Essex, IA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Essex: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Essex and Page County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Page County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
1 of 64 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Page County compares with Iowa
Page County against Iowa and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Page County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Page County | Iowa | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 37.5 | 68.1 | 49.7 | 45% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 12.9 | 3.5 | 3.4 | 3.7× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.53 | 0.41 | 0.49 | 1.3× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.6% | 2.2% | 2.3% | 26% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 16.1% | 18.7% | 6.2% | 14% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 19.4% | 24.0% | 23.7% | 20% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 6.5% | 15.1% | 13.8% | 57% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 35.5% | 45.4% | 41.9% | 22% below the state |
| After dark | 14.5% | 23.1% | 24.8% | 37% below the state |
Compared with Iowa, Page County is lower on crashes per 100k residents / yr, garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice. It stands out for higher deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash.
What stands out in Page County: 12.9 deaths per 100 truck crashes, vs 3.5 in Iowa.
Overview
Page County has recorded 64 truck crashes since 2015, with 35 people injured and 8 killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 65 days.
With 1 truck crash reported in Essex since 2015, this page uses Page County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
48% of truck crash reports in Page County since 2015 leave the city field blank; place counts include only reports that name the place.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in October (23.4% of the year) and are lowest in September (0.0%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 35.5% of truck crashes, vs 45.4% for Iowa.
More truck crashes happen at 2–3 pm than at any other hour (15.6%).
Road surface: 16.1% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Iowa: 18.7%).
Where crashes happen
Roads with fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Essex since 2015: US-59 (2), 170th St (1) and CR-M16/370TH Ave (1). No single road stands out.
Garbage & waste trucks
1 crash involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 1.6% share (Iowa: 2.2%).
Route planning tips for Essex fleets
- Review driver schedules for October, the month with the most truck crashes.
- 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 Page County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-59 | 2 |
| 170th St | 1 |
| CR-M16/370TH Ave | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Page County) |
|---|---|
| US-71 | 4 |
| 137Th St | 2 |
| 140Th St And N Ave | 2 |
| Ia 2 | 2 |
| T Ave | 2 |
| Us 59 N And Hwy 2 | 2 |
| 1/2 South Of County Line On O | 1 |
| 130Th St & Hwy 71 | 1 |
Essex at a glance
| Population | 721 |
| Land area | 1.6 sq mi |
| Density | 441 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 51638) | $59,107 |
| Median home value (ZIP 51638) | $116,070 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Page 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 | 1 | — | 0.0 |
| 2000s | 2 | +100% | 0.3 |
| 2010s | 5 | +100% | 0.3 |
| 2020s | 6 | +15% | 0.6 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 1 to 6. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 0.5 a year in 2016–19 and 0.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Essex
How many truck crashes happen in Essex?
64 truck crashes have been reported in Page County since 2015, with 8 deaths and 35 injuries.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Essex?
Truck crashes in Page County peak in October, with 23.4% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Essex?
1 crash involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Page County since 2015, 1.6% of all truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in Essex compared with Iowa?
The yearly rate is 37.5 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Page County, vs 68.1 for Iowa.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Essex?
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.