ZIP 68945 (Heartwell, NE) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 68945: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Kearney 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 79 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Kearney County compares with Nebraska
Kearney County against Nebraska and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Kearney County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Kearney County | Nebraska | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 101.0 | 60.7 | 49.7 | 1.7× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 6.7 | 4.8 | 3.4 | 1.4× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.68 | 0.57 | 0.49 | 1.2× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.3% | 1.8% | 2.3% | 27% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 20.0% | 16.7% | 6.2% | 1.2× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 18.7% | 22.4% | 23.7% | 17% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 20.0% | 20.4% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 42.7% | 42.7% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 12.0% | 24.5% | 24.8% | 51% below the state |
Kearney County has lower values than Nebraska for garbage-truck share, morning rush (6–10 am) and after dark. It runs above Nebraska on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash.
Kearney County at a glance: November worst month: 12.7% of truck crashes, vs 8.3% in an average month.
Overview
Police reported 79 crashes involving commercial trucks in Kearney County since 2015: 51 people were injured and 5 were killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 54 days.
When crashes happen
November has the most truck crashes, 12.7% of the yearly total, while February has the fewest (6.3%).
November through March accounts for 42.7% of truck crashes here, compared with 42.7% in Nebraska.
By time of day, 1–2 pm stands out with 10.7% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 20.0% 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 68945 happened on US-6 (1); no road leads clearly.
Garbage & waste trucks
1 crash involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 1.3% share (Nebraska: 1.8%).
Route planning tips for ZIP 68945 fleets
- Build extra time into November routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- 20.0% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice, above Nebraska; plan winter equipment checks before the season.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
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 Kearney County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-6 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Kearney County) |
|---|---|
| I-80 | 12 |
| US-6 | 6 |
| SR-10 | 4 |
| 006 /175.200/Us6 & Cr 26-Ne Of Axtell | 2 |
| SR-6 | 2 |
| 006 /169.380/Us6 Ne Of Cr 20-W Of Axtell | 1 |
| 006 /172.160/Us6 & N 2Nd Ave | 1 |
| 006 /174.200/E Jct Us6 & N44-E Of Axtell | 1 |
ZIP 68945 at a glance
| Population | 156 |
| Density | 1 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $64,792 |
| Home ownership | 68% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Kearney 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 | 4 | — | 0.2 |
| 2000s | 5 | +17% | 0.6 |
| 2010s | 6 | +18% | 0.6 |
| 2020s | 8 | +30% | 0.2 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 4 a year in the 1990s and 8 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 0.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 68945
How many truck crashes happen in ZIP 68945?
79 truck crashes have been reported in Kearney County since 2015, with 5 deaths and 51 injuries.
Which month has the most truck crashes in ZIP 68945?
Truck crashes in Kearney County peak in November, with 12.7% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in ZIP 68945?
Since 2015, Kearney County has reported 1 garbage-truck crash, or 1.3% of its truck crashes.
How does ZIP 68945 compare with Nebraska for truck crashes?
The yearly rate is 101.0 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Kearney County, vs 60.7 for Nebraska.
How can I plan a safer truck route in ZIP 68945?
Use the free Route Planner: enter your stops to get a risk score, safer alternatives and the low bridges on your route.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.