Fairfax, IA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Fairfax: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Fairfax and Linn County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Linn County numbers.
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 |
Linn County sits below Iowa on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash. It stands out for higher garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am).
What stands out in Linn County: 1 in 21 garbage-truck share of crashes is 4.9%, against 2.2% for 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.
Only 4 truck crashes were reported in Fairfax since 2015; patterns below come from Linn County as a whole.
20% of truck crash reports in Linn County since 2015 leave the city field blank; place counts include only reports that name the place.
When crashes happen
October has the most truck crashes, 10.5% of the yearly total, while March has the fewest (5.8%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 40.3% of truck crashes, against 45.4% across Iowa.
By time of day, 7–8 am stands out with 8.4% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 11.6% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Iowa: 18.7%).
Where crashes happen
US-151 leads within 10 miles of Fairfax with 4 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. Next come I-380 (3), US-30 (2) and 6th St Sw (1).
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%).
Per 100 crashes, garbage trucks recorded 0.0 deaths compared with 2.2 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for Fairfax fleets
- Plan October schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Linn County.
- Look at alternatives to US-151 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- Waste haulers: May is the peak month for garbage-truck crashes in Linn County.
- 29.1% of truck crashes happen between 6 and 10 am, above Iowa; consider earlier or later starts where possible.
- 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 Linn County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-151 | 4 |
| I-380 | 3 |
| US-30 | 2 |
| 6th St Sw | 1 |
| CR-F12 120 St | 1 |
| CR-F20/AMANA Rd | 1 |
| CR-W36/COVINGTON Rd | 1 |
| Mu-Ellis Blvd Nw | 1 |
| Mu-N12Th Ave | 1 |
| SR-922 | 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 |
Fairfax at a glance
| Population | 2,937 |
| Land area | 3.6 sq mi |
| Density | 810 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 52228) | $118,125 |
| Median home value (ZIP 52228) | $311,008 |
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.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Fairfax
How common are truck crashes in Fairfax?
Since 2015, 1,090 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Linn County (411 injured, 24 killed).
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Fairfax?
US-151 had 4 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Fairfax since 2015, more than any other road.
When do most truck crashes happen in Fairfax?
October has the most truck crashes in Linn County, 10.5% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Fairfax?
53 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Linn County since 2015, 4.9% of all truck crashes.
How does Fairfax compare with Iowa for truck crashes?
Per 100,000 residents, Linn County has 40.3 truck crashes a year; Iowa has 68.1.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Fairfax?
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.