Waterloo, NE truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Waterloo: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Waterloo and Douglas County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Douglas County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
3.4 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 2.7 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Douglas County compares with Nebraska
Douglas County against Nebraska and the US, 2015–2024 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Douglas County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2024) | Douglas County | Nebraska | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 31.5 | 60.7 | 49.7 | 48% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.7 | 4.8 | 3.4 | 44% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.53 | 0.57 | 0.49 | 7% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 3.1% | 1.8% | 2.3% | 1.7× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 7.7% | 16.7% | 6.2% | 54% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 26.8% | 22.4% | 23.7% | 1.2× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 30.3% | 20.4% | 13.8% | 1.5× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 36.9% | 42.7% | 41.9% | 14% below the state |
| After dark | 20.2% | 24.5% | 24.8% | 18% below the state |
Douglas County sits below Nebraska on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash. It stands out for higher garbage-truck share, morning rush (6–10 am) and in rain, sleet or snow.
The headline for Douglas County: 1 in 33 crashes involve a garbage truck (62 since 2015), vs 1.8% across Nebraska.
Overview
Douglas County has recorded 2,033 truck crashes since 2015, with 1,047 people injured and 55 killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 2 days in fully reported years.
Only 5 truck crashes were reported in Waterloo since 2015; patterns below come from Douglas County as a whole.
When crashes happen
The worst month is July with 10.4% of truck crashes; the quietest is November at 6.1%.
November through March accounts for 36.9% of truck crashes here, compared with 42.7% in Nebraska.
The busiest hour is 8–9 am, with 8.7% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 7.7% of truck crashes, compared with 16.7% in Nebraska.
Where crashes happen
SR-36 leads within 10 miles of Waterloo with 4 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. It is followed by SR-92 (3), US-275 (3) and CR-WEST Q Road (2).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 62 crashes, 3.0% of the total, against 1.8% across Nebraska.
Their busiest month is January, with 15% of garbage-truck crashes.
Per 100 crashes, garbage trucks recorded 3.4 deaths compared with 2.7 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for Waterloo fleets
- Plan July schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Douglas County.
- Where you can, review stops along SR-36; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in January; review collection routes for that month.
- Morning starts matter: 26.8% of truck crashes fall between 6 and 10 am, higher than Nebraska.
- 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.
Reporting to FMCSA was incomplete in 2025; rates and comparisons skip those years.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Douglas County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-36 | 4 |
| SR-92 | 3 |
| US-275 | 3 |
| CR-WEST Q Road | 2 |
| CR-N 264Th St | 1 |
| Mu-N 132nd St | 1 |
| SR-31 | 1 |
| SR-64 | 1 |
| US-6 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Douglas County) |
|---|---|
| I-80 | 249 |
| I-680 | 32 |
| US-275 | 15 |
| I-480 | 12 |
| L Street | 11 |
| US-75 | 10 |
| 064 /78.700/Cuming St(N64) & Nb Ramp From N Expy | 7 |
| 72Nd Street | 7 |
Waterloo at a glance
| Population | 923 |
| Land area | 0.9 sq mi |
| Density | 989 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 68022) | $148,111 |
| Median home value (ZIP 68022) | $462,886 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Douglas 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 | 201 | — | 3.8 |
| 2000s | 187 | -7% | 2.5 |
| 2010s | 185 | -1% | 3.4 |
| 2020s | 171 | -8% | 4.2 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 201 to 171. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal large-truck crashes: 4.8 a year in 2016–19, 4.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Waterloo
How many truck crashes happen in Waterloo?
Since 2015, 2,033 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Douglas County (1,047 injured, 55 killed).
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in Waterloo?
SR-36 had 4 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Waterloo since 2015, more than any other road.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Waterloo?
The worst month is July: 10.4% of truck crashes in Douglas County happen then.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Waterloo?
62 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Douglas County since 2015, 3.0% of all truck crashes.
How does Waterloo compare with Nebraska for truck crashes?
Douglas County records 31.5 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 60.7 across Nebraska.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Waterloo?
Paste your stops into the free CurbWaste Route Planner: it scores your route against fatal-crash locations, suggests safer alternatives and flags low bridges.
Crash reporting to FMCSA was incomplete in 2025; those years are greyed out and left out of rates. 2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.