Appleton, WI truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Appleton: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Appleton and Outagamie County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Outagamie 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 4.3 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Outagamie County compares with Wisconsin
Outagamie County against Wisconsin and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Outagamie County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Outagamie County | Wisconsin | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 30.3 | 42.6 | 49.7 | 29% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 4.3 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 1.3× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.45 | 0.46 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 4.1% | 2.7% | 2.3% | 1.5× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 9.2% | 13.4% | 6.2% | 31% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 30.5% | 26.9% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 11.8% | 16.5% | 13.8% | 29% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 40.3% | 44.9% | 41.9% | 10% below the state |
| After dark | 13.3% | 20.9% | 24.8% | 36% below the state |
Outagamie County has lower values than Wisconsin for crashes per 100k residents / yr, on snow, slush or ice and in rain, sleet or snow. It stands out for higher deaths per 100 crashes, garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am).
The headline for Outagamie County: 1 in 24 crashes involve a garbage truck (29 since 2015), vs 2.7% across Wisconsin.
Overview
Outagamie County has recorded 707 truck crashes since 2015, with 316 people injured and 28 killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 6 days in fully reported years.
Only 133 truck crashes were reported in Appleton since 2015; patterns below come from Outagamie County as a whole.
When crashes happen
July has the most truck crashes, 10.3% of the yearly total, while March has the fewest (6.6%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 40.3% of truck crashes, vs 44.9% for Wisconsin.
The busiest hour is 7–8 am, with 9.2% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 9.2% of truck crashes, compared with 13.4% in Wisconsin.
Where crashes happen
I-41 leads within 10 miles of Appleton with 4 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. After it: CR-A (2), CR-CE (1) and CR-EE (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
29 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 4.1% share (Wisconsin: 2.7%).
Garbage-truck crashes peak in June (17% of them).
Per 100 crashes, garbage trucks recorded 0.0 deaths compared with 4.3 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for Appleton fleets
- Build extra time into July routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Look at alternatives to I-41 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in June; review collection routes for that month.
- The morning rush (6–10 am) holds 30.5% of truck crashes here, more than Wisconsin; adjust start times where you can.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
About the data
Crash counts come from the FMCSA crash file (police-reported crashes involving trucks over 10,000 lb); fatal-crash locations come from NHTSA FARS. Text on this page states only what these numbers show.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Outagamie County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-41 | 4 |
| CR-A | 2 |
| CR-CE | 1 |
| CR-EE | 1 |
| CR-N | 1 |
| CR-OO North Ave | 1 |
| CR-S | 1 |
| SR-114 | 1 |
| SR-55 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Outagamie County) |
|---|---|
| I-041 | 198 |
| Sth 047 | 46 |
| Cth | 44 |
| Sth 015 | 26 |
| Sth 096 | 21 |
| Sth 055 | 19 |
| Sth 054 | 16 |
| Sth 441 | 16 |
Appleton at a glance
| Population | 75,344 |
| Land area | 25.4 sq mi |
| Density | 2,964 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 54911) | $67,001 |
| Median home value (ZIP 54911) | $216,766 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Outagamie 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 | 58 | — | 2.4 |
| 2000s | 65 | +12% | 2.3 |
| 2010s | 54 | -17% | 1.6 |
| 2020s | 57 | +5% | 2.4 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 58 a year in the 1990s and 57 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal large-truck crashes: 1.8 a year in 2016–19, 2.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Appleton
How many truck accidents are there in Appleton?
Outagamie County has had 707 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 316 people and killing 28.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in Appleton?
I-41 had 4 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Appleton since 2015, more than any other road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Appleton?
July has the most truck crashes in Outagamie County, 10.3% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Appleton?
29 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Outagamie County since 2015, 4.1% of all truck crashes.
How does Appleton compare with Wisconsin for truck crashes?
The yearly rate is 30.3 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Outagamie County, vs 42.6 for Wisconsin.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Appleton?
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.