ZIP 98409 (Tacoma, WA) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 98409: 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 |
Compared with Washington, Pierce County is lower on garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice.
What stands out in ZIP 98409: I-5 deadliest road: 21 fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 98409 since 2015.
Overview
Police reported 2,807 crashes involving commercial trucks in Pierce County since 2015: 514 people were injured and 87 were killed.
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%.
November through March accounts for 44.0% of truck crashes here, compared with 43.8% in Washington.
By time of day, 2–3 pm stands out 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
The deadliest road for trucks within 10 miles of ZIP 98409 is I-5, with 21 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. It is followed by SR-99 (6), SR-167 (3) and SR-7 (3).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 44 of the truck crashes here, or 1.6%, compared with 2.2% in Washington.
The most garbage-truck crashes happen in June (14%).
They recorded 4.9 deaths per 100 crashes, against 3.2 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for ZIP 98409 fleets
- Review driver schedules for January, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Check whether your routes use I-5, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- Waste haulers: June is the peak month for garbage-truck crashes in Pierce County.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
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 Pierce County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-5 | 21 |
| SR-99 | 6 |
| SR-167 | 3 |
| SR-7 | 3 |
| 70th Ave E | 2 |
| SR-509 | 2 |
| SR-512 | 2 |
| CR-112TH St S | 1 |
| CR-116TH St S | 1 |
| CR-38TH Ave E | 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 98409 at a glance
| Population | 27,843 |
| Density | 1,506 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $73,348 |
| Median home value | $390,568 |
| Home ownership | 44% |
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. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 7.0 a year in 2016–19 and 8.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 98409
How many truck crashes happen in ZIP 98409?
2,807 truck crashes have been reported in Pierce County since 2015, with 87 deaths and 514 injuries.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in ZIP 98409?
I-5 had 21 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of ZIP 98409 since 2015, more than any other road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in ZIP 98409?
January has the most truck crashes in Pierce County, 9.2% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in ZIP 98409?
Since 2015, Pierce County has reported 44 garbage-truck crashes, or 1.6% of its truck crashes.
How does ZIP 98409 compare with Washington for truck crashes?
Pierce County records 25.4 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 25.8 across Washington.
How can I plan a safer truck route in ZIP 98409?
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.