Des Moines County, IA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Des Moines 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
5 of 170 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Des Moines County compares with Iowa
Des Moines County against Iowa and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Des Moines County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Des Moines County | Iowa | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 37.4 | 68.1 | 49.7 | 45% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.8 | 3.5 | 3.4 | 1.1× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.37 | 0.41 | 0.49 | 10% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 3.2% | 2.2% | 2.3% | 1.4× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 12.7% | 18.7% | 6.2% | 32% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 23.4% | 24.0% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 9.5% | 15.1% | 13.8% | 37% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 48.7% | 45.4% | 41.9% | 1.1× the state |
| After dark | 15.8% | 23.1% | 24.8% | 31% below the state |
Des Moines County has lower values than Iowa for crashes per 100k residents / yr, injuries per crash and on snow, slush or ice. Where it is higher: deaths per 100 crashes, garbage-truck share and winter months (nov–mar).
What stands out in Des Moines County: November 14.7% of truck crashes happen in November, more than any other month.
Overview
Since 2015, 170 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Des Moines County. They injured 66 people and killed 6.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 25 days.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in November (14.7% of the year) and are lowest in April (4.7%).
November through March accounts for 48.7% of truck crashes here, compared with 45.4% in Iowa.
More truck crashes happen at 12–1 pm than at any other hour (11.8%).
Road surface: 12.7% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Iowa: 18.7%).
Where crashes happen
US-34 leads in Des Moines County with 2 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. Next come CR-H38 Medapolis Rd (1), CR-X99 Dmc 99 (1) and Mu-Isabella Ave (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 5 crashes, 2.9% of the total, against 2.2% across Iowa.
Route planning tips for Des Moines County fleets
- Review driver schedules for November, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Look at alternatives to US-34 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- 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 Des Moines County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Des Moines County) |
|---|---|
| US-34 | 2 |
| CR-H38 Medapolis Rd | 1 |
| CR-X99 Dmc 99 | 1 |
| Mu-Isabella Ave | 1 |
| US-61 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Des Moines County) |
|---|---|
| US-61 | 7 |
| US-34 | 4 |
| Agency St And Us 61 | 4 |
| Mason Rd And Us 61 | 3 |
| Henry Des Moines Ave And Us 34 | 3 |
| Division St And Central Ave | 3 |
| Central Ave | 2 |
| Dmc 99 Signed Route Measuring | 2 |
Des Moines County at a glance
| Population | 38,411 |
| Land area | 416.1 sq mi |
| Density | 92 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $64,105 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Des Moines 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 | — | 1.5 |
| 2000s | 15 | +38% | 0.6 |
| 2010s | 13 | -12% | 0.4 |
| 2020s | 15 | +12% | 0.6 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 11 to 15. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal large-truck crashes: 0.8 a year in 2016–19, 0.6 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in Des Moines County
ZIP codes in Des Moines County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Des Moines County
How many truck crashes happen in Des Moines County?
170 truck crashes have been reported in Des Moines County since 2015, with 6 deaths and 66 injuries.
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in Des Moines County?
NHTSA data shows US-34 with 2 fatal large-truck crashes in Des Moines County since 2015, the highest of any road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Des Moines County?
November has the most truck crashes in Des Moines County, 14.7% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Des Moines County?
Garbage trucks were involved in 5 reported crashes in Des Moines County since 2015 (2.9% of truck crashes).
What is the truck crash rate in Des Moines County compared with Iowa?
Per 100,000 residents, Des Moines County has 37.4 truck crashes a year; Iowa has 68.1.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Des Moines 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.