ZIP 68849 (Kearney, NE) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 68849: 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 |
Buffalo County has lower values than Nebraska for 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
Police reported 622 crashes involving commercial trucks in Buffalo County since 2015: 293 people were injured and 30 were killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 7 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
December has the most truck crashes, 12.9% of the yearly total, while June has the fewest (5.6%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 49.2% of truck crashes, vs 42.7% for Nebraska.
The busiest hour is 9–10 am, with 6.6% of truck crashes.
27.1% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 16.7% across Nebraska.
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks within 10 miles of ZIP 68849 is I-80, with 2 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. It is followed by CR-E Coal Chute Rd (1), SR-44 (1) and US-30 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 9 of the truck crashes here, or 1.4%, compared with 1.8% in Nebraska.
Route planning tips for ZIP 68849 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.
- With 27.1% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above Nebraska), plan winter equipment checks early.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
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 Buffalo County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-80 | 2 |
| CR-E Coal Chute Rd | 1 |
| SR-44 | 1 |
| US-30 | 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 68849 at a glance
| Population | 1,385 |
| Density | 2,432 per sq mi |
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 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 42 a year in the 1990s and 60 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. NHTSA counts 1.8 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 1.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 68849
How many truck accidents are there in ZIP 68849?
Since 2015, 622 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Buffalo County (293 injured, 30 killed).
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in ZIP 68849?
Since 2015, I-80 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 68849: 2.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in ZIP 68849?
December has the most truck crashes in Buffalo County, 12.9% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in ZIP 68849?
9 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Buffalo County since 2015, 1.4% of all truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in ZIP 68849 compared with Nebraska?
The yearly rate is 104.3 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Buffalo County, vs 60.7 for Nebraska.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in ZIP 68849?
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.