ZIP 68526 (Lincoln, NE) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 68526: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Lancaster 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
1.5 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 2.4 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Lancaster County compares with Nebraska
Lancaster County against Nebraska and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Lancaster County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Lancaster County | Nebraska | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 35.6 | 60.7 | 49.7 | 41% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.4 | 4.8 | 3.4 | 50% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.59 | 0.57 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 5.0% | 1.8% | 2.3% | 2.8× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 14.0% | 16.7% | 6.2% | 17% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 25.2% | 22.4% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 18.3% | 20.4% | 13.8% | 10% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 42.6% | 42.7% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 20.9% | 24.5% | 24.8% | 15% below the state |
Lancaster County sits below Nebraska on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and on snow, slush or ice. It runs above Nebraska on garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am).
What stands out in Lancaster County: 1 in 20 of truck crashes here involve garbage trucks: 5.0%, vs 1.8% in Nebraska.
Overview
Police reported 1,360 crashes involving commercial trucks in Lancaster County since 2015: 801 people were injured and 34 were killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 3 days.
When crashes happen
The worst month is February with 10.2% of truck crashes; the quietest is April at 7.0%.
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 42.6% of truck crashes, vs 42.7% for Nebraska.
The busiest hour is 12–1 pm, with 8.4% of truck crashes.
14.0% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 16.7% across Nebraska.
Where crashes happen
Within this area, SR-2 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (3). It is followed by SR-43 (2), US-34 (2) and Abigail Dr (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 67 crashes, 4.9% of the total, against 1.8% across Nebraska.
Garbage-truck crashes peak in February (16% of them).
They recorded 1.5 deaths per 100 crashes, against 2.4 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for ZIP 68526 fleets
- Plan February schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Lancaster County.
- Look at alternatives to SR-2 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in February; review collection routes for that month.
- Morning starts matter: 25.2% of truck crashes fall between 6 and 10 am, higher than Nebraska.
- 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 Lancaster County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-2 | 3 |
| SR-43 | 2 |
| US-34 | 2 |
| Abigail Dr | 1 |
| CR-ADAMS St | 1 |
| CR-SOUTH 148Th Street | 1 |
| CR-SW 14Th St | 1 |
| Salt Creek Roadway | 1 |
| US-6 | 1 |
| Westland Cir | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Lancaster County) |
|---|---|
| I-80 | 145 |
| US-77 | 28 |
| US-6 | 28 |
| SR-2 | 12 |
| Cornhusker Hwy | 9 |
| US-34 | 9 |
| SR-77 | 6 |
| SR-6 | 6 |
ZIP 68526 at a glance
| Population | 7,944 |
| Density | 253 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $113,910 |
| Median home value | $449,223 |
| Home ownership | 74% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Lancaster 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 | 126 | — | 1.9 |
| 2000s | 107 | -15% | 2.7 |
| 2010s | 111 | +4% | 2.2 |
| 2020s | 117 | +6% | 2.0 |
In the 1990s about 126 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 117. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 2.5 a year in 2016–19 and 2.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 68526
How common are truck crashes in ZIP 68526?
Since 2015, 1,360 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Lancaster County (801 injured, 34 killed).
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in ZIP 68526?
Since 2015, SR-2 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 68526: 3.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in ZIP 68526?
Truck crashes in Lancaster County peak in February, with 10.2% of the year's crashes.
Are garbage truck crashes common in ZIP 68526?
Since 2015, Lancaster County has reported 67 garbage-truck crashes, or 4.9% of its truck crashes.
How does ZIP 68526 compare with Nebraska for truck crashes?
Per 100,000 residents, Lancaster County has 35.6 truck crashes a year; Nebraska has 60.7.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in ZIP 68526?
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.