ZIP 68637 (Ericson, NE) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 68637: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Wheeler 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
0 of 23 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
No fatal large-truck crashes with a road name recorded here since 2015.
How Wheeler County compares with Nebraska
Wheeler County against Nebraska and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Wheeler County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Wheeler County | Nebraska | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 225.0 | 60.7 | 49.7 | 3.7× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 5.0 | 4.8 | 3.4 | same |
| Injuries per crash | 0.85 | 0.57 | 0.49 | 1.5× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.0% | 1.8% | 2.3% | 100% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 5.0% | 16.7% | 6.2% | 70% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 30.0% | 22.4% | 23.7% | 1.3× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 10.0% | 20.4% | 13.8% | 51% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 40.0% | 42.7% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 30.0% | 24.5% | 24.8% | 1.2× the state |
Wheeler County has lower values than Nebraska for garbage-truck share, on snow, slush or ice and in rain, sleet or snow. It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr, injuries per crash and morning rush (6–10 am).
What stands out in Wheeler County: January the month with the most truck crashes: 21.7% of the year's total.
Overview
Police reported 23 crashes involving commercial trucks in Wheeler County since 2015: 17 people were injured and 1 were killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 201 days.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in January (21.7% of the year) and are lowest in March (0.0%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 40.0% of truck crashes, vs 42.7% for Nebraska.
More truck crashes happen at 8–9 am than at any other hour (21.7%).
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 5.0% of truck crashes, compared with 16.7% in Nebraska.
Where crashes happen
No fatal crash involving a large truck has a recorded location within 10 miles of ZIP 68637 since 2015.
Garbage & waste trucks
FMCSA lists no garbage-truck crashes in Wheeler County since 2015.
Route planning tips for ZIP 68637 fleets
- Plan January schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Wheeler County.
- Morning starts matter: 30.0% of truck crashes fall between 6 and 10 am, higher than Nebraska.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
About the data
Sources: the FMCSA crash file for all reported truck crashes and NHTSA FARS for fatal crashes with a large truck. Every statement here comes straight from those numbers.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Wheeler 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 (Wheeler County) |
|---|---|
| SR-281 | 5 |
| US-281 | 3 |
| 281 /134.470/S Jct Us281 & N70-E Of Erickson | 2 |
| 070 /145.960/N70 & Chesapeake St | 1 |
| 281 /153.160/Us281 Nw Of 495Th Ave-Nw Of Bartlet | 1 |
| 281 /156.690/Us281 N Of 845Th Ave-N Of Barlett | 1 |
| Chesapeake Streeet | 1 |
| Hwy 281 / 539Ft / N /Mm154 | 1 |
ZIP 68637 at a glance
| Population | 317 |
| Density | 1 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $73,750 |
| Median home value | $155,723 |
| Home ownership | 86% |
Historical data: truck crashes in Wheeler 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 | 2 | — | 0.2 |
| 2000s | 2 | -30% | 0.1 |
| 2010s | 1 | -27% | 0.0 |
| 2020s | 2 | +112% | 0.0 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 2 a year in the 1990s and 2 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 68637
How common are truck crashes in ZIP 68637?
23 truck crashes have been reported in Wheeler County since 2015, with 1 deaths and 17 injuries.
Which month has the most truck crashes in ZIP 68637?
The worst month is January: 21.7% of truck crashes in Wheeler County happen then.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in ZIP 68637?
Since 2015, Wheeler County has reported 0 garbage-truck crashes, or 0.0% of its truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in ZIP 68637 compare with Nebraska?
The yearly rate is 225.0 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Wheeler County, vs 60.7 for Nebraska.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in ZIP 68637?
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.