Eldridge, IA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Eldridge: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Eldridge and Scott County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Scott County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
0.0 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 1.7 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Scott County compares with Iowa
Scott County against Iowa and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Scott County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Scott County | Iowa | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 57.1 | 68.1 | 49.7 | 16% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 1.7 | 3.5 | 3.4 | 51% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.37 | 0.41 | 0.49 | 10% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 3.9% | 2.2% | 2.3% | 1.8× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 12.2% | 18.7% | 6.2% | 35% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 24.3% | 24.0% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 13.2% | 15.1% | 13.8% | 13% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 41.6% | 45.4% | 41.9% | 8% below the state |
| After dark | 21.4% | 23.1% | 24.8% | 7% below the state |
Scott County sits below Iowa on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash. It stands out for higher garbage-truck share.
What stands out in Scott County: 1 in 26 crashes involve a garbage truck (45 since 2015), vs 2.2% across Iowa.
Overview
Scott County has recorded 1,168 truck crashes since 2015, with 435 people injured and 23 killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 4 days in fully reported years.
With 18 truck crashes reported in Eldridge since 2015, this page uses Scott County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in January (9.8% of the year) and are lowest in November (6.8%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 41.6% of truck crashes, against 45.4% across Iowa.
By time of day, 12–1 pm stands out with 8.2% of truck crashes.
12.2% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 18.7% across Iowa.
Where crashes happen
Within this area, I-80 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (8). After it: I-280 (2), US-61 (2) and I-74 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 45 of the truck crashes here, or 3.9%, compared with 2.2% in Iowa.
Garbage-truck crashes peak in January (18% of them).
They recorded 0.0 deaths per 100 crashes, against 1.7 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for Eldridge fleets
- Plan January schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Scott County.
- Where you can, review stops along I-80; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- For residential and commercial waste routes, look again at January schedules: garbage-truck crashes peak then.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
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 Scott County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-80 | 8 |
| I-280 | 2 |
| US-61 | 2 |
| I-74 | 1 |
| Rockingham Rd | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Scott County) |
|---|---|
| I-80 | 59 |
| Interstate 80/I 80 | 46 |
| Ia 461 | 19 |
| US-61 | 18 |
| I-280 | 17 |
| Ave | 16 |
| Interstate 280/I 280 | 11 |
| US-67 | 11 |
Eldridge at a glance
| Population | 6,967 |
| Land area | 9.8 sq mi |
| Density | 714 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 52748) | $107,869 |
| Median home value (ZIP 52748) | $329,706 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Scott 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 | 52 | — | 2.6 |
| 2000s | 92 | +79% | 1.5 |
| 2010s | 97 | +5% | 1.6 |
| 2020s | 96 | -1% | 1.2 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 52 a year in the 1990s and 96 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 2.0 a year in 2016–19 and 1.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Eldridge
How common are truck crashes in Eldridge?
Scott County has had 1,168 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 435 people and killing 23.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Eldridge?
NHTSA data shows I-80 with 8 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Eldridge since 2015, the highest of any road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Eldridge?
The worst month is January: 9.8% of truck crashes in Scott County happen then.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Eldridge?
Garbage trucks were involved in 45 reported crashes in Scott County since 2015 (3.9% of truck crashes).
What is the truck crash rate in Eldridge compared with Iowa?
Per 100,000 residents, Scott County has 57.1 truck crashes a year; Iowa has 68.1.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Eldridge?
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.