ZIP 98603 (Ariel, WA) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 98603: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Cowlitz 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
13 of 597 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
No fatal large-truck crashes with a road name recorded here since 2015.
How Cowlitz County compares with Washington
Cowlitz County against Washington and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Cowlitz County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Cowlitz County | Washington | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 44.8 | 25.8 | 49.7 | 1.7× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.5 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 26% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.17 | 0.18 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.3% | 2.2% | 2.3% | same |
| On snow, slush or ice | 9.2% | 9.7% | 6.2% | same |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 24.6% | 24.8% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 29.0% | 20.2% | 13.8% | 1.4× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 45.0% | 43.8% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 32.2% | 25.2% | 24.8% | 1.3× the state |
Cowlitz County sits below Washington on deaths per 100 crashes. Where it is higher: crashes per 100k residents / yr, in rain, sleet or snow and after dark.
What stands out in Cowlitz County: 29.0% share of truck crashes in rain, sleet or snow (Washington: 20.2%).
Overview
Since 2015, 597 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Cowlitz County. They injured 109 people and killed 14.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 7 days.
When crashes happen
May has the most truck crashes, 10.7% of the yearly total, while August has the fewest (6.5%).
November through March accounts for 45.0% of truck crashes here, compared with 43.8% in Washington.
By time of day, 10–11 am stands out with 7.5% of truck crashes.
9.2% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 9.7% across Washington.
Where crashes happen
NHTSA lists no located fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 98603 since 2015.
Garbage & waste trucks
13 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 2.2% share (Washington: 2.2%).
Route planning tips for ZIP 98603 fleets
- Build extra time into May routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
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 Cowlitz 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 (Cowlitz County) |
|---|---|
| Industrial Way | 8 |
| Sr-432*010.00 | 6 |
| 3Rd Ave Blk 500 | 4 |
| I-5 Mp 054.10 | 3 |
| Sr-432*004.40 | 3 |
| Sr-432*004.50 | 3 |
| Sr-433*001.00 | 3 |
| Tennant Way Blk 600 | 3 |
ZIP 98603 at a glance
| Population | 1,267 |
| Density | 4 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $78,281 |
| Median home value | $460,442 |
| Home ownership | 73% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Cowlitz 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 | 26 | — | 1.2 |
| 2000s | 37 | +40% | 0.5 |
| 2010s | 43 | +18% | 0.9 |
| 2020s | 56 | +29% | 1.0 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 26 to 56. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. NHTSA counts 1.5 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 1.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 98603
How common are truck crashes in ZIP 98603?
Cowlitz County has had 597 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 109 people and killing 14.
When do most truck crashes happen in ZIP 98603?
May has the most truck crashes in Cowlitz County, 10.7% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in ZIP 98603?
Garbage trucks were involved in 13 reported crashes in Cowlitz County since 2015 (2.2% of truck crashes).
How does ZIP 98603 compare with Washington for truck crashes?
The yearly rate is 44.8 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Cowlitz County, vs 25.8 for Washington.
How can I plan a safer truck route in ZIP 98603?
Paste your stops into the free CurbWaste Route Planner: it scores your route against fatal-crash locations, suggests safer alternatives and flags low bridges.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.