Wadena, IA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Wadena: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Wadena and Fayette County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Fayette County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
5 of 134 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Fayette County compares with Iowa
Fayette County against Iowa and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Fayette County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Fayette County | Iowa | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 60.3 | 68.1 | 49.7 | 11% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 7.9 | 3.5 | 3.4 | 2.3× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.54 | 0.41 | 0.49 | 1.3× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 3.9% | 2.2% | 2.3% | 1.8× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 21.3% | 18.7% | 6.2% | 1.1× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 24.4% | 24.0% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 7.9% | 15.1% | 13.8% | 48% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 48.8% | 45.4% | 41.9% | 1.1× the state |
| After dark | 18.9% | 23.1% | 24.8% | 18% below the state |
Fayette County sits below Iowa on crashes per 100k residents / yr, in rain, sleet or snow and after dark. Where it is higher: deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share.
The headline for Fayette County: 7.9 deaths for every 100 truck crashes, against 3.5 across Iowa.
Overview
Since 2015, 134 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Fayette County. They injured 78 people and killed 10.
That averages about one truck crash every 32 days in fully reported years.
With 2 truck crashes reported in Wadena since 2015, this page uses Fayette County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
59% of truck crash reports in Fayette 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, 13.4% of the yearly total, while February has the fewest (6.0%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 48.8% of truck crashes, vs 45.4% for Iowa.
The busiest hour is 1–2 pm, with 11.2% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 21.3% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Iowa: 18.7%).
Where crashes happen
Roads with fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Wadena since 2015: J Ave (1). No single road stands out.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 5 crashes, 3.7% of the total, against 2.2% across Iowa.
Route planning tips for Wadena fleets
- Build extra time into November routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- 21.3% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice, above Iowa; plan winter equipment checks before the season.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
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 Fayette County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| J Ave | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Fayette County) |
|---|---|
| W Ave | 7 |
| Ia 150 | 5 |
| Ia 3 | 4 |
| State 187/C Ave | 4 |
| Us 18/230Th St | 4 |
| Us 18/Harding Rd | 4 |
| V Ave | 3 |
| State 150/Lincoln Rd | 3 |
Wadena at a glance
| Population | 201 |
| Land area | 0.8 sq mi |
| Density | 267 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 52169) | $52,321 |
| Median home value (ZIP 52169) | $112,715 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Fayette 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 | 3 | — | 0.7 |
| 2000s | 10 | +287% | 0.4 |
| 2010s | 10 | -1% | 0.3 |
| 2020s | 13 | +22% | 1.0 |
In the 1990s about 3 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 13. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. NHTSA counts 0.2 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 1.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Wadena
How many truck accidents are there in Wadena?
Fayette County has had 134 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 78 people and killing 10.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Wadena?
Truck crashes in Fayette County peak in November, with 13.4% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Wadena?
Since 2015, Fayette County has reported 5 garbage-truck crashes, or 3.7% of its truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in Wadena compare with Iowa?
Fayette County records 60.3 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 68.1 across Iowa.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Wadena?
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.