Burlington, IA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Burlington: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Burlington and Des Moines County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Des Moines County numbers.
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. It runs above Iowa on 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
Des Moines County has recorded 170 truck crashes since 2015, with 66 people injured and 6 killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 25 days in fully reported years.
Burlington had 83 reported truck crashes since 2015, too few for reliable patterns, so the charts and findings on this page use Des Moines County numbers.
32% of truck crash reports in Des Moines 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 (14.7% of the year) and are lowest in April (4.7%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 48.7% of truck crashes, against 45.4% across Iowa.
By time of day, 12–1 pm stands out with 11.8% of truck crashes.
12.7% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 18.7% across Iowa.
Where crashes happen
Fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Burlington since 2015 were spread across roads: US-34 (2), Mu-Isabella Ave (1) and SR-16 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 5 of the truck crashes here, or 2.9%, compared with 2.2% in Iowa.
Route planning tips for Burlington fleets
- Plan November schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Des Moines County.
- 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 Des Moines County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-34 | 2 |
| Mu-Isabella Ave | 1 |
| SR-16 | 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 |
Burlington at a glance
| Population | 23,637 |
| Land area | 14.4 sq mi |
| Density | 1,641 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 52601) | $60,983 |
| Median home value (ZIP 52601) | $125,599 |
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 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 11 a year in the 1990s and 15 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. NHTSA counts 0.8 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 0.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Burlington
How many truck crashes happen in Burlington?
Des Moines County has had 170 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 66 people and killing 6.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Burlington?
The worst month is November: 14.7% of truck crashes in Des Moines County happen then.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Burlington?
Since 2015, Des Moines County has reported 5 garbage-truck crashes, or 2.9% of its truck crashes.
How does Burlington compare with Iowa for truck crashes?
The yearly rate is 37.4 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Des Moines County, vs 68.1 for Iowa.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Burlington?
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.