ZIP 46356 (Lowell, IN) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 46356: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Lake 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
1.1 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 1.6 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Lake County compares with Indiana
Lake County against Indiana and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Lake County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Lake County | Indiana | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 117.4 | 80.8 | 49.7 | 1.5× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 1.6 | 2.9 | 3.4 | 45% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.35 | 0.36 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.4% | 2.4% | 2.3% | 40% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 12.4% | 10.6% | 6.2% | 1.2× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 20.1% | 22.4% | 23.7% | 10% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 16.9% | 17.4% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 42.0% | 42.7% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 35.8% | 32.0% | 24.8% | 1.1× the state |
Lake County has lower values than Indiana for deaths per 100 crashes, garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am). It runs above Indiana on crashes per 100k residents / yr, on snow, slush or ice and after dark.
The headline for ZIP 46356: US-41 4 fatal truck crashes since 2015, more than any other road within 10 miles of ZIP 46356.
Overview
Police reported 6,927 crashes involving commercial trucks in Lake County since 2015: 2,451 people were injured and 108 were killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly 2 truck crashes every day.
When crashes happen
January has the most truck crashes, 9.8% of the yearly total, while April has the fewest (6.5%).
November through March accounts for 42.0% of truck crashes here, compared with 42.7% in Indiana.
By time of day, 12–1 am stands out with 9.0% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 12.4% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Indiana: 10.6%).
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks within 10 miles of ZIP 46356 is US-41, with 4 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. After it: SR-17 (2), SR-55 (2) and I-65 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 94 of the truck crashes here, or 1.4%, compared with 2.4% in Indiana.
Garbage-truck crashes peak in August (11% of them).
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 1.1, vs 1.6 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for ZIP 46356 fleets
- Review driver schedules for January, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Check whether your routes use US-41, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- Waste haulers: August is the peak month for garbage-truck crashes in Lake County.
- With 12.4% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above Indiana), plan winter equipment checks early.
- 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 Lake County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-41 | 4 |
| SR-17 | 2 |
| SR-55 | 2 |
| I-65 | 1 |
| SR-017 | 1 |
| SR-10E | 1 |
| SR-2 | 1 |
| Sr- 17 | 1 |
| Sr- 2 | 1 |
| US-41N | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Lake County) |
|---|---|
| I-80 | 2,571 |
| I-65 | 1,116 |
| I-90 | 224 |
| US-41 | 101 |
| I-94 | 89 |
| US-30 | 85 |
| I-80E | 68 |
| US-41S | 57 |
ZIP 46356 at a glance
| Population | 19,721 |
| Density | 68 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $89,217 |
| Median home value | $277,570 |
| Home ownership | 88% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Lake 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 | 352 | — | 10.2 |
| 2000s | 554 | +58% | 8.7 |
| 2010s | 482 | -13% | 6.4 |
| 2020s | 647 | +34% | 8.8 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 352 a year in the 1990s and 647 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. NHTSA counts 6.2 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 8.8 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 46356
How many truck accidents are there in ZIP 46356?
Since 2015, 6,927 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Lake County (2,451 injured, 108 killed).
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in ZIP 46356?
Since 2015, US-41 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 46356: 4.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in ZIP 46356?
Truck crashes in Lake County peak in January, with 9.8% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in ZIP 46356?
Garbage trucks were involved in 94 reported crashes in Lake County since 2015 (1.4% of truck crashes).
How do truck crashes in ZIP 46356 compare with Indiana?
Per 100,000 residents, Lake County has 117.4 truck crashes a year; Indiana has 80.8.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in ZIP 46356?
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.