Palo Alto County, IA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Palo Alto 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
1 of 91 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Palo Alto County compares with Iowa
Palo Alto County against Iowa and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Palo Alto County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Palo Alto County | Iowa | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 89.8 | 68.1 | 49.7 | 1.3× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.3 | 3.5 | 3.4 | 34% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.32 | 0.41 | 0.49 | 22% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.1% | 2.2% | 2.3% | 47% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 20.7% | 18.7% | 6.2% | 1.1× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 25.3% | 24.0% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 6.9% | 15.1% | 13.8% | 54% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 33.3% | 45.4% | 41.9% | 27% below the state |
| After dark | 17.2% | 23.1% | 24.8% | 25% below the state |
Compared with Iowa, Palo Alto County is lower on deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share. It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr and on snow, slush or ice.
Palo Alto County at a glance: June the month with the most truck crashes: 15.4% of the year's total.
Overview
Palo Alto County has recorded 91 truck crashes since 2015, with 29 people injured and 2 killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 46 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
The worst month is June with 15.4% of truck crashes; the quietest is July at 4.4%.
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 33.3% of truck crashes, vs 45.4% for Iowa.
More truck crashes happen at 3–4 pm than at any other hour (12.1%).
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 20.7% of truck crashes, compared with 18.7% in Iowa.
Where crashes happen
Fatal large-truck crashes in Palo Alto County since 2015 were spread across roads: US-18 (2).
Garbage & waste trucks
1 crash involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 1.1% share (Iowa: 2.2%).
Route planning tips for Palo Alto County fleets
- Review driver schedules for June, the month with the most truck crashes.
- With 20.7% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above Iowa), plan winter equipment checks early.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
About the data
Crash counts come from the FMCSA crash file (police-reported crashes involving trucks over 10,000 lb); fatal-crash locations come from NHTSA FARS. Text on this page states only what these numbers show.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Palo Alto County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Palo Alto County) |
|---|---|
| US-18 | 2 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Palo Alto County) |
|---|---|
| US-18 | 3 |
| 3700-Blk 480Th Ave | 2 |
| 390St & 580 Ave | 2 |
| 4200 280 St | 2 |
| 480Th Ave And Us 18 | 2 |
| 4900 370 St | 2 |
| 4900 460 Ave | 2 |
| State 4/460 Ave And 390 St | 2 |
Palo Alto County at a glance
| Population | 8,809 |
| Land area | 563.9 sq mi |
| Density | 16 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $71,598 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Palo Alto 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 | 3 | — | 0.2 |
| 2000s | 6 | +93% | 0.3 |
| 2010s | 8 | +41% | 0.7 |
| 2020s | 7 | -11% | 0.0 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 3 a year in the 1990s and 7 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 0.5 a year in 2016–19 and 0.0 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in Palo Alto County
ZIP codes in Palo Alto County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Palo Alto County
How many truck crashes happen in Palo Alto County?
Since 2015, 91 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Palo Alto County (29 injured, 2 killed).
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Palo Alto County?
Truck crashes in Palo Alto County peak in June, with 15.4% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Palo Alto County?
Garbage trucks were involved in 1 reported crash in Palo Alto County since 2015 (1.1% of truck crashes).
How does Palo Alto County compare with Iowa for truck crashes?
The yearly rate is 89.8 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Palo Alto County, vs 68.1 for Iowa.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Palo Alto 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.