Cedar County, NE truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Cedar 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
2 of 129 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Cedar County compares with Nebraska
Cedar County against Nebraska and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Cedar County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Cedar County | Nebraska | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 133.1 | 60.7 | 49.7 | 2.2× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 9.9 | 4.8 | 3.4 | 2.1× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.42 | 0.57 | 0.49 | 26% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.7% | 1.8% | 2.3% | 9% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 12.4% | 16.7% | 6.2% | 26% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 19.0% | 22.4% | 23.7% | 15% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 12.4% | 20.4% | 13.8% | 39% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 38.8% | 42.7% | 41.9% | 9% below the state |
| After dark | 27.3% | 24.5% | 24.8% | 1.1× the state |
Compared with Nebraska, Cedar County is lower on injuries per crash, garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice. It runs above Nebraska on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and after dark.
Cedar County at a glance: 9.9 people killed per 100 truck crashes (Nebraska: 4.8).
Overview
Cedar County has recorded 129 truck crashes since 2015, with 54 people injured and 13 killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 33 days.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in February (12.4% of the year) and are lowest in March (4.7%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 38.8% of truck crashes, against 42.7% across Nebraska.
More truck crashes happen at 10–11 am than at any other hour (9.3%).
Road surface: 12.4% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Nebraska: 16.7%).
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks in Cedar County is US-81, with 7 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. Next come SR-12 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 2 crashes, 1.6% of the total, against 1.8% across Nebraska.
Route planning tips for Cedar County fleets
- Build extra time into February routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Where you can, review stops along US-81; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
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 Cedar County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Cedar County) |
|---|---|
| US-81 | 7 |
| SR-12 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Cedar County) |
|---|---|
| US-81 | 20 |
| US-20 | 7 |
| Ne-15 | 3 |
| Ne-57 | 3 |
| 057 /64.060/N57 & 880Th Rd-S Of Hartington | 2 |
| 081 /188.720/Us81 S Of 874Th Rd-N Of Magnet | 2 |
| 081 /189.970/Us81 & 875Th Rd-Ne Of Magnet | 2 |
| 081 /190.220/Us81 N Of 875Th Rd-Ne Of Magnet | 2 |
Cedar County at a glance
| Population | 8,262 |
| Land area | 740.2 sq mi |
| Density | 11 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $78,103 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Cedar 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 | 10 | — | 0.3 |
| 2000s | 7 | -32% | 0.3 |
| 2010s | 9 | +28% | 0.6 |
| 2020s | 11 | +30% | 0.8 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 10 to 11. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. NHTSA counts 1.0 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 0.8 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in Cedar County
ZIP codes in Cedar County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Cedar County
How many truck crashes happen in Cedar County?
Cedar County has had 129 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 54 people and killing 13.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in Cedar County?
US-81 had 7 fatal crashes involving a large truck in Cedar County since 2015, more than any other road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Cedar County?
Truck crashes in Cedar County peak in February, with 12.4% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Cedar County?
Garbage trucks were involved in 2 reported crashes in Cedar County since 2015 (1.6% of truck crashes).
What is the truck crash rate in Cedar County compared with Nebraska?
Cedar County records 133.1 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 60.7 across Nebraska.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Cedar County?
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.