Eldora, IA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Eldora: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Eldora and Hardin County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Hardin County numbers.
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 |
Compared with Iowa, Hardin County is lower on garbage-truck share, in rain, sleet or snow and after dark. It runs above Iowa on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash.
What stands out in Hardin County: 5.4 deaths for every 100 truck crashes, against 3.5 across Iowa.
Overview
Hardin County has recorded 183 truck crashes since 2015, with 95 people injured and 9 killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 24 days.
Eldora had 6 reported truck crashes since 2015, too few for reliable patterns, so the charts and findings on this page use Hardin County numbers.
69% of truck crash reports in Hardin County since 2015 leave the city field blank; place counts include only reports that name the place.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in January (12.0% of the year) and are lowest in March (4.9%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 46.7% of truck crashes, against 45.4% across Iowa.
The busiest hour is 9–10 am, with 13.7% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 22.2% of truck crashes, compared with 18.7% in Iowa.
Where crashes happen
Roads with fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Eldora since 2015: US-20 (1). No single road stands out.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 4 crashes, 2.2% of the total, against 2.2% across Iowa.
Route planning tips for Eldora fleets
- Review driver schedules for January, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Morning starts matter: 30.5% of truck crashes fall between 6 and 10 am, higher than Iowa.
- 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 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-20 | 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 |
Eldora at a glance
| Population | 2,595 |
| Land area | 4.3 sq mi |
| Density | 606 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 50627) | $74,536 |
| Median home value (ZIP 50627) | $131,089 |
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 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 3 to 14. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal large-truck crashes: 0.8 a year in 2016–19, 0.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Eldora
How many truck crashes happen in Eldora?
Since 2015, 183 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Hardin County (95 injured, 9 killed).
When do most truck crashes happen in Eldora?
January has the most truck crashes in Hardin County, 12.0% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Eldora?
Since 2015, Hardin County has reported 4 garbage-truck crashes, or 2.2% of its truck crashes.
How does Eldora compare with Iowa for truck crashes?
Per 100,000 residents, Hardin County has 92.2 truck crashes a year; Iowa has 68.1.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Eldora?
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.