Poweshiek County, IA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Poweshiek 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 421 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Poweshiek County compares with Iowa
Poweshiek County against Iowa and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Poweshiek County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Poweshiek County | Iowa | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 189.7 | 68.1 | 49.7 | 2.8× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 6.5 | 3.5 | 3.4 | 1.9× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.54 | 0.41 | 0.49 | 1.3× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.5% | 2.2% | 2.3% | 76% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 23.6% | 18.7% | 6.2% | 1.3× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 21.6% | 24.0% | 23.7% | 10% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 24.4% | 15.1% | 13.8% | 1.6× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 49.4% | 45.4% | 41.9% | 1.1× the state |
| After dark | 28.8% | 23.1% | 24.8% | 1.3× the state |
Compared with Iowa, Poweshiek County is lower on garbage-truck share 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 Poweshiek County: 1 in 192 crashes involve a garbage truck (2 since 2015), vs 2.2% across Iowa.
Overview
Police reported 421 crashes involving commercial trucks in Poweshiek County since 2015: 222 people were injured and 27 were killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 10 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
January has the most truck crashes, 11.2% of the yearly total, while March has the fewest (5.9%).
November through March accounts for 49.4% of truck crashes here, compared with 45.4% in Iowa.
More truck crashes happen at 12–1 pm than at any other hour (7.1%).
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 23.6% of truck crashes, compared with 18.7% in Iowa.
Where crashes happen
I-80 leads in Poweshiek County with 6 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. Next come SR-146 (2), SR-21 (2) and CR-V18 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 2 of the truck crashes here, or 0.5%, compared with 2.2% in Iowa.
Route planning tips for Poweshiek County fleets
- Plan January schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Poweshiek County.
- Look at alternatives to I-80 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- 23.6% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice, above Iowa; plan winter equipment checks before the season.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
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 Poweshiek County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Poweshiek County) |
|---|---|
| I-80 | 6 |
| SR-146 | 2 |
| SR-21 | 2 |
| CR-V18 | 1 |
| SR-85 | 1 |
| US-6 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Poweshiek County) |
|---|---|
| I-80 | 34 |
| Interstate 80/I 80 | 20 |
| Ia 146 | 6 |
| US-63 | 5 |
| Sb/Wb Interstate 0080 (Milepos | 4 |
| I 80 Wb 186 Mm | 4 |
| I 80 Wb 187Mm | 4 |
| 204.3Mm Wb I80 | 3 |
Poweshiek County at a glance
| Population | 18,454 |
| Land area | 584.9 sq mi |
| Density | 32 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $70,270 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Poweshiek 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 | 14 | — | 1.1 |
| 2000s | 28 | +97% | 1.0 |
| 2010s | 30 | +7% | 0.9 |
| 2020s | 36 | +18% | 1.6 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 14 to 36. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. NHTSA counts 1.0 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 1.6 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in Poweshiek County
ZIP codes in Poweshiek County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Poweshiek County
How many truck accidents are there in Poweshiek County?
Poweshiek County has had 421 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 222 people and killing 27.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Poweshiek County?
NHTSA data shows I-80 with 6 fatal large-truck crashes in Poweshiek County since 2015, the highest of any road.
When do most truck crashes happen in Poweshiek County?
January has the most truck crashes in Poweshiek County, 11.2% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Poweshiek County?
2 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Poweshiek County since 2015, 0.5% of all truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in Poweshiek County compared with Iowa?
Per 100,000 residents, Poweshiek County has 189.7 truck crashes a year; Iowa has 68.1.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Poweshiek 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.