Northwood, IA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Northwood: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Northwood and Worth County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Worth County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
2 of 132 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Worth County compares with Iowa
Worth County against Iowa and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Worth County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Worth County | Iowa | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 156.8 | 68.1 | 49.7 | 2.3× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.4 | 3.5 | 3.4 | 31% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.38 | 0.41 | 0.49 | 7% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.6% | 2.2% | 2.3% | 27% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 50.8% | 18.7% | 6.2% | 2.7× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 23.0% | 24.0% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 32.5% | 15.1% | 13.8% | 2.2× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 65.1% | 45.4% | 41.9% | 1.4× the state |
| After dark | 39.7% | 23.1% | 24.8% | 1.7× the state |
Worth County has lower values than Iowa for deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share. It runs above Iowa on crashes per 100k residents / yr, on snow, slush or ice and in rain, sleet or snow.
The headline for Worth County: 50.8% share of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (Iowa: 18.7%).
Overview
Worth County has recorded 132 truck crashes since 2015, with 53 people injured and 3 killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 32 days.
Only 7 truck crashes were reported in Northwood since 2015; patterns below come from Worth County as a whole.
78% of truck crash reports in Worth County since 2015 leave the city field blank; place counts include only reports that name the place.
When crashes happen
February has the most truck crashes, 18.2% of the yearly total, while September has the fewest (0.8%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 65.1% of truck crashes, against 45.4% across Iowa.
By time of day, 8–9 am stands out with 9.1% of truck crashes.
50.8% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 18.7% across Iowa.
Where crashes happen
Since 2015, fatal crashes with a large truck within 10 miles of Northwood happened on I-35 (2), CR-1 (1) and US-65 (1); no road leads clearly.
Garbage & waste trucks
2 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 1.5% share (Iowa: 2.2%).
Route planning tips for Northwood fleets
- Plan February schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Worth County.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 50.8% of truck crashes here, more than Iowa; schedule winter checks early.
- 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 Worth County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-35 | 2 |
| CR-1 | 1 |
| US-65 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Worth County) |
|---|---|
| Interstate 35/I 35 | 5 |
| Interstate 35 Sb @ 203 Exit Ra | 4 |
| Ramp Highway 105, E To E To St | 3 |
| Ia 9 | 3 |
| Co 105 | 2 |
| Front St And A038/410Th St | 2 |
| I 35 N 207.8 Mm | 2 |
| I 35 N 217 Mm | 2 |
Northwood at a glance
| Population | 2,047 |
| Land area | 4.0 sq mi |
| Density | 514 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 50459) | $71,618 |
| Median home value (ZIP 50459) | $149,984 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Worth 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 | — | 0.2 |
| 2000s | 7 | +7% | 0.2 |
| 2010s | 10 | +45% | 0.2 |
| 2020s | 12 | +19% | 0.4 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 6 a year in the 1990s and 12 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 0.0 a year in 2016–19 and 0.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Northwood
How many truck accidents are there in Northwood?
Since 2015, 132 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Worth County (53 injured, 3 killed).
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Northwood?
Truck crashes in Worth County peak in February, with 18.2% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Northwood?
Since 2015, Worth County has reported 2 garbage-truck crashes, or 1.5% of its truck crashes.
How does Northwood compare with Iowa for truck crashes?
Worth County records 156.8 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 68.1 across Iowa.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Northwood?
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.