ZIP 54538 (Lac Du Flambeau, WI) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 54538: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Vilas 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
4 of 74 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
No fatal large-truck crashes with a road name recorded here since 2015.
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 |
Compared with Wisconsin, Vilas County is lower on 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% of truck crashes happened on snow, slush or ice, vs 13.4% in Wisconsin.
Overview
Vilas County has recorded 74 truck crashes since 2015, with 27 people injured and 2 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%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 49.3% of truck crashes, against 44.9% across Wisconsin.
The busiest hour is 3–4 pm, with 12.2% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 31.9% of truck crashes, compared with 13.4% in Wisconsin.
Where crashes happen
NHTSA lists no located fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 54538 since 2015.
Garbage & waste trucks
4 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 5.4% share (Wisconsin: 2.7%).
Route planning tips for ZIP 54538 fleets
- Build extra time into February routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- 30.4% of truck crashes happen between 6 and 10 am, above Wisconsin; consider earlier or later starts where possible.
- With 31.9% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above Wisconsin), plan winter equipment checks early.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
About the data
This report uses the FMCSA crash file (reported crashes of trucks over 10,000 lb) and NHTSA FARS (fatal crashes). It reports the numbers without guessing at reasons.
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
No fatal crashes involving a large truck with a road name were recorded within 10 miles since 2015.
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 |
ZIP 54538 at a glance
| Population | 3,025 |
| Density | 11 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $51,429 |
| Median home value | $320,779 |
| Home ownership | 72% |
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. Fatal large-truck crashes: 0.2 a year in 2016–19, 0.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 54538
How many truck accidents are there in ZIP 54538?
Vilas County has had 74 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 27 people and killing 2.
When do most truck crashes happen in ZIP 54538?
February has the most truck crashes in Vilas County, 16.2% of the yearly total.
Are garbage truck crashes common in ZIP 54538?
4 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Vilas County since 2015, 5.4% of all truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in ZIP 54538 compare with Wisconsin?
The yearly rate is 26.2 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Vilas County, vs 42.6 for Wisconsin.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in ZIP 54538?
The free Route Planner takes your stops and returns a route risk score, safer alternatives and low-bridge warnings.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.