8% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 39.5% | 40.4% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 24.8% | 25.2% | 24.8% | same |
Frederick County sits below Maryland on injuries per crash and garbage-truck share. Where it is higher: crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and on snow, slush or ice.
ZIP 21788 at a glance: US-15 5 fatal truck crashes since 2015, more than any other road within 10 miles of ZIP 21788.
Overview
Since 2015, 2,133 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Frederick County. They injured 974 people and killed 60.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 2 days.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in October (9.6% of the year) and are lowest in February (7.2%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 39.5% of truck crashes, against 40.4% across Maryland.
The busiest hour is 8–9 am, with 7.7% of truck crashes.
2.7% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 2.4% across Maryland.
Where crashes happen
Within this area, US-15 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (5). It is followed by CR-123 (2), SR-77 (2) and CR-16 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
50 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 2.3% share (Maryland: 3.1%).
Garbage-truck crashes peak in January (14% of them).
Per 100 crashes, garbage trucks recorded 10.2 deaths compared with 2.8 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for ZIP 21788 fleets
- Plan October schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Frederick County.
- Look at alternatives to US-15 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- Waste haulers: January is the peak month for garbage-truck crashes in Frederick County.
- 26.6% of truck crashes happen between 6 and 10 am, above Maryland; consider earlier or later starts where possible.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 2.7% of truck crashes here, more than Maryland; schedule winter checks early.
- 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 Frederick County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-15 | 5 |
| CR-123 | 2 |
| SR-77 | 2 |
| CR-16 | 1 |
| SR-194 | 1 |
| SR-26 | 1 |
| SR-491 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Frederick County) |
|---|---|
| Eisenhower Memorial Hwy | 465 |
| Balto National Pike | 222 |
| Catoctin Mountain Hwy | 174 |
| Liberty Rd | 71 |
| Jefferson National Pike | 67 |
| Buckeystown Pike | 65 |
| Green Valley Rd | 59 |
| Frederick Freeway | 57 |
ZIP 21788 at a glance
| Population | 11,654 |
| Density | 69 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $98,856 |
| Median home value | $380,879 |
| Home ownership | 82% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Frederick 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 | 78 | — | 3.6 |
| 2000s | 92 | +17% | 3.5 |
| 2010s | 128 | +40% | 3.7 |
| 2020s | 199 | +55% | 5.2 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 78 a year in the 1990s and 199 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. NHTSA counts 4.5 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 5.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 21788
How many truck accidents are there in ZIP 21788?
Since 2015, 2,133 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Frederick County (974 injured, 60 killed).
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in ZIP 21788?
NHTSA data shows US-15 with 5 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 21788 since 2015, the highest of any road.
Which month has the most truck crashes in ZIP 21788?
Truck crashes in Frederick County peak in October, with 9.6% of the year's crashes.
Are garbage truck crashes common in ZIP 21788?
Garbage trucks were involved in 50 reported crashes in Frederick County since 2015 (2.3% of truck crashes).
How do truck crashes in ZIP 21788 compare with Maryland?
Per 100,000 residents, Frederick County has 61.2 truck crashes a year; Maryland has 49.3.
How can I plan a safer truck route in ZIP 21788?
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.