ZIP 50012 (Ames, IA) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 50012: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Story County, 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
0.0 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 3.8 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Story County compares with Iowa
Story County against Iowa and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Story County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Story County | Iowa | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 44.8 | 68.1 | 49.7 | 34% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.8 | 3.5 | 3.4 | 1.1× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.39 | 0.41 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 4.2% | 2.2% | 2.3% | 1.9× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 19.4% | 18.7% | 6.2% | same |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 24.6% | 24.0% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 18.2% | 15.1% | 13.8% | 1.2× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 42.6% | 45.4% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 19.2% | 23.1% | 24.8% | 17% below the state |
Compared with Iowa, Story County is lower on crashes per 100k residents / yr and after dark. It stands out for higher deaths per 100 crashes, garbage-truck share and in rain, sleet or snow.
Story County at a glance: 1 in 24 crashes involve a garbage truck (23 since 2015), vs 2.2% across Iowa.
Overview
Story County has recorded 535 truck crashes since 2015, with 203 people injured and 19 killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 8 days.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in January (11.2% of the year) and are lowest in March (5.8%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 42.6% of truck crashes, vs 45.4% for Iowa.
By time of day, 4–5 pm stands out with 9.2% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 19.4% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Iowa: 18.7%).
Where crashes happen
I-35 leads within 10 miles of ZIP 50012 with 5 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. Next come US-30 (3) and Ts-590th Ave (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 23 of the truck crashes here, or 4.3%, compared with 2.2% in Iowa.
Garbage-truck crashes peak in May (17% of them).
They recorded 0.0 deaths per 100 crashes, against 3.8 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for ZIP 50012 fleets
- Build extra time into January routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Check whether your routes use I-35, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- For residential and commercial waste routes, look again at May schedules: garbage-truck crashes peak then.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
About the data
Crash counts come from the FMCSA crash file (police-reported crashes involving trucks over 10,000 lb); fatal-crash locations come from NHTSA FARS. Text on this page states only what these numbers show.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Story County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-35 | 5 |
| US-30 | 3 |
| Ts-590th Ave | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Story County) |
|---|---|
| I-35 | 43 |
| US-30 | 23 |
| Interstate 35/I 35 | 21 |
| US-69 | 11 |
| Ia 210 | 4 |
| Lincoln Way | 4 |
| Sb I-35 At 106Mm | 4 |
| US-65 | 4 |
ZIP 50012 at a glance
| Population | 1,913 |
| Density | 2,150 per sq mi |
| Home ownership | 0% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Story 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 | 14 | — | 1.4 |
| 2000s | 28 | +101% | 1.1 |
| 2010s | 38 | +34% | 0.6 |
| 2020s | 45 | +19% | 1.2 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 14 a year in the 1990s and 45 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. NHTSA counts 1.0 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 1.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 50012
How many truck crashes happen in ZIP 50012?
Story County has had 535 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 203 people and killing 19.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in ZIP 50012?
I-35 had 5 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of ZIP 50012 since 2015, more than any other road.
When do most truck crashes happen in ZIP 50012?
The worst month is January: 11.2% of truck crashes in Story County happen then.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in ZIP 50012?
Since 2015, Story County has reported 23 garbage-truck crashes, or 4.3% of its truck crashes.
How does ZIP 50012 compare with Iowa for truck crashes?
Per 100,000 residents, Story County has 44.8 truck crashes a year; Iowa has 68.1.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in ZIP 50012?
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.