ZIP 54401 (Wausau, WI) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 54401: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Marathon 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 755 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Marathon County compares with Wisconsin
Marathon County against Wisconsin and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Marathon County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Marathon County | Wisconsin | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 46.4 | 42.6 | 49.7 | 1.1× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.8 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 1.1× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.38 | 0.46 | 0.49 | 17% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.5% | 2.7% | 2.3% | 7% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 21.8% | 13.4% | 6.2% | 1.6× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 30.0% | 26.9% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 19.9% | 16.5% | 13.8% | 1.2× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 48.9% | 44.9% | 41.9% | 1.1× the state |
| After dark | 20.7% | 20.9% | 24.8% | same |
Compared with Wisconsin, Marathon County is lower on injuries per crash and garbage-truck share. It runs above Wisconsin on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and on snow, slush or ice.
The headline for Marathon County: 21.8% of truck crashes happened on snow, slush or ice, vs 13.4% in Wisconsin.
Overview
Since 2015, 755 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Marathon County. They injured 292 people and killed 27.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 6 days.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in January (13.0% of the year) and are lowest in April (6.2%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 48.9% of truck crashes, against 44.9% across Wisconsin.
By time of day, 7–8 am stands out with 9.4% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 21.8% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Wisconsin: 13.4%).
Where crashes happen
Fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 54401 since 2015 were spread across roads: CR-WW (1), SR-29 (1), SR-52 (1) and US-51 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
19 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 2.5% share (Wisconsin: 2.7%).
Route planning tips for ZIP 54401 fleets
- Build extra time into January routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- The morning rush (6–10 am) holds 30.0% of truck crashes here, more than Wisconsin; adjust start times where you can.
- With 21.8% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above Wisconsin), plan winter equipment checks early.
- 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 Marathon County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| CR-WW | 1 |
| SR-29 | 1 |
| SR-52 | 1 |
| US-51 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Marathon County) |
|---|---|
| Sth 029 | 182 |
| I-039 | 76 |
| Ush 051 | 57 |
| Sth 097 | 20 |
| Sth 013 | 19 |
| SR-029 | 18 |
| Sth 153 | 13 |
| Cth | 12 |
ZIP 54401 at a glance
| Population | 31,692 |
| Density | 145 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $71,586 |
| Median home value | $198,471 |
| Home ownership | 67% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Marathon 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 | 57 | — | 3.0 |
| 2000s | 75 | +33% | 3.0 |
| 2010s | 64 | -15% | 2.1 |
| 2020s | 63 | -2% | 2.0 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 57 a year in the 1990s and 63 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. NHTSA counts 3.0 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 2.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 54401
How many truck accidents are there in ZIP 54401?
755 truck crashes have been reported in Marathon County since 2015, with 27 deaths and 292 injuries.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in ZIP 54401?
The worst month is January: 13.0% of truck crashes in Marathon County happen then.
Are garbage truck crashes common in ZIP 54401?
19 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Marathon County since 2015, 2.5% of all truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in ZIP 54401 compared with Wisconsin?
Per 100,000 residents, Marathon County has 46.4 truck crashes a year; Wisconsin has 42.6.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in ZIP 54401?
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.