Linn County, IA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Linn 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
0.0 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 2.2 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Linn County compares with Iowa
Linn County against Iowa and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Linn County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Linn County | Iowa | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 40.3 | 68.1 | 49.7 | 41% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.2 | 3.5 | 3.4 | 37% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.38 | 0.41 | 0.49 | 7% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 4.9% | 2.2% | 2.3% | 2.2× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 11.6% | 18.7% | 6.2% | 38% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 29.1% | 24.0% | 23.7% | 1.2× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 12.3% | 15.1% | 13.8% | 19% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 40.3% | 45.4% | 41.9% | 11% below the state |
| After dark | 16.4% | 23.1% | 24.8% | 29% below the state |
Compared with Iowa, Linn County is lower on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash. It runs above Iowa on garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am).
What stands out in Linn County: 1 in 21 of truck crashes here involve garbage trucks: 4.9%, vs 2.2% in Iowa.
Overview
Linn County has recorded 1,090 truck crashes since 2015, with 411 people injured and 24 killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 4 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
The worst month is October with 10.5% of truck crashes; the quietest is March at 5.8%.
November through March accounts for 40.3% of truck crashes here, compared with 45.4% in Iowa.
By time of day, 7–8 am stands out with 8.4% of truck crashes.
11.6% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 18.7% across Iowa.
Where crashes happen
US-151 leads in Linn County with 5 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. Next come I-380 (4), SR-1 (2) and US-30 (2).
Garbage & waste trucks
53 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 4.9% share (Iowa: 2.2%).
The most garbage-truck crashes happen in May (17%).
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 0.0, vs 2.2 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for Linn County fleets
- Build extra time into October routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Look at alternatives to US-151 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in May; review collection routes for that month.
- Morning starts matter: 29.1% of truck crashes fall between 6 and 10 am, higher than Iowa.
- 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 Linn County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Linn County) |
|---|---|
| US-151 | 5 |
| I-380 | 4 |
| SR-1 | 2 |
| US-30 | 2 |
| 6th St Sw | 1 |
| CR-W36/COVINGTON Rd | 1 |
| CR-W36/LEWIS Access Rd | 1 |
| Mu-Ellis Blvd Nw | 1 |
| Mu-N12Th Ave | 1 |
| SR-100 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Linn County) |
|---|---|
| I-380 | 68 |
| Interstate 380/I 380 | 34 |
| US-30 | 34 |
| US-151 | 12 |
| Us 151/Dubuque Rd | 9 |
| Edgewood Rd Sw | 9 |
| Interstate 380/I 380 Measuring | 6 |
| E034/County Home Rd And State | 6 |
Linn County at a glance
| Population | 231,762 |
| Land area | 717.0 sq mi |
| Density | 323 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $81,298 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Linn 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 | 31 | — | 1.4 |
| 2000s | 55 | +75% | 1.4 |
| 2010s | 82 | +50% | 1.5 |
| 2020s | 96 | +17% | 2.8 |
In the 1990s about 31 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 96. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 1.8 a year in 2016–19 and 2.8 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in Linn County
ZIP codes in Linn County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Linn County
How common are truck crashes in Linn County?
Linn County has had 1,090 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 411 people and killing 24.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in Linn County?
Since 2015, US-151 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes in Linn County: 5.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Linn County?
October has the most truck crashes in Linn County, 10.5% of the yearly total.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Linn County?
53 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Linn County since 2015, 4.9% of all truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in Linn County compare with Iowa?
Linn County records 40.3 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 68.1 across Iowa.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Linn 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.