Thayer, IA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Thayer: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Thayer and Union County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Union County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
0 of 61 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Union County compares with Iowa
Union County against Iowa and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Union County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Union County | Iowa | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 44.1 | 68.1 | 49.7 | 35% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 12.1 | 3.5 | 3.4 | 3.5× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.48 | 0.41 | 0.49 | 1.2× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.0% | 2.2% | 2.3% | 100% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 17.2% | 18.7% | 6.2% | 8% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 25.9% | 24.0% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 8.6% | 15.1% | 13.8% | 43% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 50.0% | 45.4% | 41.9% | 1.1× the state |
| After dark | 19.0% | 23.1% | 24.8% | 18% below the state |
Union 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).
Union County at a glance: 12.1 people killed per 100 truck crashes (Iowa: 3.5).
Overview
Police reported 61 crashes involving commercial trucks in Union County since 2015: 29 people were injured and 8 were killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 69 days.
Only 0 truck crashes were reported in Thayer since 2015; patterns below come from Union County as a whole.
52% of truck crash reports in Union County since 2015 leave the city field blank; place counts include only reports that name the place.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in December (16.4% of the year) and are lowest in April (3.3%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 50.0% of truck crashes, vs 45.4% for Iowa.
More truck crashes happen at 8–9 am than at any other hour (13.1%).
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 17.2% of truck crashes, compared with 18.7% in Iowa.
Where crashes happen
Fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Thayer since 2015 were spread across roads: US-34 (2).
Garbage & waste trucks
No crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Union County since 2015.
Route planning tips for Thayer fleets
- Plan December schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Union County.
- The morning rush (6–10 am) holds 25.9% of truck crashes here, more than Iowa; adjust start times where you can.
- 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 Union County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-34 | 2 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Union County) |
|---|---|
| US-34 | 9 |
| Osage St | 3 |
| Maple St And Us 34 | 2 |
| State 25/S Sumner Ave And Us 3 | 2 |
| 140Th St | 1 |
| 150Th St | 1 |
| 190Th St | 1 |
| 190Th St And Us 34 | 1 |
Thayer at a glance
| Population | 48 |
| Land area | 0.1 sq mi |
| Density | 336 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 50254) | $64,211 |
| Median home value (ZIP 50254) | $191,854 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Union 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 | — | 0.2 |
| 2000s | 5 | +141% | 0.4 |
| 2010s | 5 | -13% | 0.1 |
| 2020s | 6 | +38% | 0.8 |
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. NHTSA counts 0.0 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 0.8 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Thayer
How many truck crashes happen in Thayer?
Union County has had 61 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 29 people and killing 8.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Thayer?
The worst month is December: 16.4% of truck crashes in Union County happen then.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Thayer?
Garbage trucks were involved in 0 reported crashes in Union County since 2015 (0.0% of truck crashes).
How do truck crashes in Thayer compare with Iowa?
The yearly rate is 44.1 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Union County, vs 68.1 for Iowa.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Thayer?
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.