ZIP 50049 (Chariton, IA) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 50049: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Lucas 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
2 of 66 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Lucas County compares with Iowa
Lucas County against Iowa and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Lucas County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Lucas County | Iowa | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 65.4 | 68.1 | 49.7 | same |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 0.0 | 3.5 | 3.4 | 100% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.41 | 0.41 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 3.2% | 2.2% | 2.3% | 1.5× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 15.9% | 18.7% | 6.2% | 15% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 22.2% | 24.0% | 23.7% | 8% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 14.3% | 15.1% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 42.9% | 45.4% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 27.0% | 23.1% | 24.8% | 1.2× the state |
Compared with Iowa, Lucas County is lower on deaths per 100 crashes, on snow, slush or ice and morning rush (6–10 am). Where it is higher: garbage-truck share and after dark.
The headline for Lucas County: 0.0 people killed per 100 truck crashes (Iowa: 3.5).
Overview
Since 2015, 66 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Lucas County. They injured 27 people and killed 0.
That averages about one truck crash every 64 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
The worst month is January with 13.6% of truck crashes; the quietest is February at 3.0%.
The five winter months (November to March) hold 42.9% of truck crashes, against 45.4% across Iowa.
The busiest hour is 2–3 pm, with 12.1% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 15.9% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Iowa: 18.7%).
Where crashes happen
Roads with fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of ZIP 50049 since 2015: US-34 (1). No single road stands out.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 2 crashes, 3.0% of the total, against 2.2% across Iowa.
Route planning tips for ZIP 50049 fleets
- Review driver schedules for January, the month with the most truck crashes.
- 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 Lucas County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-34 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Lucas County) |
|---|---|
| US-34 | 3 |
| 110Th Ave And H050/440Th St | 2 |
| 300Th Ave And Us 34 | 2 |
| Orchard Ave | 2 |
| 490Th St And S023/200Th Ave | 1 |
| 4Th St And S 4Th St And Us 34 | 1 |
| 500Th St And 120Th Ave | 1 |
| 537Th St | 1 |
ZIP 50049 at a glance
| Population | 6,414 |
| Density | 12 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $61,190 |
| Median home value | $131,016 |
| Home ownership | 74% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Lucas 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 | 2 | — | 0.9 |
| 2000s | 5 | +114% | 0.2 |
| 2010s | 6 | +33% | 0.4 |
| 2020s | 5 | -26% | 0.0 |
In the 1990s about 2 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 5. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 0.2 a year in 2016–19 and 0.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 50049
How common are truck crashes in ZIP 50049?
66 truck crashes have been reported in Lucas County since 2015, with 0 deaths and 27 injuries.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in ZIP 50049?
Truck crashes in Lucas County peak in January, with 13.6% of the year's crashes.
Are garbage truck crashes common in ZIP 50049?
Since 2015, Lucas County has reported 2 garbage-truck crashes, or 3.0% of its truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in ZIP 50049 compared with Iowa?
The yearly rate is 65.4 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Lucas County, vs 68.1 for Iowa.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in ZIP 50049?
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.