DeForest, WI truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in DeForest: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in DeForest and Dane County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Dane County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
0.0 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 2.0 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Dane County compares with Wisconsin
Dane County against Wisconsin and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Dane County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Dane County | Wisconsin | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 33.3 | 42.6 | 49.7 | 22% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.0 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 41% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.45 | 0.46 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.9% | 2.7% | 2.3% | 32% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 9.5% | 13.4% | 6.2% | 29% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 27.4% | 26.9% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 15.6% | 16.5% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 40.9% | 44.9% | 41.9% | 9% below the state |
| After dark | 22.1% | 20.9% | 24.8% | same |
Compared with Wisconsin, Dane County is lower on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and garbage-truck share.
DeForest at a glance: I-39 most fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of DeForest: 6 since 2015.
Overview
Police reported 2,268 crashes involving commercial trucks in Dane County since 2015: 1,025 people were injured and 45 were killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 2 days in fully reported years.
With 0 truck crashes reported in DeForest since 2015, this page uses Dane County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in January (9.5% of the year) and are lowest in March (7.2%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 40.9% of truck crashes, against 44.9% across Wisconsin.
By time of day, 7–8 am stands out with 7.8% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 9.5% of truck crashes, compared with 13.4% in Wisconsin.
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks within 10 miles of DeForest is I-39, with 6 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. Next come SR-60 (2), US-51 (2) and CR-V (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 41 crashes, 1.8% of the total, against 2.7% across Wisconsin.
Their busiest month is May, with 15% of garbage-truck crashes.
They recorded 0.0 deaths per 100 crashes, against 2.0 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for DeForest fleets
- Review driver schedules for January, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Where you can, review stops along I-39; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- Waste haulers: May is the peak month for garbage-truck crashes in Dane County.
- 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 Dane County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-39 | 6 |
| SR-60 | 2 |
| US-51 | 2 |
| CR-V | 1 |
| SR-113 | 1 |
| SR-19 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Dane County) |
|---|---|
| I-039 | 695 |
| Ush 012 | 234 |
| Ush 018 | 92 |
| Ush 151 | 80 |
| Ush 051 | 80 |
| I-094 | 77 |
| Sth 019 | 59 |
| SR-039 | 44 |
DeForest at a glance
| Population | 12,260 |
| Land area | 9.4 sq mi |
| Density | 1,302 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 53598) | $106,476 |
| Median home value (ZIP 53598) | $400,184 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Dane 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 | 178 | — | 4.0 |
| 2000s | 222 | +24% | 4.6 |
| 2010s | 188 | -15% | 3.8 |
| 2020s | 187 | -1% | 2.6 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 178 a year in the 1990s and 187 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. NHTSA counts 3.8 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 2.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about DeForest
How many truck crashes happen in DeForest?
Dane County has had 2,268 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 1,025 people and killing 45.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in DeForest?
NHTSA data shows I-39 with 6 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of DeForest since 2015, the highest of any road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in DeForest?
January has the most truck crashes in Dane County, 9.5% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in DeForest?
41 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Dane County since 2015, 1.8% of all truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in DeForest compare with Wisconsin?
Dane County records 33.3 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 42.6 across Wisconsin.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in DeForest?
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.