Buchanan County, IA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Buchanan County: 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 of 187 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Buchanan County compares with Iowa
Buchanan County against Iowa and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Buchanan County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Buchanan County | Iowa | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 76.3 | 68.1 | 49.7 | 1.1× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.4 | 3.5 | 3.4 | same |
| Injuries per crash | 0.43 | 0.41 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.1% | 2.2% | 2.3% | 47% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 25.3% | 18.7% | 6.2% | 1.4× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 20.7% | 24.0% | 23.7% | 14% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 14.9% | 15.1% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 43.1% | 45.4% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 22.4% | 23.1% | 24.8% | same |
Compared with Iowa, Buchanan County is lower on garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am). It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr and on snow, slush or ice.
Buchanan County at a glance: US-20 2 fatal truck crashes since 2015, more than any other road in Buchanan County.
Overview
Since 2015, 187 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Buchanan County. They injured 82 people and killed 6.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 23 days.
When crashes happen
January has the most truck crashes, 11.2% of the yearly total, while March has the fewest (4.3%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 43.1% of truck crashes, against 45.4% across Iowa.
By time of day, 5–6 pm stands out with 10.7% of truck crashes.
25.3% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 18.7% across Iowa.
Where crashes happen
US-20 leads in Buchanan County with 2 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. After it: CR-C57 120Th St (1), CR-MASON Ave (1) and CR-TROY Mills Blvd (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 2 of the truck crashes here, or 1.1%, compared with 2.2% in Iowa.
Route planning tips for Buchanan County fleets
- Review driver schedules for January, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Look at alternatives to US-20 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- With 25.3% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above Iowa), plan winter equipment checks early.
- 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 Buchanan County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Buchanan County) |
|---|---|
| US-20 | 2 |
| CR-C57 120Th St | 1 |
| CR-MASON Ave | 1 |
| CR-TROY Mills Blvd | 1 |
| CR-W045/BUFFALO Creek Blvd | 1 |
| I-380 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Buchanan County) |
|---|---|
| State 150/Jamestown Ave Measur | 6 |
| State 187/Washburn Ave Measuri | 5 |
| Interstate 380/I 380 Measuring | 4 |
| US-20 | 3 |
| Ramp Ia 150 N To Us 20 E Measu | 3 |
| Benson-Shady Grove Ave Measuri | 2 |
| D047/290Th St And State 150/Ja | 2 |
| I 380 S Measuring 10827 Feet | 2 |
Buchanan County at a glance
| Population | 20,733 |
| Land area | 571.1 sq mi |
| Density | 36 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $78,892 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Buchanan 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 | 2 | — | 0.2 |
| 2000s | 10 | +308% | 0.8 |
| 2010s | 13 | +28% | 0.7 |
| 2020s | 17 | +35% | 0.2 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 2 a year in the 1990s and 17 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 1.2 a year in 2016–19 and 0.2 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in Buchanan County
ZIP codes in Buchanan County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Buchanan County
How common are truck crashes in Buchanan County?
Since 2015, 187 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Buchanan County (82 injured, 6 killed).
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in Buchanan County?
NHTSA data shows US-20 with 2 fatal large-truck crashes in Buchanan County since 2015, the highest of any road.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Buchanan County?
Truck crashes in Buchanan County peak in January, with 11.2% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Buchanan County?
Since 2015, Buchanan County has reported 2 garbage-truck crashes, or 1.1% of its truck crashes.
How does Buchanan County compare with Iowa for truck crashes?
Buchanan County records 76.3 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 68.1 across Iowa.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Buchanan County?
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.