Wisconsin truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Wisconsin: 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
2.1 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 3.4 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Wisconsin compares with United States
Wisconsin against United States, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Wisconsin stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Wisconsin | United States | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 42.6 | 49.7 | 14% below the US |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.4 | 3.4 | same |
| Injuries per crash | 0.46 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.7% | 2.3% | 1.2× the US |
| On snow, slush or ice | 13.4% | 6.2% | 2.2× the US |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 26.9% | 23.7% | 1.1× the US |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 16.5% | 13.8% | 1.2× the US |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 44.9% | 41.9% | 1.1× the US |
| After dark | 20.9% | 24.8% | 16% below the US |
Wisconsin sits below the US on crashes per 100k residents / yr and after dark. Where it is higher: garbage-truck share, on snow, slush or ice and morning rush (6–10 am).
What stands out in Wisconsin: 13.4% share of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (the US: 6.2%).
Overview
Since 2015, 29,773 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Wisconsin. They injured 13,523 people and killed 1,005.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly 7 truck crashes every day.
When crashes happen
The worst month is January with 10.9% of truck crashes; the quietest is April at 6.8%.
The five winter months (November to March) hold 44.9% of truck crashes, against 41.9% across the US.
More truck crashes happen at 12–1 pm than at any other hour (7.7%).
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 13.4% of truck crashes, compared with 6.2% in the US.
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks in Wisconsin is I-41, with 28 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. After it: I-39 (25), I-94 (24) and US-12 (19).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 816 crashes, 2.7% of the total, against 2.3% across the US.
The most garbage-truck crashes happen in January (12%).
They recorded 2.1 deaths per 100 crashes, against 3.4 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for Wisconsin fleets
- Plan January schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Wisconsin.
- Look at alternatives to I-41 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- For residential and commercial waste routes, look again at January schedules: garbage-truck crashes peak then.
- 26.9% of truck crashes happen between 6 and 10 am, above the US; consider earlier or later starts where possible.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 13.4% of truck crashes here, more than the US; schedule winter checks early.
- 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 Wisconsin
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Wisconsin) |
|---|---|
| I-41 | 28 |
| I-39 | 25 |
| I-94 | 24 |
| US-12 | 19 |
| US-8 | 19 |
| I-90 | 17 |
| SR-11 | 16 |
| I-43 | 14 |
| US-10 | 14 |
| SR-29 | 13 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Wisconsin) |
|---|---|
| I-041 | 2,694 |
| I-094 | 2,212 |
| I-039 | 1,759 |
| I-043 | 1,070 |
| I-090 | 926 |
| Sth 029 | 530 |
| Ush 012 | 498 |
| Cth | 424 |
Wisconsin at a glance
| Population | 5,960,975 |
| Land area | 54,168.0 sq mi |
| Density | 110 per sq mi |
Historical data: truck crashes in Wisconsin 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 | 2,213 | — | 85.2 |
| 2000s | 2,765 | +25% | 77.4 |
| 2010s | 2,426 | -12% | 62.1 |
| 2020s | 2,478 | +2% | 75.2 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 2,213 a year in the 1990s and 2,478 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 66.0 a year in 2016–19 and 75.2 a year in 2020–24.
Counties in Wisconsin
Largest places in Wisconsin
Nearby states
Questions fleets ask about Wisconsin
How common are truck crashes in Wisconsin?
29,773 truck crashes have been reported in Wisconsin since 2015, with 1,005 deaths and 13,523 injuries.
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in Wisconsin?
NHTSA data shows I-41 with 28 fatal large-truck crashes in Wisconsin since 2015, the highest of any road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Wisconsin?
January has the most truck crashes in Wisconsin, 10.9% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Wisconsin?
816 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Wisconsin since 2015, 2.7% of all truck crashes.
How does Wisconsin compare with the US for truck crashes?
Wisconsin records 42.6 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 49.7 across the US.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Wisconsin?
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.