Bruce, WI truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Bruce: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Bruce and Rusk County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Rusk County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
5 of 80 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Rusk County compares with Wisconsin
Rusk County against Wisconsin and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Rusk County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Rusk County | Wisconsin | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 46.2 | 42.6 | 49.7 | 1.1× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 4.2 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 1.2× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.39 | 0.46 | 0.49 | 15% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 5.6% | 2.7% | 2.3% | 2.0× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 22.2% | 13.4% | 6.2% | 1.7× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 16.7% | 26.9% | 23.7% | 38% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 9.7% | 16.5% | 13.8% | 41% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 44.4% | 44.9% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 18.1% | 20.9% | 24.8% | 14% below the state |
Rusk County sits below Wisconsin on injuries per crash, morning rush (6–10 am) and in rain, sleet or snow. It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and garbage-truck share.
The headline for Rusk County: 1 in 18 garbage-truck share of crashes is 5.6%, against 2.7% for Wisconsin.
Overview
Since 2015, 80 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Rusk County. They injured 29 people and killed 3.
That averages about one truck crash every 56 days in fully reported years.
With 2 truck crashes reported in Bruce since 2015, this page uses Rusk County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
The worst month is July with 17.5% of truck crashes; the quietest is March at 0.0%.
The five winter months (November to March) hold 44.4% of truck crashes, against 44.9% across Wisconsin.
By time of day, 12–1 pm stands out with 16.2% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 22.2% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Wisconsin: 13.4%).
Where crashes happen
Fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Bruce since 2015 were spread across roads: SR-40 (1) and US-8 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
5 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 6.2% share (Wisconsin: 2.7%).
Route planning tips for Bruce fleets
- Build extra time into July routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- 22.2% 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
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 Rusk County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-40 | 1 |
| US-8 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Rusk County) |
|---|---|
| Ush 008 | 33 |
| Sth 027 | 8 |
| Marshall Rd | 3 |
| SR-008 | 3 |
| Cth M | 2 |
| Cth P | 2 |
| Ellingson Ave | 2 |
| SR-027 | 2 |
Bruce at a glance
| Population | 754 |
| Land area | 2.3 sq mi |
| Density | 327 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 54819) | $56,650 |
| Median home value (ZIP 54819) | $162,834 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Rusk 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 | 7 | — | 0.5 |
| 2000s | 5 | -26% | 0.4 |
| 2010s | 6 | +12% | 0.1 |
| 2020s | 6 | +5% | 0.4 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 7 to 6. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 0.2 a year in 2016–19 and 0.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Bruce
How many truck crashes happen in Bruce?
Rusk County has had 80 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 29 people and killing 3.
When do most truck crashes happen in Bruce?
Truck crashes in Rusk County peak in July, with 17.5% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Bruce?
5 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Rusk County since 2015, 6.2% of all truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in Bruce compared with Wisconsin?
Rusk County records 46.2 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 42.6 across Wisconsin.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Bruce?
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.