Royal, IA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Royal: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Royal and Clay County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Clay County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
2 of 119 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Clay County compares with Iowa
Clay County against Iowa and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Clay County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Clay County | Iowa | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 59.6 | 68.1 | 49.7 | 12% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 5.6 | 3.5 | 3.4 | 1.6× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.47 | 0.41 | 0.49 | 1.1× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.9% | 2.2% | 2.3% | 57% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 22.2% | 18.7% | 6.2% | 1.2× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 26.9% | 24.0% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 8.3% | 15.1% | 13.8% | 45% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 44.4% | 45.4% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 17.6% | 23.1% | 24.8% | 24% below the state |
Clay County has lower values than Iowa for crashes per 100k residents / yr, garbage-truck share and in rain, sleet or snow. It runs above Iowa on deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and on snow, slush or ice.
What stands out in Clay County: 1 in 108 of truck crashes here involve garbage trucks: 0.9%, vs 2.2% in Iowa.
Overview
Since 2015, 119 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Clay County. They injured 54 people and killed 7.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 37 days.
With 4 truck crashes reported in Royal since 2015, this page uses Clay County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
36% of truck crash reports in Clay County since 2015 leave the city field blank; place counts include only reports that name the place.
When crashes happen
April has the most truck crashes, 11.8% of the yearly total, while September has the fewest (5.9%).
November through March accounts for 44.4% of truck crashes here, compared with 45.4% in Iowa.
The busiest hour is 2–3 pm, with 10.9% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 22.2% of truck crashes, compared with 18.7% in Iowa.
Where crashes happen
Roads with fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Royal since 2015: US-71 (2) and US-18 (1). No single road stands out.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 2 crashes, 1.7% of the total, against 2.2% across Iowa.
Route planning tips for Royal fleets
- Plan April schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Clay County.
- Morning starts matter: 26.9% of truck crashes fall between 6 and 10 am, higher than Iowa.
- 22.2% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice, above Iowa; plan winter equipment checks before the season.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
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 Clay County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-71 | 2 |
| US-18 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Clay County) |
|---|---|
| US-71 | 10 |
| US-18 | 7 |
| Us 71 And B019/320Th St And Us | 6 |
| 130Th Ave | 4 |
| 310Th Ave | 2 |
| 430Th St And 310Th Ave | 2 |
| Ave And Us 18 | 2 |
| E 4Th St And Us 18/N Grand Ave | 2 |
Royal at a glance
| Population | 379 |
| Land area | 0.3 sq mi |
| Density | 1,285 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 51357) | $68,333 |
| Median home value (ZIP 51357) | $115,728 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Clay 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 | 4 | — | 0.2 |
| 2000s | 10 | +121% | 0.6 |
| 2010s | 11 | +16% | 0.6 |
| 2020s | 10 | -14% | 0.6 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 4 a year in the 1990s and 10 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. NHTSA counts 0.2 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 0.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Royal
How many truck accidents are there in Royal?
Clay County has had 119 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 54 people and killing 7.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Royal?
The worst month is April: 11.8% of truck crashes in Clay County happen then.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Royal?
2 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Clay County since 2015, 1.7% of all truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in Royal compared with Iowa?
Per 100,000 residents, Clay County has 59.6 truck crashes a year; Iowa has 68.1.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Royal?
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.