ZIP 98444 (Tacoma, WA) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 98444: 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 98444: I-5 most fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 98444: 16 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%.
The five winter months (November to March) hold 44.0% of truck crashes, against 43.8% across 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
I-5 leads within 10 miles of ZIP 98444 with 16 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. After it: SR-99 (6), SR-167 (4) and SR-7 (4).
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.
They recorded 4.9 deaths per 100 crashes, against 3.2 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for ZIP 98444 fleets
- Build extra time into January routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Check whether your routes use I-5, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- 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
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 Pierce County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-5 | 16 |
| SR-99 | 6 |
| SR-167 | 4 |
| SR-7 | 4 |
| 70th Ave E | 2 |
| SR-161 | 2 |
| SR-509 | 2 |
| SR-512 | 2 |
| CR-112TH St S | 1 |
| CR-116TH St S | 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 98444 at a glance
| Population | 35,754 |
| Density | 1,988 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $65,342 |
| Median home value | $415,550 |
| 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 |
In the 1990s about 100 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 246. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. 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 98444
How common are truck crashes in ZIP 98444?
Pierce County has had 2,807 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 514 people and killing 87.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in ZIP 98444?
I-5 had 16 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of ZIP 98444 since 2015, more than any other road.
When do most truck crashes happen in ZIP 98444?
The worst month is January: 9.2% of truck crashes in Pierce County happen then.
Are garbage truck crashes common in ZIP 98444?
44 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Pierce County since 2015, 1.6% of all truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in ZIP 98444 compare with Washington?
Pierce County records 25.4 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 25.8 across Washington.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in ZIP 98444?
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.