Burlington, WA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Burlington: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Burlington and Skagit County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Skagit County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
13 of 394 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Skagit County compares with Washington
Skagit County against Washington and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Skagit County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Skagit County | Washington | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 25.2 | 25.8 | 49.7 | same |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 4.1 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 1.2× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.18 | 0.18 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 3.5% | 2.2% | 2.3% | 1.6× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 4.1% | 9.7% | 6.2% | 58% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 24.2% | 24.8% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 17.9% | 20.2% | 13.8% | 11% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 41.6% | 43.8% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 19.6% | 25.2% | 24.8% | 22% below the state |
Compared with Washington, Skagit County is lower on on snow, slush or ice, in rain, sleet or snow and after dark. It runs above Washington on deaths per 100 crashes and garbage-truck share.
The headline for Skagit County: 1 in 28 crashes involve a garbage truck (13 since 2015), vs 2.2% across Washington.
Overview
Police reported 394 crashes involving commercial trucks in Skagit County since 2015: 70 people were injured and 15 were killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 11 days.
Burlington had 155 reported truck crashes since 2015, too few for reliable patterns, so the charts and findings on this page use Skagit County numbers.
When crashes happen
July has the most truck crashes, 10.9% of the yearly total, while October has the fewest (5.8%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 41.6% of truck crashes, vs 43.8% for Washington.
The busiest hour is 12–1 pm, with 10.4% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 4.1% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Washington: 9.7%).
Where crashes happen
Within this area, I-5 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (7). After it: CR-HIGGINS Airport Way (2), CR-OLD Hwy 99 (1) and N 18th St (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
13 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 3.3% share (Washington: 2.2%).
Route planning tips for Burlington fleets
- Plan July schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Skagit County.
- Look at alternatives to I-5 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
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 Skagit County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-5 | 7 |
| CR-HIGGINS Airport Way | 2 |
| CR-OLD Hwy 99 | 1 |
| N 18th St | 1 |
| S Burlington Blvd | 1 |
| SR-536 | 1 |
| Wylie Rd | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Skagit County) |
|---|---|
| SR-20 | 3 |
| Sr-20*048.00 | 3 |
| Cedardale Rd Blk 20000 | 2 |
| Cook Rd | 2 |
| Cook Rd/I-5 | 2 |
| I-5 Mp 228.30 | 2 |
| I-5 Mp 240.00 | 2 |
| Josh Wilson Rd/Pulver Rd | 2 |
Burlington at a glance
| Population | 10,945 |
| Land area | 4.3 sq mi |
| Density | 2,557 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 98233) | $87,614 |
| Median home value (ZIP 98233) | $510,170 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Skagit 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 | 18 | — | 1.9 |
| 2000s | 25 | +36% | 1.6 |
| 2010s | 31 | +26% | 1.4 |
| 2020s | 33 | +7% | 1.2 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 18 to 33. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. NHTSA counts 2.5 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 1.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Burlington
How common are truck crashes in Burlington?
Since 2015, 394 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Skagit County (70 injured, 15 killed).
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Burlington?
I-5 had 7 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Burlington since 2015, more than any other road.
When do most truck crashes happen in Burlington?
Truck crashes in Skagit County peak in July, with 10.9% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Burlington?
Since 2015, Skagit County has reported 13 garbage-truck crashes, or 3.3% of its truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in Burlington compare with Washington?
Skagit County records 25.2 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 25.8 across Washington.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Burlington?
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.