Vancouver, WA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Vancouver: 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
16 of 641 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Vancouver compares with Washington
Vancouver against Washington and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Vancouver stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Vancouver | Washington | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 28.1 | 25.8 | 49.7 | 1.1× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.4 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 29% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.18 | 0.18 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.4% | 2.2% | 2.3% | 1.1× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 2.3% | 9.7% | 6.2% | 77% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 26.1% | 24.8% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 18.2% | 20.2% | 13.8% | 10% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 44.2% | 43.8% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 23.5% | 25.2% | 24.8% | same |
Compared with Washington, Vancouver is lower on deaths per 100 crashes, on snow, slush or ice and in rain, sleet or snow. Where it is higher: crashes per 100k residents / yr and garbage-truck share.
The headline for Vancouver: I-5 9 fatal truck crashes since 2015, more than any other road within 15 miles of Vancouver.
Overview
Police reported 641 crashes involving commercial trucks in Vancouver since 2015: 120 people were injured and 15 were killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 7 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
The worst month is February with 10.1% of truck crashes; the quietest is August at 7.0%.
November through March accounts for 44.2% of truck crashes here, compared with 43.8% in Washington.
The busiest hour is 1–2 pm, with 8.4% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 2.3% of truck crashes, compared with 9.7% in Washington.
Where crashes happen
I-5 leads within 15 miles of Vancouver with 9 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. After it: I-205 (6), I-84 (6) and Ne Marine Dr (5).
Garbage & waste trucks
16 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 2.5% share (Washington: 2.2%).
Route planning tips for Vancouver fleets
- Plan February schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Vancouver.
- Look at alternatives to I-5 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- 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 Vancouver
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 15 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-5 | 9 |
| I-205 | 6 |
| I-84 | 6 |
| Ne Marine Dr | 5 |
| US-30 | 4 |
| Ne Columbia Blvd | 3 |
| SR-99 | 3 |
| SR-500 | 2 |
| SR-503 | 2 |
| CR-JOHNSON Creek Blvd | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Vancouver) |
|---|---|
| Sr-500*001.00 | 5 |
| Sr-14*001.00 | 5 |
| Sr-503*001.00 | 3 |
| Sr-500*004.00 | 3 |
| Sr-14*006.00 | 3 |
| Sr-500*005.00 | 3 |
| Ne 78Th St Blk 3000 | 3 |
| E Fourth Plain Blvd Blk 1000 | 2 |
Vancouver at a glance
| Population | 198,992 |
| Land area | 48.8 sq mi |
| Density | 4,078 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 98661) | $76,913 |
| Median home value (ZIP 98661) | $452,160 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Vancouver 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 | 21 | — | 2.2 |
| 2000s | 43 | +103% | 1.6 |
| 2010s | 46 | +7% | 1.2 |
| 2020s | 61 | +33% | 3.2 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 21 a year in the 1990s and 61 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 1.5 a year in 2016–19 and 3.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Vancouver
How common are truck crashes in Vancouver?
Since 2015, 641 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Vancouver (120 injured, 15 killed).
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Vancouver?
I-5 had 9 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 15 miles of Vancouver since 2015, more than any other road.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Vancouver?
The worst month is February: 10.1% of truck crashes in Vancouver happen then.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Vancouver?
16 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Vancouver since 2015, 2.5% of all truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in Vancouver compared with Washington?
The yearly rate is 28.1 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Vancouver, vs 25.8 for Washington.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Vancouver?
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.