Chehalis, WA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Chehalis: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Chehalis and Lewis County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Lewis County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
8 of 716 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Lewis County compares with Washington
Lewis County against Washington and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Lewis County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Lewis County | Washington | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 70.4 | 25.8 | 49.7 | 2.7× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.1 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 9% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.22 | 0.18 | 0.49 | 1.2× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.2% | 2.2% | 2.3% | 46% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 9.5% | 9.7% | 6.2% | same |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 16.8% | 24.8% | 23.7% | 32% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 31.9% | 20.2% | 13.8% | 1.6× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 49.3% | 43.8% | 41.9% | 1.1× the state |
| After dark | 33.8% | 25.2% | 24.8% | 1.3× the state |
Compared with Washington, Lewis County is lower on deaths per 100 crashes, garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am). It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr, injuries per crash and in rain, sleet or snow.
What stands out in Lewis County: 31.9% in rain, sleet or snow, against 20.2% across Washington.
Overview
Police reported 716 crashes involving commercial trucks in Lewis County since 2015: 161 people were injured and 24 were killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 6 days.
With 183 truck crashes reported in Chehalis since 2015, this page uses Lewis County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
February has the most truck crashes, 11.6% of the yearly total, while May has the fewest (4.6%).
November through March accounts for 49.3% of truck crashes here, compared with 43.8% in Washington.
By time of day, 11 am–12 pm stands out with 8.0% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 9.5% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Washington: 9.7%).
Where crashes happen
I-5 leads within 10 miles of Chehalis with 5 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. Next come CR-BUNKER Creek Rd (1), CR-HARRISON Ave (1) and CR-OLD Hwy 99 Sw (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
8 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 1.1% share (Washington: 2.2%).
Route planning tips for Chehalis fleets
- Review driver schedules for February, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Check whether your routes use I-5, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
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 Lewis County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-5 | 5 |
| CR-BUNKER Creek Rd | 1 |
| CR-HARRISON Ave | 1 |
| CR-OLD Hwy 99 Sw | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Lewis County) |
|---|---|
| Bishop Rd Blk 1500 | 3 |
| Harrison Ave Blk 1000 | 3 |
| Harrison Ave Blk 900 | 3 |
| I 5 Mp 060.70 | 3 |
| Rush Rd Blk 1200 | 3 |
| Sr-12*095.00 | 3 |
| Sr-12*142.00 | 3 |
| Avery Rd W Blk 400 | 2 |
Chehalis at a glance
| Population | 7,717 |
| Land area | 5.8 sq mi |
| Density | 1,329 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 98532) | $89,910 |
| Median home value (ZIP 98532) | $426,898 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Lewis 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 | 38 | — | 2.5 |
| 2000s | 48 | +27% | 2.1 |
| 2010s | 57 | +17% | 1.2 |
| 2020s | 60 | +5% | 1.6 |
In the 1990s about 38 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 60. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal large-truck crashes: 1.2 a year in 2016–19, 1.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Chehalis
How many truck crashes happen in Chehalis?
Lewis County has had 716 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 161 people and killing 24.
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in Chehalis?
NHTSA data shows I-5 with 5 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Chehalis since 2015, the highest of any road.
When do most truck crashes happen in Chehalis?
Truck crashes in Lewis County peak in February, with 11.6% of the year's crashes.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Chehalis?
8 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Lewis County since 2015, 1.1% of all truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in Chehalis compared with Washington?
Lewis County records 70.4 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 25.8 across Washington.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Chehalis?
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.