Pottawattamie County, IA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Pottawattamie 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
15 of 1,310 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Pottawattamie County compares with Iowa
Pottawattamie County against Iowa and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Pottawattamie County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Pottawattamie County | Iowa | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 118.3 | 68.1 | 49.7 | 1.7× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.1 | 3.5 | 3.4 | 40% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.33 | 0.41 | 0.49 | 20% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.1% | 2.2% | 2.3% | 47% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 17.5% | 18.7% | 6.2% | same |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 22.4% | 24.0% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 17.9% | 15.1% | 13.8% | 1.2× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 47.5% | 45.4% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 29.3% | 23.1% | 24.8% | 1.3× the state |
Compared with Iowa, Pottawattamie County is lower on deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share. It runs above Iowa on crashes per 100k residents / yr, in rain, sleet or snow and after dark.
The headline for Pottawattamie County: I-80 11 fatal truck crashes since 2015, more than any other road in Pottawattamie County.
Overview
Police reported 1,310 crashes involving commercial trucks in Pottawattamie County since 2015: 420 people were injured and 31 were killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 3 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
January has the most truck crashes, 11.9% of the yearly total, while April has the fewest (6.9%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 47.5% of truck crashes, against 45.4% across Iowa.
By time of day, 10–11 am stands out with 6.6% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 17.5% of truck crashes, compared with 18.7% in Iowa.
Where crashes happen
I-80 leads in Pottawattamie County with 11 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. It is followed by SR-92 (2), US-6 (2) and CR-G066 Pioneer Trl (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 15 crashes, 1.1% of the total, against 2.2% across Iowa.
Route planning tips for Pottawattamie County fleets
- Plan January schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Pottawattamie County.
- Look at alternatives to I-80 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- 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 Pottawattamie County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Pottawattamie County) |
|---|---|
| I-80 | 11 |
| SR-92 | 2 |
| US-6 | 2 |
| CR-G066 Pioneer Trl | 1 |
| CR-L34 | 1 |
| CR-M47/510TH St | 1 |
| CR-MYNSTER Springs Rd | 1 |
| I-29 | 1 |
| I-680 | 1 |
| US-59 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Pottawattamie County) |
|---|---|
| I-80 | 62 |
| I-29 | 20 |
| Interstate 29/I 29 | 15 |
| Interstate 80/I 80 | 14 |
| US-6 | 11 |
| I-880 | 8 |
| Interstate 29/I29 Ramp | 8 |
| US-59 | 6 |
Pottawattamie County at a glance
| Population | 93,529 |
| Land area | 951.3 sq mi |
| Density | 98 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $74,045 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Pottawattamie 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 | 70 | — | 2.9 |
| 2000s | 81 | +16% | 2.2 |
| 2010s | 96 | +18% | 1.7 |
| 2020s | 114 | +19% | 2.4 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 70 to 114. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 2.2 a year in 2016–19 and 2.4 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in Pottawattamie County
ZIP codes in Pottawattamie County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Pottawattamie County
How many truck accidents are there in Pottawattamie County?
Since 2015, 1,310 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Pottawattamie County (420 injured, 31 killed).
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in Pottawattamie County?
I-80 had 11 fatal crashes involving a large truck in Pottawattamie County since 2015, more than any other road.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Pottawattamie County?
January has the most truck crashes in Pottawattamie County, 11.9% of the yearly total.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Pottawattamie County?
Garbage trucks were involved in 15 reported crashes in Pottawattamie County since 2015 (1.1% of truck crashes).
How does Pottawattamie County compare with Iowa for truck crashes?
Per 100,000 residents, Pottawattamie County has 118.3 truck crashes a year; Iowa has 68.1.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Pottawattamie 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.