Merrill, IA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Merrill: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Merrill and Plymouth County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Plymouth County numbers.
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 has lower values than Iowa for garbage-truck share, on snow, slush or ice and morning rush (6–10 am). It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash.
The headline for Plymouth County: 1 in 345 crashes involve a garbage truck (2 since 2015), vs 2.2% across Iowa.
Overview
Plymouth County has recorded 357 truck crashes since 2015, with 173 people injured and 18 killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 12 days.
Merrill had 20 reported truck crashes since 2015, too few for reliable patterns, so the charts and findings on this page use Plymouth County numbers.
67% of truck crash reports in Plymouth 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, 13.2% of the yearly total, while February has the fewest (5.3%).
November through March accounts for 41.6% of truck crashes here, compared with 45.4% in Iowa.
By time of day, 12–1 pm stands out with 10.4% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 15.1% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Iowa: 18.7%).
Where crashes happen
Within this area, US-75 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (3). Next come CR-C38 (2) and SR-3 (2).
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 Merrill fleets
- Build extra time into October routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Where you can, review stops along US-75; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
About the data
Sources: the FMCSA crash file for all reported truck crashes and NHTSA FARS for fatal crashes with a large truck. Every statement here comes straight from those numbers.
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 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-75 | 3 |
| CR-C38 | 2 |
| SR-3 | 2 |
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 |
Merrill at a glance
| Population | 713 |
| Land area | 0.5 sq mi |
| Density | 1,369 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 51038) | $95,893 |
| Median home value (ZIP 51038) | $189,228 |
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. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 1.2 a year in 2016–19 and 1.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Merrill
How many truck accidents are there in Merrill?
Since 2015, 357 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Plymouth County (173 injured, 18 killed).
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in Merrill?
Since 2015, US-75 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Merrill: 3.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Merrill?
The worst month is October: 13.2% of truck crashes in Plymouth County happen then.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Merrill?
Since 2015, Plymouth County has reported 2 garbage-truck crashes, or 0.6% of its truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in Merrill 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 Merrill?
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.