Waterman, IL truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Waterman: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Waterman and DeKalb County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use DeKalb County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
15 of 481 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How DeKalb County compares with Illinois
DeKalb County against Illinois and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where DeKalb County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | DeKalb County | Illinois | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 41.0 | 56.0 | 49.7 | 27% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 4.4 | 2.6 | 3.4 | 1.7× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.55 | 0.50 | 0.49 | 1.1× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 3.1% | 1.4% | 2.3% | 2.3× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 10.1% | 9.0% | 6.2% | 1.1× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 27.8% | 24.3% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 16.2% | 17.9% | 13.8% | 9% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 40.0% | 42.0% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 19.3% | 24.1% | 24.8% | 20% below the state |
DeKalb County sits below Illinois on crashes per 100k residents / yr, in rain, sleet or snow and after dark. It runs above Illinois on deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share.
DeKalb County at a glance: 1 in 33 of truck crashes here involve garbage trucks: 3.1%, vs 1.4% in Illinois.
Overview
Since 2015, 481 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in DeKalb County. They injured 269 people and killed 22.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 9 days.
With 2 truck crashes reported in Waterman since 2015, this page uses DeKalb County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
July has the most truck crashes, 11.4% of the yearly total, while April has the fewest (6.0%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 40.0% of truck crashes, vs 42.0% for Illinois.
More truck crashes happen at 8–9 am than at any other hour (8.5%).
Road surface: 10.1% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Illinois: 9.0%).
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks within 10 miles of Waterman is SR-23, with 6 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. Next come East Sandwich Rd (1), Lee Rd (1) and Peace Rd (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 15 crashes, 3.1% of the total, against 1.4% across Illinois.
Route planning tips for Waterman fleets
- Plan July schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in DeKalb County.
- Where you can, review stops along SR-23; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- 27.8% of truck crashes happen between 6 and 10 am, above Illinois; consider earlier or later starts where possible.
- 10.1% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice, above Illinois; plan winter equipment checks before the season.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
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 DeKalb County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-23 | 6 |
| East Sandwich Rd | 1 |
| Lee Rd | 1 |
| Peace Rd | 1 |
| Sr- 23 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (DeKalb County) |
|---|---|
| I-88 | 56 |
| Peace Rd | 26 |
| State Rte 23 | 17 |
| E Lincoln Hwy | 15 |
| Perry Rd | 13 |
| S Peace Rd | 11 |
| State Rte 64 | 11 |
| Glidden Rd | 9 |
Waterman at a glance
| Population | 1,543 |
| Land area | 1.5 sq mi |
| Density | 1,018 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 60556) | $100,186 |
| Median home value (ZIP 60556) | $235,735 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in DeKalb 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 | 15 | — | 1.0 |
| 2000s | 37 | +142% | 1.2 |
| 2010s | 38 | +3% | 0.8 |
| 2020s | 44 | +16% | 3.2 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 15 to 44. 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 3.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Waterman
How many truck accidents are there in Waterman?
Since 2015, 481 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in DeKalb County (269 injured, 22 killed).
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in Waterman?
Since 2015, SR-23 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Waterman: 6.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Waterman?
July has the most truck crashes in DeKalb County, 11.4% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Waterman?
Garbage trucks were involved in 15 reported crashes in DeKalb County since 2015 (3.1% of truck crashes).
What is the truck crash rate in Waterman compared with Illinois?
The yearly rate is 41.0 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in DeKalb County, vs 56.0 for Illinois.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Waterman?
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.