ZIP 50254 (Thayer, IA) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 50254: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Union 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 of 61 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Union County compares with Iowa
Union County against Iowa and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Union County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Union County | Iowa | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 44.1 | 68.1 | 49.7 | 35% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 12.1 | 3.5 | 3.4 | 3.5× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.48 | 0.41 | 0.49 | 1.2× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.0% | 2.2% | 2.3% | 100% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 17.2% | 18.7% | 6.2% | 8% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 25.9% | 24.0% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 8.6% | 15.1% | 13.8% | 43% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 50.0% | 45.4% | 41.9% | 1.1× the state |
| After dark | 19.0% | 23.1% | 24.8% | 18% below the state |
Union County sits below Iowa on crashes per 100k residents / yr, garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice. It runs above Iowa on deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and morning rush (6–10 am).
What stands out in Union County: 12.1 deaths per 100 truck crashes, vs 3.5 in Iowa.
Overview
Police reported 61 crashes involving commercial trucks in Union County since 2015: 29 people were injured and 8 were killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 69 days.
When crashes happen
December has the most truck crashes, 16.4% of the yearly total, while April has the fewest (3.3%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 50.0% of truck crashes, against 45.4% across Iowa.
By time of day, 8–9 am stands out with 13.1% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 17.2% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Iowa: 18.7%).
Where crashes happen
Fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 50254 since 2015 were spread across roads: US-34 (2).
Garbage & waste trucks
Since 2015, no garbage-truck crashes were reported for Union County.
Route planning tips for ZIP 50254 fleets
- Review driver schedules for December, the month with the most truck crashes.
- 25.9% of truck crashes happen between 6 and 10 am, above Iowa; consider earlier or later starts where possible.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
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 Union County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-34 | 2 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Union County) |
|---|---|
| US-34 | 9 |
| Osage St | 3 |
| Maple St And Us 34 | 2 |
| State 25/S Sumner Ave And Us 3 | 2 |
| 140Th St | 1 |
| 150Th St | 1 |
| 190Th St | 1 |
| 190Th St And Us 34 | 1 |
ZIP 50254 at a glance
| Population | 296 |
| Density | 3 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $64,211 |
| Median home value | $191,854 |
| Home ownership | 100% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Union 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 | — | 0.2 |
| 2000s | 5 | +141% | 0.4 |
| 2010s | 5 | -13% | 0.1 |
| 2020s | 6 | +38% | 0.8 |
In the 1990s about 2 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 6. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal large-truck crashes: 0.0 a year in 2016–19, 0.8 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 50254
How common are truck crashes in ZIP 50254?
Union County has had 61 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 29 people and killing 8.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in ZIP 50254?
Truck crashes in Union County peak in December, with 16.4% of the year's crashes.
Are garbage truck crashes common in ZIP 50254?
Garbage trucks were involved in 0 reported crashes in Union County since 2015 (0.0% of truck crashes).
How does ZIP 50254 compare with Iowa for truck crashes?
The yearly rate is 44.1 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Union County, vs 68.1 for Iowa.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in ZIP 50254?
The free Route Planner takes your stops and returns a route risk score, safer alternatives and low-bridge warnings.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.