ZIP 53538 (Fort Atkinson, WI) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 53538: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Jefferson County, 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
19 of 481 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Jefferson County compares with Wisconsin
Jefferson County against Wisconsin and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Jefferson County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Jefferson County | Wisconsin | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 47.7 | 42.6 | 49.7 | 1.1× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 4.6 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 1.4× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.39 | 0.46 | 0.49 | 15% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 4.2% | 2.7% | 2.3% | 1.5× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 15.9% | 13.4% | 6.2% | 1.2× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 31.6% | 26.9% | 23.7% | 1.2× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 16.8% | 16.5% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 49.7% | 44.9% | 41.9% | 1.1× the state |
| After dark | 21.0% | 20.9% | 24.8% | same |
Jefferson County sits below Wisconsin on injuries per crash. Where it is higher: crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and garbage-truck share.
Jefferson County at a glance: 1 in 24 garbage-truck share of crashes is 4.2%, against 2.7% for Wisconsin.
Overview
Since 2015, 481 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Jefferson County. They injured 185 people and killed 21.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 9 days.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in January (13.3% of the year) and are lowest in June (3.7%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 49.7% of truck crashes, against 44.9% across Wisconsin.
More truck crashes happen at 9–10 am than at any other hour (9.6%).
15.9% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 13.4% across Wisconsin.
Where crashes happen
US-12 leads within 10 miles of ZIP 53538 with 6 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. After it: US-18 (2), CR-Y (1) and I-39 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
19 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 4.0% share (Wisconsin: 2.7%).
Route planning tips for ZIP 53538 fleets
- Plan January schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Jefferson County.
- Where you can, review stops along US-12; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- The morning rush (6–10 am) holds 31.6% of truck crashes here, more than Wisconsin; adjust start times where you can.
- 15.9% 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 Jefferson County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-12 | 6 |
| US-18 | 2 |
| CR-Y | 1 |
| I-39 | 1 |
| SR-26 | 1 |
| SR-59 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Jefferson County) |
|---|---|
| I-094 | 166 |
| Sth 026 | 56 |
| Ush 012 | 22 |
| Ush 018 | 16 |
| Parking Lot | 12 |
| Cth | 9 |
| Cth F | 9 |
| Cth B | 8 |
ZIP 53538 at a glance
| Population | 18,813 |
| Density | 75 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $82,783 |
| Median home value | $244,876 |
| Home ownership | 74% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Jefferson 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 | 36 | — | 1.7 |
| 2000s | 41 | +14% | 2.3 |
| 2010s | 37 | -10% | 1.2 |
| 2020s | 44 | +18% | 1.8 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 36 to 44. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. NHTSA counts 2.0 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 1.8 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 53538
How common are truck crashes in ZIP 53538?
Since 2015, 481 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Jefferson County (185 injured, 21 killed).
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in ZIP 53538?
US-12 had 6 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of ZIP 53538 since 2015, more than any other road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in ZIP 53538?
Truck crashes in Jefferson County peak in January, with 13.3% of the year's crashes.
Are garbage truck crashes common in ZIP 53538?
19 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Jefferson County since 2015, 4.0% of all truck crashes.
How does ZIP 53538 compare with Wisconsin for truck crashes?
Per 100,000 residents, Jefferson County has 47.7 truck crashes a year; Wisconsin has 42.6.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in ZIP 53538?
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.