Council Bluffs, IA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Council Bluffs: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Council Bluffs and Pottawattamie County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Pottawattamie County numbers.
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 |
Pottawattamie County sits below Iowa on deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share. Where it is higher: crashes per 100k residents / yr, in rain, sleet or snow and after dark.
What stands out in Council Bluffs: I-80 9 fatal truck crashes since 2015, more than any other road within 10 miles of Council Bluffs.
Overview
Since 2015, 1,310 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Pottawattamie County. They injured 420 people and killed 31.
That averages about one truck crash every 3 days in fully reported years.
With 537 truck crashes reported in Council Bluffs since 2015, this page uses Pottawattamie County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
45% of truck crash reports in Pottawattamie County since 2015 leave the city field blank; place counts include only reports that name the place.
When crashes happen
The worst month is January with 11.9% of truck crashes; the quietest is April at 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.
Road surface: 17.5% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Iowa: 18.7%).
Where crashes happen
Within this area, I-80 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (9). After it: US-6 (3), US-75 (3) and Abbott Dr (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 Council Bluffs fleets
- Review driver schedules for January, the month with the most truck crashes.
- 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
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 Pottawattamie County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-80 | 9 |
| US-6 | 3 |
| US-75 | 3 |
| Abbott Dr | 1 |
| CR-G066 Pioneer Trl | 1 |
| CR-L35 221St St | 1 |
| CR-MYNSTER Springs Rd | 1 |
| I-29 | 1 |
| I-480 | 1 |
| I-680 | 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 |
Council Bluffs at a glance
| Population | 62,665 |
| Land area | 43.0 sq mi |
| Density | 1,459 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 51501) | $59,843 |
| Median home value (ZIP 51501) | $147,306 |
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 |
In the 1990s about 70 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 114. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 2.2 a year in 2016–19 and 2.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Council Bluffs
How common are truck crashes in Council Bluffs?
Pottawattamie County has had 1,310 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 420 people and killing 31.
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in Council Bluffs?
I-80 had 9 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Council Bluffs since 2015, more than any other road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Council Bluffs?
January has the most truck crashes in Pottawattamie County, 11.9% of the yearly total.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Council Bluffs?
15 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Pottawattamie County since 2015, 1.1% of all truck crashes.
How does Council Bluffs compare with Iowa for truck crashes?
Pottawattamie County records 118.3 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 68.1 across Iowa.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Council Bluffs?
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.