Independence, IA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Independence: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Independence and Buchanan County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Buchanan County numbers.
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 |
Buchanan County sits below Iowa on garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am). Where it is higher: crashes per 100k residents / yr and on snow, slush or ice.
What stands out in Buchanan County: 1 in 87 of truck crashes here involve garbage trucks: 1.1%, vs 2.2% in Iowa.
Overview
Buchanan County has recorded 187 truck crashes since 2015, with 82 people injured and 6 killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 23 days in fully reported years.
Only 19 truck crashes were reported in Independence since 2015; patterns below come from Buchanan County as a whole.
72% of truck crash reports in Buchanan County since 2015 leave the city field blank; place counts include only reports that name the place.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in January (11.2% of the year) and are lowest in March (4.3%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 43.1% of truck crashes, against 45.4% across Iowa.
The busiest hour is 5–6 pm, 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
Fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Independence since 2015 were spread across roads: US-20 (2) and CR-MASON Ave (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
2 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 1.1% share (Iowa: 2.2%).
Route planning tips for Independence fleets
- Review driver schedules for January, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 25.3% of truck crashes here, more than Iowa; schedule winter checks early.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
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 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-20 | 2 |
| CR-MASON Ave | 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 |
Independence at a glance
| Population | 6,266 |
| Land area | 6.0 sq mi |
| Density | 1,039 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 50644) | $80,026 |
| Median home value (ZIP 50644) | $186,618 |
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 |
In the 1990s about 2 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 17. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 1.2 a year in 2016–19 and 0.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Independence
How many truck crashes happen in Independence?
Buchanan County has had 187 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 82 people and killing 6.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Independence?
Truck crashes in Buchanan County peak in January, with 11.2% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Independence?
Garbage trucks were involved in 2 reported crashes in Buchanan County since 2015 (1.1% of truck crashes).
What is the truck crash rate in Independence compared with Iowa?
Per 100,000 residents, Buchanan County has 76.3 truck crashes a year; Iowa has 68.1.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Independence?
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.