ZIP 45843 (Forest, OH) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 45843: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Hardin 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
4 of 190 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Hardin County compares with Ohio
Hardin County against Ohio and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Hardin County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Hardin County | Ohio | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 54.7 | 50.8 | 49.7 | 1.1× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 8.2 | 3.1 | 3.4 | 2.6× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.58 | 0.50 | 0.49 | 1.2× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.2% | 2.5% | 2.3% | 14% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 8.7% | 7.8% | 6.2% | 1.1× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 21.9% | 21.4% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 19.1% | 18.9% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 41.5% | 42.3% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 21.3% | 25.8% | 24.8% | 17% below the state |
Hardin County has lower values than Ohio for garbage-truck share and after dark. It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash.
What stands out in Hardin County: 8.2 people killed per 100 truck crashes (Ohio: 3.1).
Overview
Police reported 190 crashes involving commercial trucks in Hardin County since 2015: 108 people were injured and 15 were killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 22 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
January has the most truck crashes, 12.6% of the yearly total, while April has the fewest (4.7%).
November through March accounts for 41.5% of truck crashes here, compared with 42.3% in Ohio.
More truck crashes happen at 1–2 pm than at any other hour (11.6%).
Road surface: 8.7% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Ohio: 7.8%).
Where crashes happen
Since 2015, fatal crashes with a large truck within 10 miles of ZIP 45843 happened on US-68 (2); no road leads clearly.
Garbage & waste trucks
4 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 2.1% share (Ohio: 2.5%).
Route planning tips for ZIP 45843 fleets
- Review driver schedules for January, the month with the most truck crashes.
- With 8.7% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above Ohio), 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 Hardin County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-68 | 2 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Hardin County) |
|---|---|
| US-68 | 20 |
| Main St | 18 |
| SR-117 | 14 |
| SR-31 | 12 |
| Detroit St | 10 |
| US-00068 | 8 |
| SR-81 | 8 |
| SR-309 | 8 |
ZIP 45843 at a glance
| Population | 4,184 |
| Density | 16 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $71,541 |
| Median home value | $170,518 |
| Home ownership | 76% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Hardin 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 | 24 | — | 0.6 |
| 2000s | 16 | -36% | 1.0 |
| 2010s | 16 | +0% | 1.1 |
| 2020s | 15 | -3% | 1.4 |
In the 1990s about 24 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 15. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. NHTSA counts 1.2 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 1.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 45843
How common are truck crashes in ZIP 45843?
190 truck crashes have been reported in Hardin County since 2015, with 15 deaths and 108 injuries.
Which month has the most truck crashes in ZIP 45843?
January has the most truck crashes in Hardin County, 12.6% of the yearly total.
Are garbage truck crashes common in ZIP 45843?
Since 2015, Hardin County has reported 4 garbage-truck crashes, or 2.1% of its truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in ZIP 45843 compared with Ohio?
The yearly rate is 54.7 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Hardin County, vs 50.8 for Ohio.
How can I plan a safer truck route in ZIP 45843?
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.