Panama, IA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Panama: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Panama and Shelby County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Shelby County numbers.
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. Where it is higher: deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and morning rush (6–10 am).
What stands out in Shelby County: June worst month: 13.7% of truck crashes, vs 8.3% in an average month.
Overview
Since 2015, 73 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Shelby County. They injured 62 people and killed 4.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 58 days.
With 1 truck crash reported in Panama since 2015, this page uses Shelby County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
68% of truck crash reports in Shelby County since 2015 leave the city field blank; place counts include only reports that name the place.
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.
By time of day, 8–9 am stands out with 15.1% of truck crashes.
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 within 10 miles of Panama happened on Nishna Ave (1) and US-59 (1); no road leads clearly.
Garbage & waste trucks
1 crash involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 1.4% share (Iowa: 2.2%).
Route planning tips for Panama fleets
- Plan June schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Shelby County.
- 31.9% of truck crashes happen between 6 and 10 am, above Iowa; consider earlier or later starts where possible.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
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 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| Nishna Ave | 1 |
| US-59 | 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 |
Panama at a glance
| Population | 234 |
| Land area | 0.3 sq mi |
| Density | 804 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 51562) | $81,250 |
| Median home value (ZIP 51562) | $157,909 |
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 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 2 to 6. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. NHTSA counts 0.8 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 0.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Panama
How many truck crashes happen in Panama?
Since 2015, 73 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Shelby County (62 injured, 4 killed).
When do most truck crashes happen in Panama?
Truck crashes in Shelby County peak in June, with 13.7% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Panama?
Garbage trucks were involved in 1 reported crash in Shelby County since 2015 (1.4% of truck crashes).
What is the truck crash rate in Panama compared with Iowa?
Per 100,000 residents, Shelby County has 53.1 truck crashes a year; Iowa has 68.1.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Panama?
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.