Plymouth, IA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Plymouth: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Plymouth 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. Where it is higher: crashes per 100k residents / yr, on snow, slush or ice and morning rush (6–10 am).
The headline for Cerro Gordo County: 30.9% on snowy, slushy or icy roads, against 18.7% across Iowa.
Overview
Cerro Gordo County has recorded 387 truck crashes since 2015, with 126 people injured and 12 killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 11 days.
With 2 truck crashes reported in Plymouth since 2015, this page uses Cerro Gordo County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
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
The worst month is January with 15.0% of truck crashes; the quietest is September at 3.9%.
November through March accounts for 55.8% of truck crashes here, compared with 45.4% in Iowa.
More truck crashes happen at 10–11 am than at any other hour (10.6%).
30.9% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 18.7% across Iowa.
Where crashes happen
US-18 leads within 10 miles of Plymouth with 2 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. Next come S Carolina Ave (1), SR-122 (1) and US-65 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
8 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 2.1% share (Iowa: 2.2%).
Route planning tips for Plymouth fleets
- Plan January schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Cerro Gordo County.
- Look at alternatives to US-18 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- The morning rush (6–10 am) holds 25.8% of truck crashes here, more than Iowa; adjust start times where you can.
- 30.9% 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 Cerro Gordo County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-18 | 2 |
| 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 |
Plymouth at a glance
| Population | 368 |
| Land area | 0.4 sq mi |
| Density | 834 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 50464) | $91,750 |
| Median home value (ZIP 50464) | $238,561 |
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. NHTSA counts 1.0 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 0.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Plymouth
How common are truck crashes in Plymouth?
387 truck crashes have been reported in Cerro Gordo County since 2015, with 12 deaths and 126 injuries.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Plymouth?
US-18 had 2 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Plymouth since 2015, more than any other road.
When do most truck crashes happen in Plymouth?
Truck crashes in Cerro Gordo County peak in January, with 15.0% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Plymouth?
Garbage trucks were involved in 8 reported crashes in Cerro Gordo County since 2015 (2.1% of truck crashes).
How does Plymouth compare with Iowa for truck crashes?
The yearly rate is 75.5 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Cerro Gordo County, vs 68.1 for Iowa.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Plymouth?
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.