Tama County, IA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Tama 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 135 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Tama County compares with Iowa
Tama County against Iowa and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Tama County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Tama County | Iowa | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 69.0 | 68.1 | 49.7 | same |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 6.3 | 3.5 | 3.4 | 1.8× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.41 | 0.41 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.8% | 2.2% | 2.3% | 64% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 15.8% | 18.7% | 6.2% | 16% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 33.9% | 24.0% | 23.7% | 1.4× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 14.2% | 15.1% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 48.0% | 45.4% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 20.5% | 23.1% | 24.8% | 11% below the state |
Compared with Iowa, Tama County is lower on garbage-truck share, on snow, slush or ice and after dark. It runs above Iowa on deaths per 100 crashes and morning rush (6–10 am).
What stands out in Tama County: 1 in 127 crashes involve a garbage truck (1 since 2015), vs 2.2% across Iowa.
Overview
Police reported 135 crashes involving commercial trucks in Tama County since 2015: 54 people were injured and 9 were killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 32 days.
When crashes happen
The worst month is November with 12.6% of truck crashes; the quietest is May at 3.7%.
The five winter months (November to March) hold 48.0% of truck crashes, against 45.4% across Iowa.
By time of day, 7–8 am stands out with 11.1% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 15.8% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Iowa: 18.7%).
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks in Tama County is US-30, with 5 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. It is followed by CR-320TH St (1) and US-18 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 1 crash, 0.7% of the total, against 2.2% across Iowa.
Route planning tips for Tama County fleets
- Build extra time into November routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Look at alternatives to US-30 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- Morning starts matter: 33.9% 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
Sources: the FMCSA crash file for all reported truck crashes and NHTSA FARS for fatal crashes with a large truck. Every statement here comes straight from those numbers.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Tama County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Tama County) |
|---|---|
| US-30 | 5 |
| CR-320TH St | 1 |
| US-18 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Tama County) |
|---|---|
| US-30 | 27 |
| US-63 | 11 |
| Ia 8 | 3 |
| Highway T47 | 2 |
| Highway V18 And 230Th St And H | 2 |
| New Highway 30 Construction | 2 |
| State 21/Iowa 21 And Us 30 And | 2 |
| T047/Hwy T47 | 2 |
Tama County at a glance
| Population | 16,738 |
| Land area | 721.0 sq mi |
| Density | 23 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $70,907 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Tama 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 | 6 | — | 1.2 |
| 2000s | 7 | +22% | 0.6 |
| 2010s | 9 | +29% | 0.9 |
| 2020s | 13 | +40% | 0.0 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 6 to 13. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. NHTSA counts 1.2 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 0.0 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in Tama County
ZIP codes in Tama County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Tama County
How many truck accidents are there in Tama County?
Since 2015, 135 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Tama County (54 injured, 9 killed).
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Tama County?
US-30 had 5 fatal crashes involving a large truck in Tama County since 2015, more than any other road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Tama County?
November has the most truck crashes in Tama County, 12.6% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Tama County?
Since 2015, Tama County has reported 1 garbage-truck crash, or 0.7% of its truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in Tama County compare with Iowa?
Tama County records 69.0 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 68.1 across Iowa.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Tama 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.