ZIP 68864 (Palmer, NE) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 68864: 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
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 runs above Nebraska on crashes per 100k residents / yr and after dark.
The headline for Merrick County: October the month with the most truck crashes: 15.2% of the year's total.
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
Truck crashes peak in October (15.2% of the year) and are lowest in July (3.8%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 44.4% of truck crashes, vs 42.7% for Nebraska.
The busiest hour is 3–4 pm, with 9.6% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 12.9% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Nebraska: 16.7%).
Where crashes happen
Since 2015, fatal crashes with a large truck within 10 miles of ZIP 68864 happened on SR-92 (1); no road leads clearly.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 1 of the truck crashes here, or 0.8%, compared with 1.8% in Nebraska.
Route planning tips for ZIP 68864 fleets
- Review driver schedules for October, the month with the most truck crashes.
- 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 Merrick County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-92 | 1 |
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 68864 at a glance
| Population | 958 |
| Density | 2 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $83,365 |
| Median home value | $186,559 |
| Home ownership | 84% |
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 68864
How many truck accidents are there in ZIP 68864?
Merrick County has had 132 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 68 people and killing 5.
When do most truck crashes happen in ZIP 68864?
The worst month is October: 15.2% of truck crashes in Merrick County happen then.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in ZIP 68864?
Garbage trucks were involved in 1 reported crash in Merrick County since 2015 (0.8% of truck crashes).
How does ZIP 68864 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 68864?
The free Route Planner takes your stops and returns a route risk score, safer alternatives and low-bridge warnings.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.