Hardin County, IA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Hardin 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
4 of 183 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Hardin County compares with Iowa
Hardin County against Iowa and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Hardin County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Hardin County | Iowa | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 92.2 | 68.1 | 49.7 | 1.4× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 5.4 | 3.5 | 3.4 | 1.5× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.54 | 0.41 | 0.49 | 1.3× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.8% | 2.2% | 2.3% | 17% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 22.2% | 18.7% | 6.2% | 1.2× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 30.5% | 24.0% | 23.7% | 1.3× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 12.0% | 15.1% | 13.8% | 21% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 46.7% | 45.4% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 21.0% | 23.1% | 24.8% | 9% below the state |
Hardin County has lower values than Iowa for garbage-truck share, in rain, sleet or snow and after dark. It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash.
What stands out in Hardin County: CR-D15 most fatal truck crashes in Hardin County: 3 since 2015.
Overview
Since 2015, 183 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Hardin County. They injured 95 people and killed 9.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 24 days.
When crashes happen
The worst month is January with 12.0% of truck crashes; the quietest is March at 4.9%.
November through March accounts for 46.7% of truck crashes here, compared with 45.4% in Iowa.
By time of day, 9–10 am stands out with 13.7% of truck crashes.
22.2% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 18.7% across Iowa.
Where crashes happen
CR-D15 leads in Hardin County with 3 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. Next come CR-S56 (1), SR-359 (1) and US-20 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
4 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 2.2% share (Iowa: 2.2%).
Route planning tips for Hardin County fleets
- Build extra time into January routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Where you can, review stops along CR-D15; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- 30.5% of truck crashes happen between 6 and 10 am, above Iowa; consider earlier or later starts where possible.
- With 22.2% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above Iowa), plan winter equipment checks early.
- 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 Hardin County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Hardin County) |
|---|---|
| CR-D15 | 3 |
| CR-S56 | 1 |
| SR-359 | 1 |
| US-20 | 1 |
| US-65 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Hardin County) |
|---|---|
| US-20 | 27 |
| US-65 | 16 |
| County Highway S56 | 3 |
| County Highway D65 | 3 |
| State 175/Iowa 175 | 3 |
| S027/St Hwy 359 | 3 |
| S027/Co Hwy S27 | 3 |
| 240Th St | 2 |
Hardin County at a glance
| Population | 16,464 |
| Land area | 569.3 sq mi |
| Density | 29 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $68,604 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Hardin 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 | — | 0.3 |
| 2000s | 11 | +263% | 0.6 |
| 2010s | 16 | +43% | 0.6 |
| 2020s | 14 | -13% | 0.6 |
In the 1990s about 3 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 14. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 0.8 a year in 2016–19 and 0.6 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in Hardin County
ZIP codes in Hardin County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Hardin County
How many truck crashes happen in Hardin County?
Since 2015, 183 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Hardin County (95 injured, 9 killed).
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Hardin County?
NHTSA data shows CR-D15 with 3 fatal large-truck crashes in Hardin County since 2015, the highest of any road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Hardin County?
The worst month is January: 12.0% of truck crashes in Hardin County happen then.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Hardin County?
Garbage trucks were involved in 4 reported crashes in Hardin County since 2015 (2.2% of truck crashes).
How do truck crashes in Hardin County compare with Iowa?
The yearly rate is 92.2 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Hardin County, vs 68.1 for Iowa.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Hardin County?
The free Route Planner takes your stops and returns a route risk score, safer alternatives and low-bridge warnings.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.