ZIP 68836 (Elm Creek, NE) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 68836: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Buffalo 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
9 of 622 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Buffalo County compares with Nebraska
Buffalo County against Nebraska and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Buffalo County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Buffalo County | Nebraska | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 104.3 | 60.7 | 49.7 | 1.7× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 4.8 | 4.8 | 3.4 | same |
| Injuries per crash | 0.48 | 0.57 | 0.49 | 16% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.5% | 1.8% | 2.3% | 15% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 27.1% | 16.7% | 6.2% | 1.6× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 21.1% | 22.4% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 26.8% | 20.4% | 13.8% | 1.3× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 49.2% | 42.7% | 41.9% | 1.2× the state |
| After dark | 30.1% | 24.5% | 24.8% | 1.2× the state |
Compared with Nebraska, Buffalo County is lower on injuries per crash and garbage-truck share. It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr, on snow, slush or ice and in rain, sleet or snow.
The headline for Buffalo County: 27.1% of truck crashes happened on snow, slush or ice, vs 16.7% in Nebraska.
Overview
Since 2015, 622 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Buffalo County. They injured 293 people and killed 30.
That averages about one truck crash every 7 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in December (12.9% of the year) and are lowest in June (5.6%).
November through March accounts for 49.2% of truck crashes here, compared with 42.7% in Nebraska.
By time of day, 9–10 am stands out with 6.6% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 27.1% of truck crashes, compared with 16.7% in Nebraska.
Where crashes happen
I-80 leads within 10 miles of ZIP 68836 with 6 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. Next come US-183 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 9 crashes, 1.4% of the total, against 1.8% across Nebraska.
Route planning tips for ZIP 68836 fleets
- Review driver schedules for December, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Where you can, review stops along I-80; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 27.1% of truck crashes here, more than Nebraska; schedule winter 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 Buffalo County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-80 | 6 |
| US-183 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Buffalo County) |
|---|---|
| I-80 | 173 |
| US-30 | 8 |
| US-183 | 7 |
| Ne-2 | 6 |
| 080 /255.840/I80 W Of Wb Ramp From Us183-Sw Of | 6 |
| 2Nd Ave | 5 |
| 080 /272.650/I80 Under 2Nd Ave(N44) | 4 |
| 080 /283.500/I80 E Of N10-Sw Of Gibbon | 4 |
ZIP 68836 at a glance
| Population | 1,908 |
| Density | 5 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $86,806 |
| Median home value | $224,414 |
| Home ownership | 76% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Buffalo 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 | 42 | — | 1.0 |
| 2000s | 37 | -12% | 2.0 |
| 2010s | 43 | +16% | 1.5 |
| 2020s | 60 | +39% | 1.2 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 42 to 60. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal large-truck crashes: 1.8 a year in 2016–19, 1.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 68836
How many truck accidents are there in ZIP 68836?
622 truck crashes have been reported in Buffalo County since 2015, with 30 deaths and 293 injuries.
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in ZIP 68836?
NHTSA data shows I-80 with 6 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 68836 since 2015, the highest of any road.
When do most truck crashes happen in ZIP 68836?
Truck crashes in Buffalo County peak in December, with 12.9% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in ZIP 68836?
Since 2015, Buffalo County has reported 9 garbage-truck crashes, or 1.4% of its truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in ZIP 68836 compared with Nebraska?
The yearly rate is 104.3 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Buffalo County, vs 60.7 for Nebraska.
How can I plan a safer truck route in ZIP 68836?
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.