Washington truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Washington: 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
3.2 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 3.4 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Washington compares with United States
Washington against United States, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Washington stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Washington | United States | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 25.8 | 49.7 | 48% below the US |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.4 | 3.4 | same |
| Injuries per crash | 0.18 | 0.49 | 63% below the US |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.2% | 2.3% | same |
| On snow, slush or ice | 9.7% | 6.2% | 1.6× the US |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 24.8% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 20.2% | 13.8% | 1.5× the US |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 43.8% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 25.2% | 24.8% | same |
Washington has lower values than the US for crashes per 100k residents / yr and injuries per crash. Where it is higher: on snow, slush or ice and in rain, sleet or snow.
What stands out in Washington: 9.7% on snowy, slushy or icy roads, against 6.2% across the US.
Overview
Since 2015, 23,971 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Washington. They injured 4,460 people and killed 805.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly 6 truck crashes every day.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in December (9.4% of the year) and are lowest in April (7.0%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 43.8% of truck crashes, vs 41.9% for the US.
By time of day, 2–3 pm stands out with 7.0% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 9.7% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (the US: 6.2%).
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks in Washington is I-5, with 78 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. It is followed by I-90 (35), US-97 (20) and US-101 (19).
Garbage & waste trucks
526 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 2.2% share (the US: 2.3%).
Their busiest month is December, with 11% of garbage-truck crashes.
They recorded 3.2 deaths per 100 crashes, against 3.4 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for Washington fleets
- Review driver schedules for December, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Look at alternatives to I-5 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- For residential and commercial waste routes, look again at December schedules: garbage-truck crashes peak then.
- With 9.7% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above the US), plan winter equipment checks early.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
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 Washington
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Washington) |
|---|---|
| I-5 | 78 |
| I-90 | 35 |
| US-97 | 20 |
| US-101 | 19 |
| US-12 | 18 |
| I-82 | 14 |
| SR-99 | 14 |
| SR-167 | 12 |
| SR-26 | 12 |
| US-2 | 12 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Washington) |
|---|---|
| Sr-512*001.00 | 30 |
| Sr-167*026.00 | 24 |
| Sr-167*024.00 | 23 |
| Sr-167*014.00 | 22 |
| Sr-167*006.00 | 19 |
| Sr-18*026.30 | 19 |
| Sr-18*002.00 | 18 |
| Sr-167*019.00 | 18 |
Washington at a glance
| Population | 7,958,180 |
| Land area | 66,455.4 sq mi |
| Density | 120 per sq mi |
Historical data: truck crashes in Washington 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 | 795 | — | 61.6 |
| 2000s | 1,402 | +76% | 53.5 |
| 2010s | 1,792 | +28% | 45.4 |
| 2020s | 2,101 | +17% | 72.8 |
In the 1990s about 795 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 2,101. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. NHTSA counts 63.8 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 72.8 a year in 2020–24.
Counties in Washington
Largest places in Washington
Nearby states
Questions fleets ask about Washington
How common are truck crashes in Washington?
23,971 truck crashes have been reported in Washington since 2015, with 805 deaths and 4,460 injuries.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Washington?
Since 2015, I-5 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes in Washington: 78.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Washington?
Truck crashes in Washington peak in December, with 9.4% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Washington?
Since 2015, Washington has reported 526 garbage-truck crashes, or 2.2% of its truck crashes.
How does Washington compare with the US for truck crashes?
Per 100,000 residents, Washington has 25.8 truck crashes a year; the US has 49.7.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Washington?
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.