Marcus, IA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Marcus: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Marcus and Cherokee County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Cherokee County numbers.
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 |
Cherokee County has lower values than Iowa for 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
Police reported 153 crashes involving commercial trucks in Cherokee County since 2015: 93 people were injured and 3 were killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 27 days.
With 11 truck crashes reported in Marcus since 2015, this page uses Cherokee County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
59% of truck crash reports in Cherokee County since 2015 leave the city field blank; place counts include only reports that name the place.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in November (12.4% of the year) and are lowest in June (3.9%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 48.3% of truck crashes, vs 45.4% for 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
Fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Marcus since 2015 were spread across roads: SR-3 (2) and CR-LOG Ave (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 2 crashes, 1.3% of the total, against 2.2% across Iowa.
Route planning tips for Marcus 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
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 Cherokee County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-3 | 2 |
| CR-LOG Ave | 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 |
Marcus at a glance
| Population | 1,069 |
| Land area | 1.5 sq mi |
| Density | 699 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 51035) | $79,338 |
| Median home value (ZIP 51035) | $206,926 |
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 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 3 to 14. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. NHTSA counts 0.0 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 0.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Marcus
How many truck accidents are there in Marcus?
Cherokee County has had 153 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 93 people and killing 3.
When do most truck crashes happen in Marcus?
Truck crashes in Cherokee County peak in November, with 12.4% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Marcus?
Garbage trucks were involved in 2 reported crashes in Cherokee County since 2015 (1.3% of truck crashes).
How do truck crashes in Marcus compare with Iowa?
The yearly rate is 114.6 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Cherokee County, vs 68.1 for Iowa.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Marcus?
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.