Lowell, IA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Lowell: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Lowell 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 |
Compared with Iowa, Des Moines County is lower on 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 worst month: 14.7% of truck crashes, vs 8.3% in an average month.
Overview
Police reported 170 crashes involving commercial trucks in Des Moines County since 2015: 66 people were injured and 6 were killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 25 days.
With 0 truck crashes reported in Lowell since 2015, this page uses Des Moines County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
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
November has the most truck crashes, 14.7% of the yearly total, while April has the fewest (4.7%).
November through March accounts for 48.7% of truck crashes here, compared with 45.4% in Iowa.
The busiest hour is 12–1 pm, with 11.8% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 12.7% of truck crashes, compared with 18.7% in Iowa.
Where crashes happen
US-218 leads within 10 miles of Lowell with 5 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. Next come US-34 (3), CR-J38/LOCUST St (1) and SR-16 (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 Lowell fleets
- Review driver schedules for November, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Check whether your routes use US-218, 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 Des Moines County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-218 | 5 |
| US-34 | 3 |
| CR-J38/LOCUST St | 1 |
| SR-16 | 1 |
| Ts-E Cleveland St | 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 |
Lowell at a glance
| Land area | 1.0 sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 52623) | $90,714 |
| Median home value (ZIP 52623) | $237,633 |
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 |
In the 1990s about 11 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 15. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. 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 Lowell
How many truck accidents are there in Lowell?
170 truck crashes have been reported in Des Moines County since 2015, with 6 deaths and 66 injuries.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Lowell?
NHTSA data shows US-218 with 5 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Lowell since 2015, the highest of any road.
When do most truck crashes happen in Lowell?
November has the most truck crashes in Des Moines County, 14.7% of the yearly total.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Lowell?
5 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Des Moines County since 2015, 2.9% of all truck crashes.
How does Lowell compare with Iowa for truck crashes?
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 Lowell?
Paste your stops into the free CurbWaste Route Planner: it scores your route against fatal-crash locations, suggests safer alternatives and flags low bridges.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.