Mason City, IA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Mason City: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Mason City and Cerro Gordo County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Cerro Gordo County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
8 of 387 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Cerro Gordo County compares with Iowa
Cerro Gordo County against Iowa and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Cerro Gordo County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Cerro Gordo County | Iowa | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 75.5 | 68.1 | 49.7 | 1.1× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.4 | 3.5 | 3.4 | same |
| Injuries per crash | 0.31 | 0.41 | 0.49 | 24% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.0% | 2.2% | 2.3% | 9% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 30.9% | 18.7% | 6.2% | 1.7× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 25.8% | 24.0% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 22.1% | 15.1% | 13.8% | 1.5× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 55.8% | 45.4% | 41.9% | 1.2× the state |
| After dark | 28.1% | 23.1% | 24.8% | 1.2× the state |
Cerro Gordo County has lower values than Iowa for injuries per crash and garbage-truck share. It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr, on snow, slush or ice and morning rush (6–10 am).
What stands out in Cerro Gordo County: 30.9% of truck crashes happened on snow, slush or ice, vs 18.7% in Iowa.
Overview
Police reported 387 crashes involving commercial trucks in Cerro Gordo County since 2015: 126 people were injured and 12 were killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 11 days.
Only 87 truck crashes were reported in Mason City since 2015; patterns below come from Cerro Gordo County as a whole.
45% of truck crash reports in Cerro Gordo County since 2015 leave the city field blank; place counts include only reports that name the place.
When crashes happen
January has the most truck crashes, 15.0% of the yearly total, while September has the fewest (3.9%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 55.8% of truck crashes, vs 45.4% for Iowa.
By time of day, 10–11 am stands out with 10.6% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 30.9% of truck crashes, compared with 18.7% in Iowa.
Where crashes happen
US-18 leads within 10 miles of Mason City with 3 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. It is followed by CR-B55 170Th St (1), CR-S26/HICKORY Ave (1) and I-35 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 8 crashes, 2.1% of the total, against 2.2% across Iowa.
Route planning tips for Mason City fleets
- Plan January schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Cerro Gordo County.
- Check whether your routes use US-18, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- Morning starts matter: 25.8% of truck crashes fall between 6 and 10 am, higher than Iowa.
- With 30.9% 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
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 Cerro Gordo County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-18 | 3 |
| CR-B55 170Th St | 1 |
| CR-S26/HICKORY Ave | 1 |
| I-35 | 1 |
| S Carolina Ave | 1 |
| SR-122 | 1 |
| US-65 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Cerro Gordo County) |
|---|---|
| US-18 | 8 |
| US-65 | 8 |
| Interstate 35/I 35 | 6 |
| I-35 | 5 |
| 300Th St | 5 |
| 150Th St | 4 |
| Ramp Us 18 W To I 35 | 3 |
| Mm I 35 | 3 |
Mason City at a glance
| Population | 26,948 |
| Land area | 28.2 sq mi |
| Density | 955 per sq mi |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Cerro Gordo 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 | 14 | — | 0.8 |
| 2000s | 27 | +92% | 1.0 |
| 2010s | 29 | +7% | 1.3 |
| 2020s | 30 | +5% | 0.6 |
In the 1990s about 14 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 30. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 1.0 a year in 2016–19 and 0.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Mason City
How many truck accidents are there in Mason City?
Cerro Gordo County has had 387 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 126 people and killing 12.
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in Mason City?
US-18 had 3 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Mason City since 2015, more than any other road.
When do most truck crashes happen in Mason City?
January has the most truck crashes in Cerro Gordo County, 15.0% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Mason City?
8 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Cerro Gordo County since 2015, 2.1% of all truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in Mason City compared with Iowa?
Per 100,000 residents, Cerro Gordo County has 75.5 truck crashes a year; Iowa has 68.1.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Mason City?
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.