Iowa Falls, IA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Iowa Falls: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Iowa Falls 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 |
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: 5.4 deaths per 100 truck crashes, vs 3.5 in Iowa.
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.
Only 16 truck crashes were reported in Iowa Falls since 2015; patterns below come from Hardin County as a whole.
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
The worst month is January with 12.0% of truck crashes; the quietest is March at 4.9%.
The five winter months (November to March) hold 46.7% of truck crashes, against 45.4% across Iowa.
By time of day, 9–10 am stands out 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
Fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Iowa Falls since 2015 were spread across roads: CR-D15 (2), 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 Iowa Falls fleets
- Build extra time into January routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- 30.5% of truck crashes happen between 6 and 10 am, above Iowa; consider earlier or later starts where possible.
- 22.2% 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 Hardin County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| CR-D15 | 2 |
| SR-359 | 1 |
| 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 |
Iowa Falls at a glance
| Population | 4,993 |
| Land area | 5.4 sq mi |
| Density | 927 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 50126) | $55,185 |
| Median home value (ZIP 50126) | $140,598 |
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. NHTSA counts 0.8 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 0.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Iowa Falls
How common are truck crashes in Iowa Falls?
Since 2015, 183 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Hardin County (95 injured, 9 killed).
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Iowa Falls?
The worst month is January: 12.0% of truck crashes in Hardin County happen then.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Iowa Falls?
4 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Hardin County since 2015, 2.2% of all truck crashes.
How does Iowa Falls 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 Iowa Falls?
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.