Plymouth County, IA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Plymouth 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
2 of 357 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Plymouth County compares with Iowa
Plymouth County against Iowa and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Plymouth County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Plymouth County | Iowa | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 121.1 | 68.1 | 49.7 | 1.8× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 5.2 | 3.5 | 3.4 | 1.5× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.48 | 0.41 | 0.49 | 1.2× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.3% | 2.2% | 2.3% | 87% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 15.1% | 18.7% | 6.2% | 19% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 18.9% | 24.0% | 23.7% | 21% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 7.0% | 15.1% | 13.8% | 54% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 41.6% | 45.4% | 41.9% | 8% below the state |
| After dark | 20.3% | 23.1% | 24.8% | 12% below the state |
Plymouth County sits below Iowa on garbage-truck share, on snow, slush or ice and morning rush (6–10 am). Where it is higher: crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash.
The headline for Plymouth County: 1 in 345 of truck crashes here involve garbage trucks: 0.3%, vs 2.2% in Iowa.
Overview
Plymouth County has recorded 357 truck crashes since 2015, with 173 people injured and 18 killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 12 days.
When crashes happen
The worst month is October with 13.2% of truck crashes; the quietest is February at 5.3%.
The five winter months (November to March) hold 41.6% of truck crashes, against 45.4% across Iowa.
By time of day, 12–1 pm stands out with 10.4% of truck crashes.
15.1% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 18.7% across Iowa.
Where crashes happen
Within this area, US-75 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (5). After it: SR-3 (3), CR-C38 (2) and CR-C070 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 2 crashes, 0.6% of the total, against 2.2% across Iowa.
Route planning tips for Plymouth County fleets
- Plan October schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Plymouth County.
- Where you can, review stops along US-75; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- 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 Plymouth County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Plymouth County) |
|---|---|
| US-75 | 5 |
| SR-3 | 3 |
| CR-C38 | 2 |
| CR-C070 | 1 |
| SR-140 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Plymouth County) |
|---|---|
| US-75 | 20 |
| Ia 12 | 3 |
| Us 75/Floyd Ave | 3 |
| C80 And Us 75 | 3 |
| State 140/Iowa 140 And C044/25 | 3 |
| 260Th St And Us 75 | 3 |
| Main St And Us 0075 / Floyd Av | 3 |
| K42 And Ia 3 | 3 |
Plymouth County at a glance
| Population | 25,825 |
| Land area | 862.8 sq mi |
| Density | 30 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $82,084 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Plymouth 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 | 22 | — | 0.8 |
| 2000s | 21 | -2% | 1.0 |
| 2010s | 23 | +9% | 0.7 |
| 2020s | 35 | +49% | 1.2 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 22 to 35. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. NHTSA counts 1.2 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 1.2 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in Plymouth County
ZIP codes in Plymouth County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Plymouth County
How common are truck crashes in Plymouth County?
Since 2015, 357 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Plymouth County (173 injured, 18 killed).
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in Plymouth County?
US-75 had 5 fatal crashes involving a large truck in Plymouth County since 2015, more than any other road.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Plymouth County?
Truck crashes in Plymouth County peak in October, with 13.2% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Plymouth County?
Garbage trucks were involved in 2 reported crashes in Plymouth County since 2015 (0.6% of truck crashes).
What is the truck crash rate in Plymouth County compared with Iowa?
The yearly rate is 121.1 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Plymouth County, vs 68.1 for Iowa.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Plymouth 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.