ZIP 98438 (Mcchord Afb, WA) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 98438: 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 sits below Washington on garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice.
What stands out in ZIP 98438: I-5 deadliest road: 14 fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 98438 since 2015.
Overview
Police reported 2,807 crashes involving commercial trucks in Pierce County since 2015: 514 people were injured and 87 were killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 2 days.
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 98438 is I-5, with 14 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. After it: SR-7 (4), SR-161 (2) and SR-167 (2).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 44 crashes, 1.6% of the total, against 2.2% across Washington.
The most garbage-truck crashes happen in June (14%).
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 4.9, vs 3.2 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for ZIP 98438 fleets
- Plan January schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Pierce County.
- Look at alternatives to I-5 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in June; review collection routes for that month.
- 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 | 14 |
| SR-7 | 4 |
| SR-161 | 2 |
| SR-167 | 2 |
| SR-512 | 2 |
| 70th Ave E | 1 |
| CR-112TH St S | 1 |
| CR-116TH St S | 1 |
| CR-224TH St E | 1 |
| CR-240TH St 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 98438 at a glance
| Population | 613 |
| Density | 246 per sq mi |
| Home ownership | 38% |
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 |
In the 1990s about 100 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 246. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal large-truck crashes: 7.0 a year in 2016–19, 8.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 98438
How many truck accidents are there in ZIP 98438?
Since 2015, 2,807 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Pierce County (514 injured, 87 killed).
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in ZIP 98438?
NHTSA data shows I-5 with 14 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 98438 since 2015, the highest of any road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in ZIP 98438?
The worst month is January: 9.2% of truck crashes in Pierce County happen then.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in ZIP 98438?
Garbage trucks were involved in 44 reported crashes in Pierce County since 2015 (1.6% of truck crashes).
How does ZIP 98438 compare with Washington for truck crashes?
The yearly rate is 25.4 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Pierce County, vs 25.8 for Washington.
How can I plan a safer truck route in ZIP 98438?
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.