Waukesha, WI truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Waukesha: 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
10 of 206 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Waukesha compares with Wisconsin
Waukesha against Wisconsin and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Waukesha stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Waukesha | Wisconsin | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 24.6 | 42.6 | 49.7 | 42% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 1.6 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 53% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.44 | 0.46 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 4.7% | 2.7% | 2.3% | 1.7× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 8.8% | 13.4% | 6.2% | 34% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 29.0% | 26.9% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 13.0% | 16.5% | 13.8% | 22% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 41.4% | 44.9% | 41.9% | 8% below the state |
| After dark | 10.9% | 20.9% | 24.8% | 48% below the state |
Compared with Wisconsin, Waukesha is lower on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and on snow, slush or ice. It runs above Wisconsin on garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am).
Waukesha at a glance: 1 in 21 crashes involve a garbage truck (10 since 2015), vs 2.7% across Wisconsin.
Overview
Police reported 206 crashes involving commercial trucks in Waukesha since 2015: 89 people were injured and 4 were killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 21 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
September has the most truck crashes, 13.1% of the yearly total, while April has the fewest (3.9%).
November through March accounts for 41.4% of truck crashes here, compared with 44.9% in Wisconsin.
More truck crashes happen at 11 am–12 pm than at any other hour (12.1%).
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 8.8% of truck crashes, compared with 13.4% in Wisconsin.
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks within 10 miles of Waukesha is US-18, with 2 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. Next come CR-C (1), CR-I (1) and CR-JJ (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 10 of the truck crashes here, or 4.9%, compared with 2.7% in Wisconsin.
Route planning tips for Waukesha fleets
- Build extra time into September routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Look at alternatives to US-18 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- 29.0% of truck crashes happen between 6 and 10 am, above Wisconsin; consider earlier or later starts where possible.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
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 Waukesha
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-18 | 2 |
| CR-C | 1 |
| CR-I | 1 |
| CR-JJ | 1 |
| CR-K | 1 |
| CR-M / Watertown Rd | 1 |
| CR-SR | 1 |
| Calhoun Rd | 1 |
| Grange Ave W | 1 |
| I-94 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Waukesha) |
|---|---|
| Ush 018 | 20 |
| Sth 059 | 17 |
| I-094 | 13 |
| E Main St | 9 |
| Cth J | 7 |
| E St Paul Ave | 7 |
| W St Paul Ave | 6 |
| Private Property | 6 |
Waukesha at a glance
| Population | 71,461 |
| Land area | 25.5 sq mi |
| Density | 2,800 per sq mi |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Waukesha 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 | 24 | — | 3.0 |
| 2000s | 25 | +2% | 2.4 |
| 2010s | 16 | -35% | 1.8 |
| 2020s | 18 | +14% | 2.4 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 24 a year in the 1990s and 18 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. NHTSA counts 1.8 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 2.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Waukesha
How common are truck crashes in Waukesha?
Since 2015, 206 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Waukesha (89 injured, 4 killed).
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in Waukesha?
US-18 had 2 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Waukesha since 2015, more than any other road.
When do most truck crashes happen in Waukesha?
Truck crashes in Waukesha peak in September, with 13.1% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Waukesha?
10 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Waukesha since 2015, 4.9% of all truck crashes.
How does Waukesha compare with Wisconsin for truck crashes?
Waukesha records 24.6 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 42.6 across Wisconsin.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Waukesha?
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.