Shelby, NE truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Shelby: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Shelby and Polk County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Polk County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
0 of 72 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Polk County compares with Nebraska
Polk County against Nebraska and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Polk County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Polk County | Nebraska | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 120.8 | 60.7 | 49.7 | 2.0× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 5.7 | 4.8 | 3.4 | 1.2× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.71 | 0.57 | 0.49 | 1.2× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.0% | 1.8% | 2.3% | 100% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 15.7% | 16.7% | 6.2% | same |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 25.7% | 22.4% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 20.0% | 20.4% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 55.7% | 42.7% | 41.9% | 1.3× the state |
| After dark | 14.3% | 24.5% | 24.8% | 42% below the state |
Compared with Nebraska, Polk County is lower on garbage-truck share and after dark. Where it is higher: crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash.
Polk County at a glance: 0 of truck crashes here involve garbage trucks: 0.0%, vs 1.8% in Nebraska.
Overview
Since 2015, 72 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Polk County. They injured 51 people and killed 4.
That averages about one truck crash every 57 days in fully reported years.
With 11 truck crashes reported in Shelby since 2015, this page uses Polk County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
65% of truck crash reports in Polk County since 2015 leave the city field blank; place counts include only reports that name the place.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in March (13.9% of the year) and are lowest in August (2.8%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 55.7% of truck crashes, vs 42.7% for Nebraska.
By time of day, 1–2 pm stands out with 14.8% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 15.7% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Nebraska: 16.7%).
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks within 10 miles of Shelby is US-81, with 4 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. After it: SR-92 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
No crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Polk County since 2015.
Route planning tips for Shelby fleets
- Build extra time into March 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.
- The morning rush (6–10 am) holds 25.7% of truck crashes here, more than Nebraska; 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 Polk County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-81 | 4 |
| SR-92 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Polk County) |
|---|---|
| US-81 | 14 |
| 081 /78.970/Main St(Us81) At Tenth St | 3 |
| 081 /85.520/Us81 & Polk St | 2 |
| 081 /92.250/Park St(Us81) & Walnut St(N69) | 2 |
| 081 /94.030/Us81 W Of Cr "W"-Ent-E Of Shelby | 2 |
| 092 /394.490/N92 E Of Cr "K"-W Of Osceola | 2 |
| Ne-92 | 2 |
| Us Hwy 81-92 | 2 |
Shelby at a glance
| Population | 744 |
| Land area | 0.5 sq mi |
| Density | 1,380 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 68662) | $89,706 |
| Median home value (ZIP 68662) | $161,219 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Polk 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 | 5 | — | 0.4 |
| 2000s | 4 | -14% | 0.1 |
| 2010s | 6 | +41% | 0.2 |
| 2020s | 6 | -11% | 0.6 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 5 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. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 0.2 a year in 2016–19 and 0.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Shelby
How many truck accidents are there in Shelby?
72 truck crashes have been reported in Polk County since 2015, with 4 deaths and 51 injuries.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Shelby?
US-81 had 4 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Shelby since 2015, more than any other road.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Shelby?
Truck crashes in Polk County peak in March, with 13.9% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Shelby?
0 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Polk County since 2015, 0.0% of all truck crashes.
How does Shelby compare with Nebraska for truck crashes?
Per 100,000 residents, Polk County has 120.8 truck crashes a year; Nebraska has 60.7.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Shelby?
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.