Truesdale, IA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Truesdale: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Truesdale and Buena Vista County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Buena Vista County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
5 of 170 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Buena Vista County compares with Iowa
Buena Vista County against Iowa and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Buena Vista County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Buena Vista County | Iowa | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 68.6 | 68.1 | 49.7 | same |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 5.7 | 3.5 | 3.4 | 1.6× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.40 | 0.41 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.5% | 2.2% | 2.3% | 1.2× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 20.4% | 18.7% | 6.2% | 1.1× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 28.0% | 24.0% | 23.7% | 1.2× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 12.7% | 15.1% | 13.8% | 16% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 49.7% | 45.4% | 41.9% | 1.1× the state |
| After dark | 17.8% | 23.1% | 24.8% | 23% below the state |
Buena Vista County sits below Iowa on in rain, sleet or snow and after dark. Where it is higher: deaths per 100 crashes, garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice.
Truesdale at a glance: US-71 deadliest road: 2 fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of Truesdale since 2015.
Overview
Buena Vista County has recorded 170 truck crashes since 2015, with 69 people injured and 10 killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 26 days.
With 0 truck crashes reported in Truesdale since 2015, this page uses Buena Vista County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
68% of truck crash reports in Buena Vista County since 2015 leave the city field blank; place counts include only reports that name the place.
When crashes happen
The worst month is January with 12.9% of truck crashes; the quietest is March at 3.5%.
The five winter months (November to March) hold 49.7% of truck crashes, against 45.4% across Iowa.
More truck crashes happen at 7–8 am than at any other hour (11.8%).
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 20.4% of truck crashes, compared with 18.7% in Iowa.
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks within 10 miles of Truesdale is US-71, with 2 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. It is followed by SR-007 (1), SR-3 (1) and US-20 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 5 of the truck crashes here, or 2.9%, compared with 2.2% in Iowa.
Route planning tips for Truesdale fleets
- Review driver schedules for January, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Look at alternatives to US-71 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- Morning starts matter: 28.0% of truck crashes fall between 6 and 10 am, higher than Iowa.
- 20.4% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice, above Iowa; plan winter equipment checks before the season.
- 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 Buena Vista County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-71 | 2 |
| SR-007 | 1 |
| SR-3 | 1 |
| US-20 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Buena Vista County) |
|---|---|
| Ia 7 | 4 |
| US-71 | 3 |
| SR-71 | 3 |
| 100Th Ave And C013/440Th St An | 3 |
| 20Th Ave And Ia 3 | 2 |
| C025/480Th St And Us 71/130Th | 2 |
| Highway 3, West Of M-54 | 2 |
| Hwy 71 & C-49 | 2 |
Truesdale at a glance
| Population | 64 |
| Land area | 0.1 sq mi |
| Density | 438 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 50592) | $100,076 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Buena Vista 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 | 6 | — | 0.5 |
| 2000s | 11 | +81% | 0.5 |
| 2010s | 13 | +20% | 0.7 |
| 2020s | 15 | +13% | 0.4 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 6 to 15. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal large-truck crashes: 0.8 a year in 2016–19, 0.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Truesdale
How common are truck crashes in Truesdale?
170 truck crashes have been reported in Buena Vista County since 2015, with 10 deaths and 69 injuries.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Truesdale?
US-71 had 2 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Truesdale since 2015, more than any other road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Truesdale?
The worst month is January: 12.9% of truck crashes in Buena Vista County happen then.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Truesdale?
5 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Buena Vista County since 2015, 2.9% of all truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in Truesdale compare with Iowa?
Buena Vista County records 68.6 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 68.1 across Iowa.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Truesdale?
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.