ZIP 68628 (Clarks, NE) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 68628: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Merrick 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 of 132 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
No fatal large-truck crashes with a road name recorded here since 2015.
How Merrick County compares with Nebraska
Merrick County against Nebraska and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Merrick County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Merrick County | Nebraska | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 143.8 | 60.7 | 49.7 | 2.4× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 4.0 | 4.8 | 3.4 | 17% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.51 | 0.57 | 0.49 | 11% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.8% | 1.8% | 2.3% | 55% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 12.9% | 16.7% | 6.2% | 23% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 20.2% | 22.4% | 23.7% | 10% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 12.9% | 20.4% | 13.8% | 37% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 44.4% | 42.7% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 26.6% | 24.5% | 24.8% | 1.1× the state |
Compared with Nebraska, Merrick County is lower on deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share. It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr and after dark.
Merrick County at a glance: October 15.2% of truck crashes happen in October, more than any other month.
Overview
Merrick County has recorded 132 truck crashes since 2015, with 68 people injured and 5 killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 32 days.
When crashes happen
The worst month is October with 15.2% of truck crashes; the quietest is July at 3.8%.
The five winter months (November to March) hold 44.4% of truck crashes, against 42.7% across Nebraska.
More truck crashes happen at 3–4 pm than at any other hour (9.6%).
12.9% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 16.7% across Nebraska.
Where crashes happen
NHTSA lists no located fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 68628 since 2015.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 1 crash, 0.8% of the total, against 1.8% across Nebraska.
Route planning tips for ZIP 68628 fleets
- Review driver schedules for October, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
About the data
Crash counts come from the FMCSA crash file (police-reported crashes involving trucks over 10,000 lb); fatal-crash locations come from NHTSA FARS. Text on this page states only what these numbers show.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Merrick County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
No fatal crashes involving a large truck with a road name were recorded within 10 miles since 2015.
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Merrick County) |
|---|---|
| US-30 | 31 |
| Ne-92 | 5 |
| SR-30 | 4 |
| 030 /352.990/Us30 Ne Of "W" Rd-Ne Of Clarks | 3 |
| SR-92 | 3 |
| 014 /83.700/N14 & "P" Rd-N Of Central City | 2 |
| 030 /338.450/16Th St(Us30) W Of 5Th Ave-Ent | 2 |
| 030 /351.890/Us30 Sw Of 27Th Rd-Ne Of Clarks | 2 |
ZIP 68628 at a glance
| Population | 848 |
| Density | 3 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $58,438 |
| Median home value | $198,372 |
| Home ownership | 92% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Merrick 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 | 6 | — | 0.7 |
| 2000s | 8 | +34% | 0.6 |
| 2010s | 9 | +10% | 0.5 |
| 2020s | 12 | +32% | 0.6 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 6 to 12. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 0.5 a year in 2016–19 and 0.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 68628
How common are truck crashes in ZIP 68628?
132 truck crashes have been reported in Merrick County since 2015, with 5 deaths and 68 injuries.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in ZIP 68628?
Truck crashes in Merrick County peak in October, with 15.2% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in ZIP 68628?
1 crash involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Merrick County since 2015, 0.8% of all truck crashes.
How does ZIP 68628 compare with Nebraska for truck crashes?
The yearly rate is 143.8 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Merrick County, vs 60.7 for Nebraska.
How can I plan a safer truck route in ZIP 68628?
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.