ZIP 54554 (Phelps, WI) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 54554: 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 |
Vilas County has lower values than Wisconsin for crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash. Where it is higher: garbage-truck share, on snow, slush or ice and morning rush (6–10 am).
What stands out in Vilas County: 31.9% share of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (Wisconsin: 13.4%).
Overview
Since 2015, 74 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Vilas County. They injured 27 people and killed 2.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 58 days.
When crashes happen
The worst month is February with 16.2% of truck crashes; the quietest is April at 2.7%.
November through March accounts for 49.3% of truck crashes here, compared with 44.9% in Wisconsin.
More truck crashes happen at 3–4 pm than at any other hour (12.2%).
Road surface: 31.9% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Wisconsin: 13.4%).
Where crashes happen
NHTSA lists no located fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 54554 since 2015.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 4 crashes, 5.4% of the total, against 2.7% across Wisconsin.
Route planning tips for ZIP 54554 fleets
- Review driver schedules for February, the month with the most truck crashes.
- 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.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
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 54554 at a glance
| Population | 1,148 |
| Density | 6 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $63,750 |
| Median home value | $271,784 |
| Home ownership | 90% |
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 |
In the 1990s about 8 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 6. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. NHTSA counts 0.2 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 0.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 54554
How many truck crashes happen in ZIP 54554?
74 truck crashes have been reported in Vilas County since 2015, with 2 deaths and 27 injuries.
Which month has the most truck crashes in ZIP 54554?
Truck crashes in Vilas County peak in February, with 16.2% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in ZIP 54554?
Since 2015, Vilas County has reported 4 garbage-truck crashes, or 5.4% of its truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in ZIP 54554 compare with Wisconsin?
Per 100,000 residents, Vilas County has 26.2 truck crashes a year; Wisconsin has 42.6.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in ZIP 54554?
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.