ZIP 43204 (Columbus, OH) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 43204: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Franklin 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
0.8 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 2.1 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Franklin County compares with Ohio
Franklin County against Ohio and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Franklin County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Franklin County | Ohio | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 41.7 | 50.8 | 49.7 | 18% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.1 | 3.1 | 3.4 | 32% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.52 | 0.50 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.1% | 2.5% | 2.3% | 17% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 3.7% | 7.8% | 6.2% | 52% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 21.6% | 21.4% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 17.9% | 18.9% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 39.1% | 42.3% | 41.9% | 8% below the state |
| After dark | 25.7% | 25.8% | 24.8% | same |
Franklin County has lower values than Ohio for crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and garbage-truck share.
What stands out in Franklin County: August garbage-truck crashes peak in August (17% of the year's total).
Overview
Franklin County has recorded 6,716 truck crashes since 2015, with 3,466 people injured and 140 killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly 2 truck crashes every day.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in September (9.6% of the year) and are lowest in March (7.2%).
November through March accounts for 39.1% of truck crashes here, compared with 42.3% in Ohio.
By time of day, 12–1 am stands out with 8.5% of truck crashes.
3.7% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 7.8% across Ohio.
Where crashes happen
I-71 leads within 10 miles of ZIP 43204 with 13 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. It is followed by I-270 (11), I-70 (10) and CR-22 Fisher Rd (2).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 141 of the truck crashes here, or 2.1%, compared with 2.5% in Ohio.
Their busiest month is August, with 17% of garbage-truck crashes.
They recorded 0.8 deaths per 100 crashes, against 2.1 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for ZIP 43204 fleets
- Plan September schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Franklin County.
- Where you can, review stops along I-71; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- Waste haulers: August is the peak month for garbage-truck crashes in Franklin County.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
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 Franklin County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-71 | 13 |
| I-270 | 11 |
| I-70 | 10 |
| CR-22 Fisher Rd | 2 |
| SR-104 | 2 |
| US-23 | 2 |
| CR-123 Williams Rd | 1 |
| CR-125 Frank Rd | 1 |
| CR-26 | 1 |
| CR-26 Phillipi Rd | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Franklin County) |
|---|---|
| Ir 270 | 1,250 |
| Ir 70 | 1,125 |
| Ir 71 | 953 |
| Ir 670 | 187 |
| US-33 | 151 |
| SR-315 | 122 |
| Alum Creek Dr | 108 |
| US-23 | 104 |
ZIP 43204 at a glance
| Population | 42,962 |
| Density | 1,774 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $59,266 |
| Median home value | $184,800 |
| Home ownership | 50% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Franklin 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 | 39 | — | 8.9 |
| 2000s | 334 | +751% | 8.0 |
| 2010s | 555 | +66% | 7.8 |
| 2020s | 492 | -11% | 10.0 |
In the 1990s about 39 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 492. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. NHTSA counts 8.8 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 10.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 43204
How common are truck crashes in ZIP 43204?
Since 2015, 6,716 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Franklin County (3,466 injured, 140 killed).
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in ZIP 43204?
NHTSA data shows I-71 with 13 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 43204 since 2015, the highest of any road.
When do most truck crashes happen in ZIP 43204?
The worst month is September: 9.6% of truck crashes in Franklin County happen then.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in ZIP 43204?
Garbage trucks were involved in 141 reported crashes in Franklin County since 2015 (2.1% of truck crashes).
How do truck crashes in ZIP 43204 compare with Ohio?
The yearly rate is 41.7 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Franklin County, vs 50.8 for Ohio.
How can I plan a safer truck route in ZIP 43204?
The free Route Planner takes your stops and returns a route risk score, safer alternatives and low-bridge warnings.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.