Nooksack, WA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Nooksack: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Nooksack and Whatcom County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Whatcom County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
13 of 550 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Whatcom County compares with Washington
Whatcom County against Washington and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Whatcom County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Whatcom County | Washington | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 20.0 | 25.8 | 49.7 | 22% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.1 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 9% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.13 | 0.18 | 0.49 | 28% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.3% | 2.2% | 2.3% | same |
| On snow, slush or ice | 8.1% | 9.7% | 6.2% | 17% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 20.3% | 24.8% | 23.7% | 18% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 22.2% | 20.2% | 13.8% | 1.1× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 39.1% | 43.8% | 41.9% | 11% below the state |
| After dark | 24.9% | 25.2% | 24.8% | same |
Compared with Washington, Whatcom County is lower on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash. It stands out for higher in rain, sleet or snow.
The headline for Whatcom County: January worst month: 10.2% of truck crashes, vs 8.3% in an average month.
Overview
Police reported 550 crashes involving commercial trucks in Whatcom County since 2015: 73 people were injured and 16 were killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 8 days.
Only 31 truck crashes were reported in Nooksack since 2015; patterns below come from Whatcom County as a whole.
When crashes happen
January has the most truck crashes, 10.2% of the yearly total, while February has the fewest (4.5%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 39.1% of truck crashes, against 43.8% across Washington.
The busiest hour is 8–9 am, with 7.6% of truck crashes.
8.1% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 9.7% across Washington.
Where crashes happen
Since 2015, fatal crashes with a large truck within 10 miles of Nooksack happened on SR-542 (2), SR-546 (2), SR-9 (2), CR-EVERSON Goshen Rd (1) and CR-HANNEGAN Rd (1); no road leads clearly.
Garbage & waste trucks
13 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 2.4% share (Washington: 2.2%).
Route planning tips for Nooksack fleets
- Plan January schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Whatcom County.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
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 Whatcom County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-542 | 2 |
| SR-546 | 2 |
| SR-9 | 2 |
| CR-EVERSON Goshen Rd | 1 |
| CR-HANNEGAN Rd | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Whatcom County) |
|---|---|
| Sr-539*003.50 | 3 |
| Sr-539*008.57 | 3 |
| Sr-546*003.00 | 3 |
| Sr-9*086.00 | 3 |
| E Sunset Dr Blk 1800 | 2 |
| Everson Goshen Rd Blk 6200 | 2 |
| Everson Goshen Rd/E Smith Rd | 2 |
| Everson Goshen Road/Central Road | 2 |
Nooksack at a glance
| Population | 1,675 |
| Land area | 0.9 sq mi |
| Density | 1,823 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 98276) | $97,159 |
| Median home value (ZIP 98276) | $521,603 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Whatcom 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 | 27 | — | 1.7 |
| 2000s | 40 | +44% | 1.0 |
| 2010s | 44 | +11% | 1.2 |
| 2020s | 48 | +8% | 1.4 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 27 a year in the 1990s and 48 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. NHTSA counts 1.8 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 1.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Nooksack
How common are truck crashes in Nooksack?
Whatcom County has had 550 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 73 people and killing 16.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Nooksack?
January has the most truck crashes in Whatcom County, 10.2% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Nooksack?
Garbage trucks were involved in 13 reported crashes in Whatcom County since 2015 (2.4% of truck crashes).
How does Nooksack compare with Washington for truck crashes?
The yearly rate is 20.0 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Whatcom County, vs 25.8 for Washington.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Nooksack?
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.