Merrill, WI truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Merrill: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Merrill and Lincoln County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Lincoln County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
4 of 117 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Lincoln County compares with Wisconsin
Lincoln County against Wisconsin and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Lincoln County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Lincoln County | Wisconsin | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 34.2 | 42.6 | 49.7 | 20% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.7 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 1.1× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.39 | 0.46 | 0.49 | 15% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 3.7% | 2.7% | 2.3% | 1.4× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 33.6% | 13.4% | 6.2% | 2.5× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 35.5% | 26.9% | 23.7% | 1.3× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 19.6% | 16.5% | 13.8% | 1.2× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 47.7% | 44.9% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 11.2% | 20.9% | 24.8% | 46% below the state |
Lincoln County has lower values than Wisconsin for crashes per 100k residents / yr, injuries per crash and after dark. Where it is higher: deaths per 100 crashes, garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice.
Lincoln County at a glance: 33.6% of truck crashes happened on snow, slush or ice, vs 13.4% in Wisconsin.
Overview
Lincoln County has recorded 117 truck crashes since 2015, with 45 people injured and 4 killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 38 days in fully reported years.
Only 22 truck crashes were reported in Merrill since 2015; patterns below come from Lincoln County as a whole.
When crashes happen
February has the most truck crashes, 13.7% of the yearly total, while November has the fewest (4.3%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 47.7% of truck crashes, vs 44.9% for Wisconsin.
The busiest hour is 1–2 pm, with 13.7% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 33.6% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Wisconsin: 13.4%).
Where crashes happen
Roads with fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Merrill since 2015: SR-107 (1). No single road stands out.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 4 crashes, 3.4% of the total, against 2.7% across Wisconsin.
Route planning tips for Merrill fleets
- Build extra time into February routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Morning starts matter: 35.5% of truck crashes fall between 6 and 10 am, higher than Wisconsin.
- With 33.6% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above Wisconsin), plan winter equipment checks early.
- 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 Lincoln County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-107 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Lincoln County) |
|---|---|
| Ush 051 | 26 |
| Ush 008 | 15 |
| Sth 017 | 8 |
| Sth 064 | 7 |
| Sth 107 | 6 |
| Cth K | 5 |
| Sth 086 | 4 |
| Cth | 3 |
Merrill at a glance
| Population | 9,445 |
| Land area | 7.5 sq mi |
| Density | 1,262 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 54452) | $67,669 |
| Median home value (ZIP 54452) | $180,105 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Lincoln 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 | 14 | — | 0.6 |
| 2000s | 12 | -16% | 0.3 |
| 2010s | 7 | -37% | 0.0 |
| 2020s | 12 | +71% | 0.8 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 14 to 12. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. NHTSA counts 0.0 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 0.8 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Merrill
How many truck crashes happen in Merrill?
Since 2015, 117 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Lincoln County (45 injured, 4 killed).
Which month has the most truck crashes in Merrill?
February has the most truck crashes in Lincoln County, 13.7% of the yearly total.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Merrill?
Since 2015, Lincoln County has reported 4 garbage-truck crashes, or 3.4% of its truck crashes.
How does Merrill compare with Wisconsin for truck crashes?
The yearly rate is 34.2 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Lincoln County, vs 42.6 for Wisconsin.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Merrill?
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.