ZIP 98626 (Kelso, WA) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 98626: 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
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 has lower values than Washington for deaths per 100 crashes. It runs above Washington on crashes per 100k residents / yr, in rain, sleet or snow and after dark.
The headline for Cowlitz County: 29.0% share of truck crashes in rain, sleet or snow (Washington: 20.2%).
Overview
Police reported 597 crashes involving commercial trucks in Cowlitz County since 2015: 109 people were injured and 14 were killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 7 days.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in May (10.7% of the year) and are lowest in August (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
Since 2015, fatal crashes with a large truck within 10 miles of ZIP 98626 happened on CR-MOUNT Pleasant Rd (1), I-5 (1), SR-411 (1), SR-432 (1) and SR-504 (1); no road leads clearly.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 13 of the truck crashes here, or 2.2%, compared with 2.2% in Washington.
Route planning tips for ZIP 98626 fleets
- Plan May schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Cowlitz 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 Cowlitz County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| CR-MOUNT Pleasant Rd | 1 |
| I-5 | 1 |
| SR-411 | 1 |
| SR-432 | 1 |
| SR-504 | 1 |
| US-30 | 1 |
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 98626 at a glance
| Population | 26,892 |
| Density | 77 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $75,528 |
| Median home value | $367,177 |
| Home ownership | 68% |
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 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 26 a year in the 1990s and 56 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 1.5 a year in 2016–19 and 1.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 98626
How many truck accidents are there in ZIP 98626?
Cowlitz County has had 597 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 109 people and killing 14.
Which month has the most truck crashes in ZIP 98626?
The worst month is May: 10.7% of truck crashes in Cowlitz County happen then.
Are garbage truck crashes common in ZIP 98626?
Since 2015, Cowlitz County has reported 13 garbage-truck crashes, or 2.2% of its truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in ZIP 98626 compare with Washington?
The yearly rate is 44.8 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Cowlitz County, vs 25.8 for Washington.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in ZIP 98626?
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.