Cherokee County, IA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Cherokee County: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
2 of 153 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Cherokee County compares with Iowa
Cherokee County against Iowa and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Cherokee County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Cherokee County | Iowa | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 114.6 | 68.1 | 49.7 | 1.7× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 1.4 | 3.5 | 3.4 | 60% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.62 | 0.41 | 0.49 | 1.5× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.4% | 2.2% | 2.3% | 38% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 17.0% | 18.7% | 6.2% | 9% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 32.6% | 24.0% | 23.7% | 1.4× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 10.9% | 15.1% | 13.8% | 28% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 48.3% | 45.4% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 15.7% | 23.1% | 24.8% | 32% below the state |
Compared with Iowa, Cherokee County is lower on deaths per 100 crashes, garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice. It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr, injuries per crash and morning rush (6–10 am).
The headline for Cherokee County: 1.4 deaths per 100 truck crashes, vs 3.5 in Iowa.
Overview
Since 2015, 153 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Cherokee County. They injured 93 people and killed 3.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 27 days.
When crashes happen
The worst month is November with 12.4% of truck crashes; the quietest is June at 3.9%.
November through March accounts for 48.3% of truck crashes here, compared with 45.4% in Iowa.
By time of day, 9–10 am stands out with 9.8% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 17.0% of truck crashes, compared with 18.7% in Iowa.
Where crashes happen
Roads with fatal crashes involving a large truck in Cherokee County since 2015: SR-3 (1) and US-59 (1). No single road stands out.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 2 of the truck crashes here, or 1.3%, compared with 2.2% in Iowa.
Route planning tips for Cherokee County fleets
- Review driver schedules for November, the month with the most truck crashes.
- The morning rush (6–10 am) holds 32.6% of truck crashes here, more than Iowa; adjust start times where you can.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
About the data
Crash counts come from the FMCSA crash file (police-reported crashes involving trucks over 10,000 lb); fatal-crash locations come from NHTSA FARS. Text on this page states only what these numbers show.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Cherokee County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Cherokee County) |
|---|---|
| SR-3 | 1 |
| US-59 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Cherokee County) |
|---|---|
| US-59 | 17 |
| Ia 3 | 8 |
| State 3/Iowa 3 | 8 |
| L036/D Ave | 4 |
| L051/L Ave | 4 |
| Main St | 3 |
| M021/W Ave | 3 |
| F Ave | 3 |
Cherokee County at a glance
| Population | 11,658 |
| Land area | 576.9 sq mi |
| Density | 20 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $70,707 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Cherokee 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 | 3 | — | 0.5 |
| 2000s | 8 | +119% | 0.6 |
| 2010s | 13 | +69% | 0.5 |
| 2020s | 14 | +8% | 0.4 |
In the 1990s about 3 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 14. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. NHTSA counts 0.0 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 0.4 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in Cherokee County
ZIP codes in Cherokee County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Cherokee County
How common are truck crashes in Cherokee County?
Cherokee County has had 153 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 93 people and killing 3.
When do most truck crashes happen in Cherokee County?
Truck crashes in Cherokee County peak in November, with 12.4% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Cherokee County?
Since 2015, Cherokee County has reported 2 garbage-truck crashes, or 1.3% of its truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in Cherokee County compared with Iowa?
Cherokee County records 114.6 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 68.1 across Iowa.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Cherokee County?
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.