Estherville, IA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Estherville: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Estherville and Emmet County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Emmet County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
0 of 57 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Emmet County compares with Iowa
Emmet County against Iowa and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Emmet County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Emmet County | Iowa | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 54.6 | 68.1 | 49.7 | 20% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 1.8 | 3.5 | 3.4 | 49% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.53 | 0.41 | 0.49 | 1.3× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.0% | 2.2% | 2.3% | 100% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 20.0% | 18.7% | 6.2% | 1.1× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 30.9% | 24.0% | 23.7% | 1.3× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 12.7% | 15.1% | 13.8% | 16% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 43.6% | 45.4% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 18.2% | 23.1% | 24.8% | 21% below the state |
Compared with Iowa, Emmet County is lower on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and garbage-truck share. It runs above Iowa on injuries per crash, on snow, slush or ice and morning rush (6–10 am).
What stands out in Emmet County: May worst month: 19.3% of truck crashes, vs 8.3% in an average month.
Overview
Police reported 57 crashes involving commercial trucks in Emmet County since 2015: 30 people were injured and 2 were killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 73 days.
Only 14 truck crashes were reported in Estherville since 2015; patterns below come from Emmet County as a whole.
49% of truck crash reports in Emmet County since 2015 leave the city field blank; place counts include only reports that name the place.
When crashes happen
May has the most truck crashes, 19.3% of the yearly total, while June has the fewest (1.8%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 43.6% of truck crashes, vs 45.4% for Iowa.
By time of day, 8–9 am stands out with 12.3% of truck crashes.
20.0% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 18.7% across Iowa.
Where crashes happen
Roads with fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Estherville since 2015: CR-N40/450TH Ave (1). No single road stands out.
Garbage & waste trucks
Since 2015, no garbage-truck crashes were reported for Emmet County.
Route planning tips for Estherville fleets
- Build extra time into May routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- 30.9% of truck crashes happen between 6 and 10 am, above Iowa; consider earlier or later starts where possible.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 20.0% of truck crashes here, more than Iowa; schedule winter checks early.
- 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 Emmet County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| CR-N40/450TH Ave | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Emmet County) |
|---|---|
| Ave | 4 |
| N052/490 Ave | 4 |
| State 9/Iowa 9 | 4 |
| State 4/Iowa 4 | 3 |
| Ia 9 | 3 |
| N052/490 Ave And Main St | 2 |
| St And N052/490 Ave | 2 |
| State 15/Iowa 15 | 2 |
Estherville at a glance
| Population | 5,796 |
| Land area | 5.4 sq mi |
| Density | 1,076 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 51334) | $57,482 |
| Median home value (ZIP 51334) | $111,998 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Emmet 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 | 2 | — | 0.0 |
| 2000s | 4 | +153% | 0.1 |
| 2010s | 6 | +50% | 0.0 |
| 2020s | 4 | -33% | 0.2 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 2 a year in the 1990s and 4 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 0.0 a year in 2016–19 and 0.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Estherville
How common are truck crashes in Estherville?
Since 2015, 57 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Emmet County (30 injured, 2 killed).
Which month has the most truck crashes in Estherville?
Truck crashes in Emmet County peak in May, with 19.3% of the year's crashes.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Estherville?
0 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Emmet County since 2015, 0.0% of all truck crashes.
How does Estherville compare with Iowa for truck crashes?
Per 100,000 residents, Emmet County has 54.6 truck crashes a year; Iowa has 68.1.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Estherville?
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.