ZIP 22438 (Champlain, VA) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 22438: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Essex 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
9 of 117 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Essex County compares with Virginia
Essex County against Virginia and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Essex County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Essex County | Virginia | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 96.2 | 51.1 | 49.7 | 1.9× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.5 | 2.6 | 3.4 | 1.3× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.66 | 0.44 | 0.49 | 1.5× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 8.0% | 2.5% | 2.3% | 3.1× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 0.9% | 3.0% | 6.2% | 71% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 33.6% | 22.7% | 23.7% | 1.5× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 13.3% | 14.8% | 13.8% | 10% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 36.3% | 39.8% | 41.9% | 9% below the state |
| After dark | 10.6% | 24.3% | 24.8% | 56% below the state |
Compared with Virginia, Essex County is lower on on snow, slush or ice, in rain, sleet or snow and winter months (nov–mar). Where it is higher: crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash.
The headline for Essex County: 1 in 13 of truck crashes here involve garbage trucks: 8.0%, vs 2.5% in Virginia.
Overview
Police reported 117 crashes involving commercial trucks in Essex County since 2015: 75 people were injured and 4 were killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 36 days.
When crashes happen
August has the most truck crashes, 12.8% of the yearly total, while May has the fewest (5.1%).
November through March accounts for 36.3% of truck crashes here, compared with 39.8% in Virginia.
By time of day, 9–10 am stands out with 13.7% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 0.9% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Virginia: 3.0%).
Where crashes happen
Since 2015, fatal crashes with a large truck within 10 miles of ZIP 22438 happened on CR-659 (1), SR-3 (1) and US-17 (1); no road leads clearly.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 9 crashes, 7.7% of the total, against 2.5% across Virginia.
Route planning tips for ZIP 22438 fleets
- Review driver schedules for August, the month with the most truck crashes.
- 33.6% of truck crashes happen between 6 and 10 am, above Virginia; consider earlier or later starts where possible.
- 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 Essex County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| CR-659 | 1 |
| SR-3 | 1 |
| US-17 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Essex County) |
|---|---|
| Route 17 Church Lane | 14 |
| Tidewater Trail | 9 |
| Route 17 Tappahannock Boulevard | 8 |
| Richmond Highway | 7 |
| Rt 17-Tidewater Trail | 5 |
| Tidewater Trail - Rt 17 | 5 |
| Rt 17/Tidewater Trail | 3 |
| 360/Richmond Hwy | 2 |
ZIP 22438 at a glance
| Population | 252 |
| Density | 2 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $87,188 |
| Home ownership | 90% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Essex 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 | 5 | — | 0.3 |
| 2000s | 7 | +41% | 0.6 |
| 2010s | 8 | +7% | 0.2 |
| 2020s | 10 | +29% | 0.6 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 5 to 10. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. NHTSA counts 0.2 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 0.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 22438
How common are truck crashes in ZIP 22438?
Since 2015, 117 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Essex County (75 injured, 4 killed).
Which month has the most truck crashes in ZIP 22438?
August has the most truck crashes in Essex County, 12.8% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in ZIP 22438?
Garbage trucks were involved in 9 reported crashes in Essex County since 2015 (7.7% of truck crashes).
How do truck crashes in ZIP 22438 compare with Virginia?
Essex County records 96.2 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 51.1 across Virginia.
How can I plan a safer truck route in ZIP 22438?
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.