ZIP 46540 (Middlebury, IN) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 46540: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Elkhart 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
0.0 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 3.3 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Elkhart County compares with Indiana
Elkhart County against Indiana and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Elkhart County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Elkhart County | Indiana | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 81.7 | 80.8 | 49.7 | same |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.3 | 2.9 | 3.4 | 1.1× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.42 | 0.36 | 0.49 | 1.2× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 3.1% | 2.4% | 2.3% | 1.3× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 14.3% | 10.6% | 6.2% | 1.4× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 28.3% | 22.4% | 23.7% | 1.3× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 17.2% | 17.4% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 45.6% | 42.7% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 27.2% | 32.0% | 24.8% | 15% below the state |
Compared with Indiana, Elkhart County is lower on after dark. Where it is higher: deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share.
The headline for ZIP 46540: US-20 5 fatal truck crashes since 2015, more than any other road within 10 miles of ZIP 46540.
Overview
Police reported 1,956 crashes involving commercial trucks in Elkhart County since 2015: 815 people were injured and 63 were killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 2 days.
When crashes happen
January has the most truck crashes, 11.3% of the yearly total, while April has the fewest (7.0%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 45.6% of truck crashes, against 42.7% across Indiana.
By time of day, 11 am–12 pm stands out with 7.9% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 14.3% of truck crashes, compared with 10.6% in Indiana.
Where crashes happen
Within this area, US-20 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (5). After it: I-80 (4), SR-120 (2) and SR-5 (2).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 59 of the truck crashes here, or 3.0%, compared with 2.4% in Indiana.
Garbage-truck crashes peak in November (17% of them).
They recorded 0.0 deaths per 100 crashes, against 3.3 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for ZIP 46540 fleets
- Review driver schedules for January, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Look at alternatives to US-20 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- For residential and commercial waste routes, look again at November schedules: garbage-truck crashes peak then.
- 28.3% of truck crashes happen between 6 and 10 am, above Indiana; consider earlier or later starts where possible.
- With 14.3% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above Indiana), 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
Sources: the FMCSA crash file for all reported truck crashes and NHTSA FARS for fatal crashes with a large truck. Every statement here comes straight from those numbers.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Elkhart County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-20 | 5 |
| I-80 | 4 |
| SR-120 | 2 |
| SR-5 | 2 |
| US-12 | 2 |
| CR-35 | 1 |
| CR-38 | 1 |
| CR-40 | 1 |
| Lincoln Ave | 1 |
| SR-120E | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Elkhart County) |
|---|---|
| I-80 | 245 |
| US-20 | 207 |
| US-33 | 110 |
| US-6 | 77 |
| SR-15 | 71 |
| SR-13 | 59 |
| SR-19 | 47 |
| SR-120 | 47 |
ZIP 46540 at a glance
| Population | 12,993 |
| Density | 84 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $96,615 |
| Median home value | $313,928 |
| Home ownership | 85% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Elkhart 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 | 89 | — | 5.4 |
| 2000s | 148 | +67% | 4.3 |
| 2010s | 160 | +8% | 4.2 |
| 2020s | 155 | -3% | 5.0 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 89 to 155. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 4.5 a year in 2016–19 and 5.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 46540
How many truck crashes happen in ZIP 46540?
Since 2015, 1,956 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Elkhart County (815 injured, 63 killed).
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in ZIP 46540?
NHTSA data shows US-20 with 5 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 46540 since 2015, the highest of any road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in ZIP 46540?
Truck crashes in Elkhart County peak in January, with 11.3% of the year's crashes.
Are garbage truck crashes common in ZIP 46540?
Garbage trucks were involved in 59 reported crashes in Elkhart County since 2015 (3.0% of truck crashes).
How do truck crashes in ZIP 46540 compare with Indiana?
Per 100,000 residents, Elkhart County has 81.7 truck crashes a year; Indiana has 80.8.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in ZIP 46540?
Paste your stops into the free CurbWaste Route Planner: it scores your route against fatal-crash locations, suggests safer alternatives and flags low bridges.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.