Howard County, IA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Howard 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
2 of 87 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Howard County compares with Iowa
Howard County against Iowa and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Howard County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Howard County | Iowa | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 74.8 | 68.1 | 49.7 | 1.1× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 1.3 | 3.5 | 3.4 | 63% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.57 | 0.41 | 0.49 | 1.4× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.6% | 2.2% | 2.3% | 1.2× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 27.3% | 18.7% | 6.2% | 1.5× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 20.8% | 24.0% | 23.7% | 14% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 11.7% | 15.1% | 13.8% | 23% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 53.2% | 45.4% | 41.9% | 1.2× the state |
| After dark | 23.4% | 23.1% | 24.8% | same |
Compared with Iowa, Howard County is lower on deaths per 100 crashes, morning rush (6–10 am) and in rain, sleet or snow. Where it is higher: crashes per 100k residents / yr, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share.
The headline for Howard County: February worst month: 12.6% of truck crashes, vs 8.3% in an average month.
Overview
Howard County has recorded 87 truck crashes since 2015, with 47 people injured and 1 killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 52 days.
When crashes happen
The worst month is February with 12.6% of truck crashes; the quietest is August at 3.4%.
The five winter months (November to March) hold 53.2% of truck crashes, against 45.4% across Iowa.
More truck crashes happen at 11 am–12 pm than at any other hour (16.1%).
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 27.3% of truck crashes, compared with 18.7% in Iowa.
Where crashes happen
Fatal large-truck crashes in Howard County since 2015 were spread across roads: US-63 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
2 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 2.3% share (Iowa: 2.2%).
Route planning tips for Howard County fleets
- Build extra time into February routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- 27.3% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice, above Iowa; plan winter equipment checks before the season.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
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 Howard County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Howard County) |
|---|---|
| US-63 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Howard County) |
|---|---|
| US-63 | 19 |
| 150Th St | 3 |
| 150Th St And Willow Ave | 2 |
| A023/50Th St | 2 |
| B017/190Th St | 2 |
| Ft North Of 175Th St. On U | 2 |
| Ia 9 | 2 |
| Us 63 And State 9/Iowa 9 | 2 |
Howard County at a glance
| Population | 9,360 |
| Land area | 473.2 sq mi |
| Density | 20 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $66,732 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Howard 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 | 2 | — | 0.3 |
| 2000s | 6 | +157% | 0.4 |
| 2010s | 6 | +15% | 0.1 |
| 2020s | 6 | -13% | 0.2 |
In the 1990s about 2 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 6. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. NHTSA counts 0.0 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 0.2 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in Howard County
ZIP codes in Howard County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Howard County
How many truck crashes happen in Howard County?
Howard County has had 87 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 47 people and killing 1.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Howard County?
Truck crashes in Howard County peak in February, with 12.6% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Howard County?
Since 2015, Howard County has reported 2 garbage-truck crashes, or 2.3% of its truck crashes.
How does Howard County compare with Iowa for truck crashes?
Per 100,000 residents, Howard County has 74.8 truck crashes a year; Iowa has 68.1.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Howard 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.