ZIP 68856 (Merna, NE) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 68856: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Custer 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 141 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Custer County compares with Nebraska
Custer County against Nebraska and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Custer County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Custer County | Nebraska | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 113.6 | 60.7 | 49.7 | 1.9× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 5.3 | 4.8 | 3.4 | 1.1× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.47 | 0.57 | 0.49 | 18% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.8% | 1.8% | 2.3% | 58% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 16.0% | 16.7% | 6.2% | same |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 13.0% | 22.4% | 23.7% | 42% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 13.7% | 20.4% | 13.8% | 33% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 32.1% | 42.7% | 41.9% | 25% below the state |
| After dark | 26.7% | 24.5% | 24.8% | 1.1× the state |
Compared with Nebraska, Custer County is lower on injuries per crash, garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am). Where it is higher: crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and after dark.
The headline for Custer County: October 17.7% of truck crashes happen in October, more than any other month.
Overview
Police reported 141 crashes involving commercial trucks in Custer County since 2015: 67 people were injured and 7 were killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 31 days.
When crashes happen
The worst month is October with 17.7% of truck crashes; the quietest is February at 2.8%.
November through March accounts for 32.1% of truck crashes here, compared with 42.7% in Nebraska.
The busiest hour is 1–2 pm, with 9.9% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 16.0% of truck crashes, compared with 16.7% in Nebraska.
Where crashes happen
Since 2015, fatal crashes with a large truck within 10 miles of ZIP 68856 happened on SR-92 (2) and SR-2 (1); no road leads clearly.
Garbage & waste trucks
1 crash involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 0.7% share (Nebraska: 1.8%).
Route planning tips for ZIP 68856 fleets
- Build extra time into October routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
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 Custer County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-92 | 2 |
| SR-2 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Custer County) |
|---|---|
| US-183 | 8 |
| SR-2 | 4 |
| SR-92 | 4 |
| Ne-2 | 3 |
| Ne-92 | 3 |
| South E St | 3 |
| South E Street | 3 |
| 002 /250.950/N2 Se Of Rifle Creek Rd-Nw Of Ansel | 2 |
ZIP 68856 at a glance
| Population | 715 |
| Density | 2 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $73,000 |
| Median home value | $181,564 |
| Home ownership | 78% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Custer 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 | 7 | — | 0.4 |
| 2000s | 7 | -3% | 0.2 |
| 2010s | 10 | +46% | 0.5 |
| 2020s | 13 | +22% | 1.2 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 7 a year in the 1990s and 13 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 0.5 a year in 2016–19 and 1.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 68856
How many truck accidents are there in ZIP 68856?
Custer County has had 141 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 67 people and killing 7.
When do most truck crashes happen in ZIP 68856?
Truck crashes in Custer County peak in October, with 17.7% of the year's crashes.
Are garbage truck crashes common in ZIP 68856?
1 crash involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Custer County since 2015, 0.7% of all truck crashes.
How does ZIP 68856 compare with Nebraska for truck crashes?
The yearly rate is 113.6 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Custer County, vs 60.7 for Nebraska.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in ZIP 68856?
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.