Grinnell, IA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Grinnell: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Grinnell and Poweshiek County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Poweshiek County numbers.
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 |
Poweshiek County sits below Iowa on garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am). Where it is higher: crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash.
What stands out in Poweshiek County: 1 in 192 of truck crashes here involve garbage trucks: 0.5%, vs 2.2% in Iowa.
Overview
Since 2015, 421 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Poweshiek County. They injured 222 people and killed 27.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 10 days.
Only 26 truck crashes were reported in Grinnell since 2015; patterns below come from Poweshiek County as a whole.
78% of truck crash reports in Poweshiek County since 2015 leave the city field blank; place counts include only reports that name the place.
When crashes happen
January has the most truck crashes, 11.2% of the yearly total, while March has the fewest (5.9%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 49.4% of truck crashes, vs 45.4% for Iowa.
More truck crashes happen at 12–1 pm than at any other hour (7.1%).
Road surface: 23.6% 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 (4). It is followed by SR-146 (2) and US-6 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 2 crashes, 0.5% of the total, against 2.2% across Iowa.
Route planning tips for Grinnell fleets
- Build extra time into January routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Check whether your routes use I-80, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- 23.6% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice, above Iowa; plan winter equipment checks before the season.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
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 Poweshiek County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-80 | 4 |
| SR-146 | 2 |
| 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 |
Grinnell at a glance
| Population | 9,495 |
| Land area | 5.7 sq mi |
| Density | 1,669 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 50112) | $67,078 |
| Median home value (ZIP 50112) | $215,510 |
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 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 14 a year in the 1990s and 36 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 1.0 a year in 2016–19 and 1.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Grinnell
How common are truck crashes in Grinnell?
Poweshiek County has had 421 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 222 people and killing 27.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Grinnell?
I-80 had 4 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Grinnell since 2015, more than any other road.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Grinnell?
The worst month is January: 11.2% of truck crashes in Poweshiek County happen then.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Grinnell?
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 Grinnell compared with Iowa?
Poweshiek County records 189.7 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 68.1 across Iowa.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Grinnell?
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.