Franklin County, IA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Franklin 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
1 of 171 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Franklin County compares with Iowa
Franklin County against Iowa and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Franklin County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Franklin County | Iowa | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 147.8 | 68.1 | 49.7 | 2.2× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 1.8 | 3.5 | 3.4 | 49% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.42 | 0.41 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.6% | 2.2% | 2.3% | 72% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 32.5% | 18.7% | 6.2% | 1.7× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 24.5% | 24.0% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 23.3% | 15.1% | 13.8% | 1.5× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 52.8% | 45.4% | 41.9% | 1.2× the state |
| After dark | 27.0% | 23.1% | 24.8% | 1.2× the state |
Compared with Iowa, Franklin County is lower on deaths per 100 crashes and garbage-truck share. It runs above Iowa on crashes per 100k residents / yr, on snow, slush or ice and in rain, sleet or snow.
What stands out in Franklin County: January 16.4% of truck crashes happen in January, more than any other month.
Overview
Police reported 171 crashes involving commercial trucks in Franklin County since 2015: 72 people were injured and 3 were killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 25 days.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in January (16.4% of the year) and are lowest in July (2.3%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 52.8% of truck crashes, vs 45.4% for Iowa.
The busiest hour is 1–2 pm, with 9.4% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 32.5% of truck crashes, compared with 18.7% in Iowa.
Where crashes happen
Since 2015, fatal crashes with a large truck in Franklin County happened on I-35 (1), SR-3 (1) and US-65 (1); no road leads clearly.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 1 of the truck crashes here, or 0.6%, compared with 2.2% in Iowa.
Route planning tips for Franklin County fleets
- Build extra time into January routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 32.5% 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 Franklin County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Franklin County) |
|---|---|
| I-35 | 1 |
| SR-3 | 1 |
| US-65 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Franklin County) |
|---|---|
| I-35 | 9 |
| Ia 3 | 7 |
| S041/Mallard Ave | 6 |
| State 3/Iowa 3 | 4 |
| C055/70Th St And S041/Mallard | 4 |
| Finch Ave And Ia 3 | 4 |
| Interstate 35/I 35 Sb Mm 172 | 3 |
| Interstate 35/I 35 | 3 |
Franklin County at a glance
| Population | 10,024 |
| Land area | 582.0 sq mi |
| Density | 17 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $59,276 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Franklin 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 | 12 | — | 0.6 |
| 2000s | 12 | +8% | 0.8 |
| 2010s | 15 | +17% | 0.3 |
| 2020s | 15 | +2% | 0.4 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 12 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. Fatal large-truck crashes: 0.2 a year in 2016–19, 0.4 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in Franklin County
ZIP codes in Franklin County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Franklin County
How many truck accidents are there in Franklin County?
Franklin County has had 171 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 72 people and killing 3.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Franklin County?
Truck crashes in Franklin County peak in January, with 16.4% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Franklin County?
1 crash involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Franklin County since 2015, 0.6% of all truck crashes.
How does Franklin County compare with Iowa for truck crashes?
The yearly rate is 147.8 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Franklin County, vs 68.1 for Iowa.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Franklin County?
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.