Iowa truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Iowa: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes, 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
2.8 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 3.5 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Iowa compares with United States
Iowa against United States, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Iowa stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Iowa | United States | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 68.1 | 49.7 | 1.4× the US |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.5 | 3.4 | same |
| Injuries per crash | 0.41 | 0.49 | 16% below the US |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.2% | 2.3% | same |
| On snow, slush or ice | 18.7% | 6.2% | 3.0× the US |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 24.0% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 15.1% | 13.8% | 1.1× the US |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 45.4% | 41.9% | 1.1× the US |
| After dark | 23.1% | 24.8% | 7% below the US |
Iowa sits below the US on injuries per crash and after dark. Where it is higher: crashes per 100k residents / yr, on snow, slush or ice and in rain, sleet or snow.
The headline for Iowa: 18.7% share of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (the US: 6.2%).
Overview
Iowa has recorded 25,801 truck crashes since 2015, with 10,525 people injured and 889 killed.
That averages about 6 truck crashes a day in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in January (10.6% of the year) and are lowest in April (6.8%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 45.4% of truck crashes, against 41.9% across the US.
By time of day, 11 am–12 pm stands out with 7.1% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 18.7% of truck crashes, compared with 6.2% in the US.
Where crashes happen
Within this area, I-80 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (79). Next come I-35 (27), US-20 (23) and US-30 (21).
Garbage & waste trucks
559 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 2.2% share (the US: 2.3%).
Garbage-truck crashes peak in December (10% of them).
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 2.8, vs 3.5 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for Iowa fleets
- Plan January schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Iowa.
- Look at alternatives to I-80 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- Waste haulers: December is the peak month for garbage-truck crashes in Iowa.
- With 18.7% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above the US), plan winter equipment checks early.
- 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 Iowa
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Iowa) |
|---|---|
| I-80 | 79 |
| I-35 | 27 |
| US-20 | 23 |
| US-30 | 21 |
| US-18 | 17 |
| US-61 | 17 |
| US-34 | 16 |
| US-218 | 15 |
| US-65 | 14 |
| US-151 | 12 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Iowa) |
|---|---|
| I-80 | 531 |
| Interstate 80/I 80 | 279 |
| US-20 | 260 |
| US-30 | 207 |
| US-218 | 177 |
| US-34 | 160 |
| I-380 | 155 |
| I-35 | 154 |
Iowa at a glance
| Population | 3,241,488 |
| Land area | 55,853.7 sq mi |
| Density | 58 per sq mi |
Historical data: truck crashes in Iowa 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 | 654 | — | 72.8 |
| 2000s | 1,636 | +150% | 63.5 |
| 2010s | 1,952 | +19% | 57.8 |
| 2020s | 2,276 | +17% | 63.6 |
In the 1990s about 654 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 2,276. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 61.0 a year in 2016–19 and 63.6 a year in 2020–24.
Counties in Iowa
Largest places in Iowa
Nearby states
Questions fleets ask about Iowa
How many truck crashes happen in Iowa?
Iowa has had 25,801 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 10,525 people and killing 889.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Iowa?
I-80 had 79 fatal crashes involving a large truck in Iowa since 2015, more than any other road.
When do most truck crashes happen in Iowa?
The worst month is January: 10.6% of truck crashes in Iowa happen then.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Iowa?
Since 2015, Iowa has reported 559 garbage-truck crashes, or 2.2% of its truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in Iowa compare with the US?
Per 100,000 residents, Iowa has 68.1 truck crashes a year; the US has 49.7.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Iowa?
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.