Rock Falls, IA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Rock Falls: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Rock Falls 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 |
Compared with Iowa, Cerro Gordo County is lower on injuries per crash and garbage-truck share. It runs above Iowa on crashes per 100k residents / yr, on snow, slush or ice and morning rush (6–10 am).
The headline for Cerro Gordo County: 30.9% share of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (Iowa: 18.7%).
Overview
Since 2015, 387 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Cerro Gordo County. They injured 126 people and killed 12.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 11 days.
With 0 truck crashes reported in Rock Falls 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%.
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
Within this area, US-18 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (3). After it: S Carolina Ave (1) and SR-122 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
8 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 2.1% share (Iowa: 2.2%).
Route planning tips for Rock Falls fleets
- Plan January schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Cerro Gordo County.
- Where you can, review stops along US-18; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- The morning rush (6–10 am) holds 25.8% of truck crashes here, more than Iowa; adjust start times where you can.
- With 30.9% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above Iowa), plan winter equipment 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 |
| S Carolina Ave | 1 |
| SR-122 | 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 |
Rock Falls at a glance
| Population | 143 |
| Land area | 0.2 sq mi |
| Density | 691 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 50467) | $63,750 |
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 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 14 to 30. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal large-truck crashes: 1.0 a year in 2016–19, 0.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Rock Falls
How many truck accidents are there in Rock Falls?
Cerro Gordo County has had 387 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 126 people and killing 12.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Rock Falls?
NHTSA data shows US-18 with 3 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Rock Falls since 2015, the highest of any road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Rock Falls?
January has the most truck crashes in Cerro Gordo County, 15.0% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Rock Falls?
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 Rock Falls compared with Iowa?
Cerro Gordo County records 75.5 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 68.1 across Iowa.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Rock Falls?
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.