Cambridge, IA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Cambridge: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Cambridge and Story County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Story 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 3.8 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Story County compares with Iowa
Story County against Iowa and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Story County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Story County | Iowa | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 44.8 | 68.1 | 49.7 | 34% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.8 | 3.5 | 3.4 | 1.1× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.39 | 0.41 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 4.2% | 2.2% | 2.3% | 1.9× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 19.4% | 18.7% | 6.2% | same |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 24.6% | 24.0% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 18.2% | 15.1% | 13.8% | 1.2× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 42.6% | 45.4% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 19.2% | 23.1% | 24.8% | 17% below the state |
Compared with Iowa, Story County is lower on crashes per 100k residents / yr and after dark. Where it is higher: deaths per 100 crashes, garbage-truck share and in rain, sleet or snow.
The headline for Story County: 1 in 24 crashes involve a garbage truck (23 since 2015), vs 2.2% across Iowa.
Overview
Since 2015, 535 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Story County. They injured 203 people and killed 19.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 8 days.
With 0 truck crashes reported in Cambridge since 2015, this page uses Story County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
51% of truck crash reports in Story 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 (5.8%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 42.6% of truck crashes, vs 45.4% for Iowa.
By time of day, 4–5 pm stands out with 9.2% of truck crashes.
19.4% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 18.7% across Iowa.
Where crashes happen
I-35 leads within 10 miles of Cambridge with 5 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. After it: US-30 (2) and CR-S27 650Th Ave (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 23 crashes, 4.3% of the total, against 2.2% across Iowa.
Garbage-truck crashes peak in May (17% of them).
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 0.0, vs 3.8 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for Cambridge fleets
- Review driver schedules for January, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Look at alternatives to I-35 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- Waste haulers: May is the peak month for garbage-truck crashes in Story County.
- 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 Story County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-35 | 5 |
| US-30 | 2 |
| CR-S27 650Th Ave | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Story County) |
|---|---|
| I-35 | 43 |
| US-30 | 23 |
| Interstate 35/I 35 | 21 |
| US-69 | 11 |
| Ia 210 | 4 |
| Lincoln Way | 4 |
| Sb I-35 At 106Mm | 4 |
| US-65 | 4 |
Cambridge at a glance
| Population | 844 |
| Land area | 1.3 sq mi |
| Density | 631 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 50046) | $81,500 |
| Median home value (ZIP 50046) | $231,956 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Story 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 | — | 1.4 |
| 2000s | 28 | +101% | 1.1 |
| 2010s | 38 | +34% | 0.6 |
| 2020s | 45 | +19% | 1.2 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 14 a year in the 1990s and 45 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal large-truck crashes: 1.0 a year in 2016–19, 1.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Cambridge
How common are truck crashes in Cambridge?
Story County has had 535 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 203 people and killing 19.
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in Cambridge?
NHTSA data shows I-35 with 5 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Cambridge since 2015, the highest of any road.
When do most truck crashes happen in Cambridge?
January has the most truck crashes in Story County, 11.2% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Cambridge?
Garbage trucks were involved in 23 reported crashes in Story County since 2015 (4.3% of truck crashes).
How do truck crashes in Cambridge compare with Iowa?
Story County records 44.8 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 68.1 across Iowa.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Cambridge?
Use the free Route Planner: enter your stops to get a risk score, safer alternatives and the low bridges on your route.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.