Vilas County, WI truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Vilas County: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
4 of 74 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Vilas County compares with Wisconsin
Vilas County against Wisconsin and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Vilas County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Vilas County | Wisconsin | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 26.2 | 42.6 | 49.7 | 38% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 1.4 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 59% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.38 | 0.46 | 0.49 | 17% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 5.8% | 2.7% | 2.3% | 2.1× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 31.9% | 13.4% | 6.2% | 2.4× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 30.4% | 26.9% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 13.0% | 16.5% | 13.8% | 21% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 49.3% | 44.9% | 41.9% | 1.1× the state |
| After dark | 10.1% | 20.9% | 24.8% | 51% below the state |
Vilas County has lower values than Wisconsin for crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash. It runs above Wisconsin on garbage-truck share, on snow, slush or ice and morning rush (6–10 am).
The headline for Vilas County: 31.9% on snowy, slushy or icy roads, against 13.4% across Wisconsin.
Overview
Police reported 74 crashes involving commercial trucks in Vilas County since 2015: 27 people were injured and 2 were killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 58 days.
When crashes happen
February has the most truck crashes, 16.2% of the yearly total, while April has the fewest (2.7%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 49.3% of truck crashes, vs 44.9% for Wisconsin.
More truck crashes happen at 3–4 pm than at any other hour (12.2%).
Road surface: 31.9% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Wisconsin: 13.4%).
Where crashes happen
Roads with fatal crashes involving a large truck in Vilas County since 2015: SR-70 (1) and US-51 (1). No single road stands out.
Garbage & waste trucks
4 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 5.4% share (Wisconsin: 2.7%).
Route planning tips for Vilas County fleets
- Plan February schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Vilas County.
- The morning rush (6–10 am) holds 30.4% of truck crashes here, more than Wisconsin; adjust start times where you can.
- With 31.9% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above Wisconsin), plan winter equipment checks early.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
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 Vilas County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Vilas County) |
|---|---|
| SR-70 | 1 |
| US-51 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Vilas County) |
|---|---|
| Ush 045 | 10 |
| Ush 051 | 10 |
| Sth 070 | 9 |
| Sth 017 | 5 |
| Cth | 3 |
| Cth M | 3 |
| Sth 047 | 3 |
| Cth K | 2 |
Vilas County at a glance
| Population | 23,948 |
| Land area | 857.7 sq mi |
| Density | 28 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $68,600 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Vilas 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 | 8 | — | 0.2 |
| 2000s | 9 | +17% | 0.7 |
| 2010s | 7 | -25% | 0.3 |
| 2020s | 6 | -8% | 0.2 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 8 to 6. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. NHTSA counts 0.2 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 0.2 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in Vilas County
ZIP codes in Vilas County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Vilas County
How many truck accidents are there in Vilas County?
Vilas County has had 74 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 27 people and killing 2.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Vilas County?
The worst month is February: 16.2% of truck crashes in Vilas County happen then.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Vilas County?
Garbage trucks were involved in 4 reported crashes in Vilas County since 2015 (5.4% of truck crashes).
What is the truck crash rate in Vilas County compared with Wisconsin?
Per 100,000 residents, Vilas County has 26.2 truck crashes a year; Wisconsin has 42.6.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Vilas County?
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.