ZIP 98388 (Steilacoom, WA) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 98388: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Pierce 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
4.9 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 3.2 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Pierce County compares with Washington
Pierce County against Washington and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Pierce County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Pierce County | Washington | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 25.4 | 25.8 | 49.7 | same |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.2 | 3.4 | 3.4 | same |
| Injuries per crash | 0.18 | 0.18 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.6% | 2.2% | 2.3% | 29% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 2.0% | 9.7% | 6.2% | 79% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 25.5% | 24.8% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 21.5% | 20.2% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 44.0% | 43.8% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 26.9% | 25.2% | 24.8% | same |
Pierce County has lower values than Washington for garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice.
The headline for ZIP 98388: I-5 most fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 98388: 7 since 2015.
Overview
Since 2015, 2,807 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Pierce County. They injured 514 people and killed 87.
That averages about one truck crash every 2 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
The worst month is January with 9.2% of truck crashes; the quietest is April at 7.8%.
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 44.0% of truck crashes, vs 43.8% for Washington.
The busiest hour is 2–3 pm, with 6.9% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 2.0% of truck crashes, compared with 9.7% in Washington.
Where crashes happen
Within this area, I-5 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (7). It is followed by CR-KEY Peninsula Hwy Nw (1), Mu-Willamette Dr Ne (1) and SR-16 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 44 crashes, 1.6% of the total, against 2.2% across Washington.
Their busiest month is June, with 14% of garbage-truck crashes.
Per 100 crashes, garbage trucks recorded 4.9 deaths compared with 3.2 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for ZIP 98388 fleets
- Build extra time into January routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Where you can, review stops along I-5; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- Waste haulers: June is the peak month for garbage-truck crashes in Pierce County.
- 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 Pierce County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-5 | 7 |
| CR-KEY Peninsula Hwy Nw | 1 |
| Mu-Willamette Dr Ne | 1 |
| SR-16 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Pierce County) |
|---|---|
| Sr-512*001.00 | 30 |
| Sr-167*006.00 | 19 |
| Sr-167*010.00 | 17 |
| Sr-167*007.00 | 16 |
| Sr-509*002.00 | 15 |
| Sr-167*008.00 | 14 |
| Sr-167*009.00 | 13 |
| Sr-16*001.00 | 13 |
ZIP 98388 at a glance
| Population | 7,043 |
| Density | 308 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $100,851 |
| Median home value | $652,620 |
| Home ownership | 63% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Pierce 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 | 100 | — | 4.5 |
| 2000s | 147 | +47% | 5.4 |
| 2010s | 200 | +36% | 4.5 |
| 2020s | 246 | +23% | 8.0 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 100 a year in the 1990s and 246 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. NHTSA counts 7.0 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 8.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 98388
How many truck accidents are there in ZIP 98388?
Pierce County has had 2,807 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 514 people and killing 87.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in ZIP 98388?
I-5 had 7 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of ZIP 98388 since 2015, more than any other road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in ZIP 98388?
Truck crashes in Pierce County peak in January, with 9.2% of the year's crashes.
Are garbage truck crashes common in ZIP 98388?
Garbage trucks were involved in 44 reported crashes in Pierce County since 2015 (1.6% of truck crashes).
How do truck crashes in ZIP 98388 compare with Washington?
The yearly rate is 25.4 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Pierce County, vs 25.8 for Washington.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in ZIP 98388?
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.