Shelby County, IA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Shelby 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
1 of 73 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Shelby County compares with Iowa
Shelby County against Iowa and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Shelby County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Shelby County | Iowa | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 53.1 | 68.1 | 49.7 | 22% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 4.3 | 3.5 | 3.4 | 1.2× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.84 | 0.41 | 0.49 | 2.0× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.5% | 2.2% | 2.3% | 33% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 7.2% | 18.7% | 6.2% | 61% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 31.9% | 24.0% | 23.7% | 1.3× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 7.2% | 15.1% | 13.8% | 52% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 43.5% | 45.4% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 15.9% | 23.1% | 24.8% | 31% below the state |
Shelby County has lower values than Iowa for crashes per 100k residents / yr, garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice. It stands out for higher deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and morning rush (6–10 am).
What stands out in Shelby County: June 13.7% of truck crashes happen in June, more than any other month.
Overview
Police reported 73 crashes involving commercial trucks in Shelby County since 2015: 62 people were injured and 4 were killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 58 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
June has the most truck crashes, 13.7% of the yearly total, while January has the fewest (1.4%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 43.5% of truck crashes, against 45.4% across Iowa.
More truck crashes happen at 8–9 am than at any other hour (15.1%).
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 7.2% of truck crashes, compared with 18.7% in Iowa.
Where crashes happen
Since 2015, fatal crashes with a large truck in Shelby County happened on US-59 (2), CR-M47/FRONT St (1) and Nishna Ave (1); no road leads clearly.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 1 crash, 1.4% of the total, against 2.2% across Iowa.
Route planning tips for Shelby County fleets
- Plan June schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Shelby County.
- Morning starts matter: 31.9% of truck crashes fall between 6 and 10 am, higher than Iowa.
- 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 Shelby County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Shelby County) |
|---|---|
| US-59 | 2 |
| CR-M47/FRONT St | 1 |
| Nishna Ave | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Shelby County) |
|---|---|
| US-59 | 9 |
| State 44/Chatburn Ave | 4 |
| 1500Th St And St F32 Unsigned | 3 |
| F032/Street F32 | 2 |
| Ia 191 | 2 |
| Ia 44 | 2 |
| Ia 44 East Of Exchange | 2 |
| State 37/Iowa 37 | 2 |
Shelby County at a glance
| Population | 11,821 |
| Land area | 590.8 sq mi |
| Density | 20 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $68,949 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Shelby 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 | 2 | — | 0.4 |
| 2000s | 2 | +53% | 0.3 |
| 2010s | 6 | +158% | 0.4 |
| 2020s | 6 | -9% | 0.2 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 2 a year in the 1990s and 6 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 0.8 a year in 2016–19 and 0.2 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in Shelby County
ZIP codes in Shelby County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Shelby County
How common are truck crashes in Shelby County?
Since 2015, 73 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Shelby County (62 injured, 4 killed).
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Shelby County?
June has the most truck crashes in Shelby County, 13.7% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Shelby County?
Since 2015, Shelby County has reported 1 garbage-truck crash, or 1.4% of its truck crashes.
How does Shelby County compare with Iowa for truck crashes?
Per 100,000 residents, Shelby County has 53.1 truck crashes a year; Iowa has 68.1.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Shelby County?
Paste your stops into the free CurbWaste Route Planner: it scores your route against fatal-crash locations, suggests safer alternatives and flags low bridges.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.