Mills County, IA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Mills 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
4 of 181 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Mills County compares with Iowa
Mills County against Iowa and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Mills County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Mills County | Iowa | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 106.2 | 68.1 | 49.7 | 1.6× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.9 | 3.5 | 3.4 | 17% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.45 | 0.41 | 0.49 | 1.1× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.3% | 2.2% | 2.3% | same |
| On snow, slush or ice | 11.6% | 18.7% | 6.2% | 38% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 26.2% | 24.0% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 12.2% | 15.1% | 13.8% | 19% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 40.1% | 45.4% | 41.9% | 12% below the state |
| After dark | 26.2% | 23.1% | 24.8% | 1.1× the state |
Mills County has lower values than Iowa for deaths per 100 crashes, on snow, slush or ice and in rain, sleet or snow. Where it is higher: crashes per 100k residents / yr, injuries per crash and morning rush (6–10 am).
The headline for Mills County: September 14.4% of truck crashes happen in September, more than any other month.
Overview
Mills County has recorded 181 truck crashes since 2015, with 82 people injured and 5 killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 23 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
The worst month is September with 14.4% of truck crashes; the quietest is March at 3.9%.
November through March accounts for 40.1% of truck crashes here, compared with 45.4% in Iowa.
By time of day, 10–11 am stands out with 9.4% of truck crashes.
11.6% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 18.7% across Iowa.
Where crashes happen
Since 2015, fatal crashes with a large truck in Mills County happened on CR-L35 221St St (1), I-29 (1), SR-370 (1), SR-5 (1) and US-34 (1); no road leads clearly.
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 Mills County fleets
- Build extra time into September routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- 26.2% of truck crashes happen between 6 and 10 am, above Iowa; consider earlier or later starts where possible.
- 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 Mills County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Mills County) |
|---|---|
| CR-L35 221St St | 1 |
| I-29 | 1 |
| SR-370 | 1 |
| SR-5 | 1 |
| US-34 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Mills County) |
|---|---|
| US-34 | 24 |
| I-29 | 10 |
| Interstate 29/I 29 | 7 |
| Us 34 And L031/195Th St | 3 |
| US-59 | 3 |
| US-275 | 3 |
| Hwy 34 And Deacon Ave | 2 |
| Interstate 29 Nb 37Mm | 2 |
Mills County at a glance
| Population | 14,717 |
| Land area | 437.4 sq mi |
| Density | 34 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $93,998 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Mills 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 | 6 | — | 0.6 |
| 2000s | 8 | +24% | 0.2 |
| 2010s | 15 | +100% | 1.1 |
| 2020s | 16 | +3% | 0.0 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 6 a year in the 1990s and 16 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal large-truck crashes: 1.2 a year in 2016–19, 0.0 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in Mills County
ZIP codes in Mills County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Mills County
How common are truck crashes in Mills County?
181 truck crashes have been reported in Mills County since 2015, with 5 deaths and 82 injuries.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Mills County?
Truck crashes in Mills County peak in September, with 14.4% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Mills County?
Since 2015, Mills County has reported 4 garbage-truck crashes, or 2.2% of its truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in Mills County compared with Iowa?
The yearly rate is 106.2 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Mills County, vs 68.1 for Iowa.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Mills County?
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.