Amherst, WI truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Amherst: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Amherst and Portage County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Portage County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
11 of 424 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Portage County compares with Wisconsin
Portage County against Wisconsin and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Portage County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Portage County | Wisconsin | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 50.0 | 42.6 | 49.7 | 1.2× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 1.0 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 71% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.29 | 0.46 | 0.49 | 37% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.8% | 2.7% | 2.3% | same |
| On snow, slush or ice | 18.4% | 13.4% | 6.2% | 1.4× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 31.1% | 26.9% | 23.7% | 1.2× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 18.4% | 16.5% | 13.8% | 1.1× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 48.0% | 44.9% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 18.7% | 20.9% | 24.8% | 11% below the state |
Portage County sits below Wisconsin on deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and after dark. Where it is higher: crashes per 100k residents / yr, on snow, slush or ice and morning rush (6–10 am).
What stands out in Portage County: 1.0 people killed per 100 truck crashes (Wisconsin: 3.4).
Overview
Since 2015, 424 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Portage County. They injured 129 people and killed 4.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 10 days.
With 27 truck crashes reported in Amherst since 2015, this page uses Portage County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
The worst month is January with 13.2% of truck crashes; the quietest is March at 4.0%.
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 48.0% of truck crashes, vs 44.9% for Wisconsin.
The busiest hour is 7–8 am, with 10.4% of truck crashes.
18.4% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 13.4% across Wisconsin.
Where crashes happen
Fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Amherst since 2015 were spread across roads: US-10 (1) and US-110 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
11 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 2.6% share (Wisconsin: 2.7%).
Route planning tips for Amherst fleets
- Build extra time into January routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- The morning rush (6–10 am) holds 31.1% of truck crashes here, more than Wisconsin; adjust start times where you can.
- 18.4% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice, above Wisconsin; plan winter equipment checks before the season.
- 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 Portage County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-10 | 1 |
| US-110 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Portage County) |
|---|---|
| Ush 010 | 84 |
| I-039 | 79 |
| Sth 054 | 40 |
| Sth 066 | 19 |
| Cth B | 18 |
| Cth J | 9 |
| Cth F | 8 |
| Sth 034 | 8 |
Amherst at a glance
| Population | 1,132 |
| Land area | 1.3 sq mi |
| Density | 842 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 54406) | $77,533 |
| Median home value (ZIP 54406) | $287,183 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Portage 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 | 35 | — | 1.9 |
| 2000s | 36 | +0% | 1.0 |
| 2010s | 35 | -1% | 0.2 |
| 2020s | 34 | -3% | 0.6 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 35 to 34. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal large-truck crashes: 0.0 a year in 2016–19, 0.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Amherst
How many truck accidents are there in Amherst?
424 truck crashes have been reported in Portage County since 2015, with 4 deaths and 129 injuries.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Amherst?
Truck crashes in Portage County peak in January, with 13.2% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Amherst?
11 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Portage County since 2015, 2.6% of all truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in Amherst compared with Wisconsin?
The yearly rate is 50.0 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Portage County, vs 42.6 for Wisconsin.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Amherst?
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.