Wheeler County, NE truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Wheeler County: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes, 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
0 of 23 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
No fatal large-truck crashes with a road name recorded here since 2015.
How Wheeler County compares with Nebraska
Wheeler County against Nebraska and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Wheeler County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Wheeler County | Nebraska | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 225.0 | 60.7 | 49.7 | 3.7× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 5.0 | 4.8 | 3.4 | same |
| Injuries per crash | 0.85 | 0.57 | 0.49 | 1.5× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.0% | 1.8% | 2.3% | 100% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 5.0% | 16.7% | 6.2% | 70% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 30.0% | 22.4% | 23.7% | 1.3× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 10.0% | 20.4% | 13.8% | 51% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 40.0% | 42.7% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 30.0% | 24.5% | 24.8% | 1.2× the state |
Wheeler County has lower values than Nebraska for garbage-truck share, on snow, slush or ice and in rain, sleet or snow. It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr, injuries per crash and morning rush (6–10 am).
What stands out in Wheeler County: January the month with the most truck crashes: 21.7% of the year's total.
Overview
Police reported 23 crashes involving commercial trucks in Wheeler County since 2015: 17 people were injured and 1 were killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 201 days.
When crashes happen
January has the most truck crashes, 21.7% of the yearly total, while March has the fewest (0.0%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 40.0% of truck crashes, vs 42.7% for Nebraska.
The busiest hour is 8–9 am, with 21.7% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 5.0% of truck crashes, compared with 16.7% in Nebraska.
Where crashes happen
No fatal crash involving a large truck has a recorded location in Wheeler County since 2015.
Garbage & waste trucks
No crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Wheeler County since 2015.
Route planning tips for Wheeler County fleets
- Plan January schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Wheeler County.
- The morning rush (6–10 am) holds 30.0% of truck crashes here, more than Nebraska; adjust start times where you can.
- 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 Wheeler County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
No fatal crashes involving a large truck with a road name were recorded in Wheeler County since 2015.
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Wheeler County) |
|---|---|
| SR-281 | 5 |
| US-281 | 3 |
| 281 /134.470/S Jct Us281 & N70-E Of Erickson | 2 |
| 070 /145.960/N70 & Chesapeake St | 1 |
| 281 /153.160/Us281 Nw Of 495Th Ave-Nw Of Bartlet | 1 |
| 281 /156.690/Us281 N Of 845Th Ave-N Of Barlett | 1 |
| Chesapeake Streeet | 1 |
| Hwy 281 / 539Ft / N /Mm154 | 1 |
Wheeler County at a glance
| Population | 808 |
| Land area | 575.2 sq mi |
| Density | 1 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $76,142 |
Historical data: truck crashes in Wheeler 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 | 2 | — | 0.2 |
| 2000s | 2 | -30% | 0.1 |
| 2010s | 1 | -27% | 0.0 |
| 2020s | 2 | +112% | 0.0 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 2 a year in the 1990s and 2 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting.
Cities, towns & communities in Wheeler County
ZIP codes in Wheeler County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Wheeler County
How many truck accidents are there in Wheeler County?
Since 2015, 23 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Wheeler County (17 injured, 1 killed).
When do most truck crashes happen in Wheeler County?
The worst month is January: 21.7% of truck crashes in Wheeler County happen then.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Wheeler County?
0 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Wheeler County since 2015, 0.0% of all truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in Wheeler County compare with Nebraska?
Per 100,000 residents, Wheeler County has 225.0 truck crashes a year; Nebraska has 60.7.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Wheeler County?
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.