Waukesha County, WI truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Waukesha 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
1.9 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 1.5 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Waukesha County compares with Wisconsin
Waukesha County against Wisconsin and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Waukesha County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Waukesha County | Wisconsin | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 31.5 | 42.6 | 49.7 | 26% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 1.5 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 56% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.41 | 0.46 | 0.49 | 11% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 3.7% | 2.7% | 2.3% | 1.4× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 7.1% | 13.4% | 6.2% | 47% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 30.0% | 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) | 40.2% | 44.9% | 41.9% | 11% below the state |
| After dark | 15.2% | 20.9% | 24.8% | 27% below the state |
Waukesha County has lower values than Wisconsin for crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash. It stands out for higher garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am).
Waukesha County at a glance: 1.5 people killed per 100 truck crashes (Wisconsin: 3.4).
Overview
Police reported 1,556 crashes involving commercial trucks in Waukesha County since 2015: 635 people were injured and 25 were killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 3 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
The worst month is September with 10.3% of truck crashes; the quietest is March at 5.2%.
The five winter months (November to March) hold 40.2% of truck crashes, against 44.9% across Wisconsin.
The busiest hour is 7–8 am, with 9.8% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 7.1% of truck crashes, compared with 13.4% in Wisconsin.
Where crashes happen
Since 2015, fatal crashes with a large truck in Waukesha County happened on CR-C (2), CR-K (2), US-18 (2), CR-I (1) and CR-JJ (1); no road leads clearly.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 58 crashes, 3.7% of the total, against 2.7% across Wisconsin.
Their busiest month is May, with 12% of garbage-truck crashes.
Per 100 crashes, garbage trucks recorded 1.9 deaths compared with 1.5 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for Waukesha County fleets
- Plan September schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Waukesha County.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in May; review collection routes for that month.
- 30.0% of truck crashes happen between 6 and 10 am, above Wisconsin; consider earlier or later starts where possible.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
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 Waukesha County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Waukesha County) |
|---|---|
| CR-C | 2 |
| CR-K | 2 |
| US-18 | 2 |
| CR-I | 1 |
| CR-JJ | 1 |
| CR-M / Watertown Rd | 1 |
| CR-Q | 1 |
| CR-SR | 1 |
| Calhoun Rd | 1 |
| Grange Ave W | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Waukesha County) |
|---|---|
| I-094 | 273 |
| I-041 | 73 |
| Cth F | 67 |
| I-043 | 56 |
| Cth O | 47 |
| Sth 164 | 40 |
| Sth 059 | 36 |
| Ush 018 | 34 |
Waukesha County at a glance
| Population | 417,029 |
| Land area | 549.7 sq mi |
| Density | 759 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $107,416 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Waukesha 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 | 149 | — | 3.0 |
| 2000s | 170 | +14% | 2.4 |
| 2010s | 132 | -22% | 1.8 |
| 2020s | 122 | -8% | 2.4 |
In the 1990s about 149 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 122. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 1.8 a year in 2016–19 and 2.4 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in Waukesha County
ZIP codes in Waukesha County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Waukesha County
How common are truck crashes in Waukesha County?
Since 2015, 1,556 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Waukesha County (635 injured, 25 killed).
When do most truck crashes happen in Waukesha County?
The worst month is September: 10.3% of truck crashes in Waukesha County happen then.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Waukesha County?
58 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Waukesha County since 2015, 3.7% of all truck crashes.
How does Waukesha County compare with Wisconsin for truck crashes?
Waukesha County records 31.5 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 42.6 across Wisconsin.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Waukesha County?
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.