Portland, IA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Portland: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Portland 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% on snowy, slushy or icy roads, against 18.7% across Iowa.
Overview
Since 2015, 387 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Cerro Gordo County. They injured 126 people and killed 12.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 11 days.
Only 0 truck crashes were reported in Portland 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
Truck crashes peak in January (15.0% of the year) and are lowest in September (3.9%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 55.8% of truck crashes, against 45.4% across Iowa.
By time of day, 10–11 am stands out with 10.6% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 30.9% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Iowa: 18.7%).
Where crashes happen
Within this area, US-18 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (3). Next come CR-B55 170Th St (1), S Carolina Ave (1) and SR-122 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 8 of the truck crashes here, or 2.1%, compared with 2.2% in Iowa.
Route planning tips for Portland fleets
- Build extra time into January routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- 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.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 30.9% of truck crashes here, more than Iowa; schedule winter checks early.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
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 |
| 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 |
Portland at a glance
| Land area | 1.0 sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 50401) | $66,072 |
| Median home value (ZIP 50401) | $145,892 |
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 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 14 a year in the 1990s and 30 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 1.0 a year in 2016–19 and 0.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Portland
How many truck crashes happen in Portland?
387 truck crashes have been reported in Cerro Gordo County since 2015, with 12 deaths and 126 injuries.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in Portland?
NHTSA data shows US-18 with 3 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Portland since 2015, the highest of any road.
When do most truck crashes happen in Portland?
January has the most truck crashes in Cerro Gordo County, 15.0% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Portland?
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 Portland compared with Iowa?
Cerro Gordo County records 75.5 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 68.1 across Iowa.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Portland?
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.