Federal Way, WA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Federal Way: 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
2 of 430 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Federal Way compares with Washington
Federal Way against Washington and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Federal Way stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Federal Way | Washington | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 36.4 | 25.8 | 49.7 | 1.4× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 4.0 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 1.2× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.14 | 0.18 | 0.49 | 22% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.5% | 2.2% | 2.3% | 77% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 3.0% | 9.7% | 6.2% | 69% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 24.7% | 24.8% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 22.2% | 20.2% | 13.8% | 1.1× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 38.4% | 43.8% | 41.9% | 12% below the state |
| After dark | 25.2% | 25.2% | 24.8% | same |
Federal Way sits below Washington on injuries per crash, garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice. Where it is higher: crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and in rain, sleet or snow.
Federal Way at a glance: 1 in 200 crashes involve a garbage truck (2 since 2015), vs 2.2% across Washington.
Overview
Police reported 430 crashes involving commercial trucks in Federal Way since 2015: 62 people were injured and 17 were killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 10 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
The worst month is June with 11.2% of truck crashes; the quietest is March at 5.3%.
The five winter months (November to March) hold 38.4% of truck crashes, against 43.8% across Washington.
More truck crashes happen at 2–3 pm than at any other hour (9.8%).
Road surface: 3.0% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Washington: 9.7%).
Where crashes happen
I-5 leads within 15 miles of Federal Way with 22 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. Next come SR-167 (12), SR-99 (9) and SR-181 (7).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 2 crashes, 0.5% of the total, against 2.2% across Washington.
Route planning tips for Federal Way fleets
- Build extra time into June routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Check whether your routes use I-5, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
About the data
This report uses the FMCSA crash file (reported crashes of trucks over 10,000 lb) and NHTSA FARS (fatal crashes). It reports the numbers without guessing at reasons.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Federal Way
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 15 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-5 | 22 |
| SR-167 | 12 |
| SR-99 | 9 |
| SR-181 | 7 |
| I-405 | 3 |
| SR-509 | 3 |
| SR-516 | 3 |
| 70th Ave E | 2 |
| SR-16 | 2 |
| SR-161 | 2 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Federal Way) |
|---|---|
| Sr-18*001.00 | 12 |
| Sr-18*000.01 | 8 |
| Sr-18*000.77 | 4 |
| Pacific Hwy S Blk 34800 | 4 |
| Sr-18*002.00 | 4 |
| 16Th Ave S Blk 34400 | 3 |
| Pacific Hwy S Blk 37200 | 3 |
| S 348Th St Blk 1600 | 3 |
Federal Way at a glance
| Population | 100,252 |
| Land area | 22.3 sq mi |
| Density | 4,493 per sq mi |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Federal Way 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 | 18 | — | 10.3 |
| 2000s | 24 | +27% | 8.0 |
| 2010s | 27 | +16% | 7.2 |
| 2020s | 40 | +47% | 14.6 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 18 a year in the 1990s and 40 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. NHTSA counts 10.0 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 14.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Federal Way
How common are truck crashes in Federal Way?
430 truck crashes have been reported in Federal Way since 2015, with 17 deaths and 62 injuries.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in Federal Way?
Since 2015, I-5 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 15 miles of Federal Way: 22.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Federal Way?
Truck crashes in Federal Way peak in June, with 11.2% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Federal Way?
Garbage trucks were involved in 2 reported crashes in Federal Way since 2015 (0.5% of truck crashes).
What is the truck crash rate in Federal Way compared with Washington?
Per 100,000 residents, Federal Way has 36.4 truck crashes a year; Washington has 25.8.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Federal Way?
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.