Dallas County, IA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Dallas 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
9 of 638 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Dallas County compares with Iowa
Dallas County against Iowa and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Dallas County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Dallas County | Iowa | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 47.0 | 68.1 | 49.7 | 31% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.2 | 3.5 | 3.4 | 9% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.35 | 0.41 | 0.49 | 15% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.5% | 2.2% | 2.3% | 31% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 16.3% | 18.7% | 6.2% | 13% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 21.1% | 24.0% | 23.7% | 12% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 15.9% | 15.1% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 41.4% | 45.4% | 41.9% | 9% below the state |
| After dark | 26.0% | 23.1% | 24.8% | 1.1× the state |
Dallas County sits below Iowa on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash. It runs above Iowa on after dark.
What stands out in Dallas County: I-80 deadliest road: 7 fatal truck crashes in Dallas County since 2015.
Overview
Police reported 638 crashes involving commercial trucks in Dallas County since 2015: 229 people were injured and 19 were killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 7 days.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in July (10.5% of the year) and are lowest in March (4.7%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 41.4% of truck crashes, against 45.4% across Iowa.
The busiest hour is 11 am–12 pm, with 8.5% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 16.3% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Iowa: 18.7%).
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks in Dallas County is I-80, with 7 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. It is followed by US-6 (2), CR-P46 D Ave (1) and SR-141 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 9 crashes, 1.4% of the total, against 2.2% across Iowa.
Route planning tips for Dallas County fleets
- Review driver schedules for July, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Check whether your routes use I-80, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
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 Dallas County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Dallas County) |
|---|---|
| I-80 | 7 |
| US-6 | 2 |
| CR-P46 D Ave | 1 |
| SR-141 | 1 |
| SR-17 | 1 |
| SR-44 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Dallas County) |
|---|---|
| I-80 | 65 |
| Interstate 80/I 80 | 31 |
| Ia 141 | 7 |
| Ia 44 | 6 |
| State 141/Iowa 141 | 6 |
| State 44/240Th St | 6 |
| US-6 | 5 |
| Us 169/N Ave | 5 |
Dallas County at a glance
| Population | 115,343 |
| Land area | 588.2 sq mi |
| Density | 196 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $105,807 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Dallas 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 | 11 | — | 0.9 |
| 2000s | 31 | +181% | 1.1 |
| 2010s | 40 | +29% | 0.4 |
| 2020s | 60 | +48% | 2.4 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 11 a year in the 1990s and 60 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal large-truck crashes: 0.2 a year in 2016–19, 2.4 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in Dallas County
ZIP codes in Dallas County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Dallas County
How common are truck crashes in Dallas County?
Since 2015, 638 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Dallas County (229 injured, 19 killed).
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in Dallas County?
NHTSA data shows I-80 with 7 fatal large-truck crashes in Dallas County since 2015, the highest of any road.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Dallas County?
The worst month is July: 10.5% of truck crashes in Dallas County happen then.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Dallas County?
Garbage trucks were involved in 9 reported crashes in Dallas County since 2015 (1.4% of truck crashes).
What is the truck crash rate in Dallas County compared with Iowa?
Dallas County records 47.0 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 68.1 across Iowa.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Dallas County?
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.