ZIP 50278 (Zearing, IA) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 50278: 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 |
Story County has lower values than Iowa for 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.
What stands out in Story County: 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.
In complete reporting years that works out to about 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%).
November through March accounts for 42.6% of truck crashes here, compared with 45.4% in Iowa.
More truck crashes happen at 4–5 pm than at any other hour (9.2%).
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 19.4% of truck crashes, compared with 18.7% in Iowa.
Where crashes happen
Roads with fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of ZIP 50278 since 2015: US-65 (2). No single road stands out.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 23 crashes, 4.3% of the total, against 2.2% across Iowa.
The most garbage-truck crashes happen in May (17%).
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 0.0, vs 3.8 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for ZIP 50278 fleets
- Review driver schedules for January, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Waste haulers: May is the peak month for garbage-truck crashes in Story County.
- 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) |
|---|---|
| US-65 | 2 |
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 50278 at a glance
| Population | 891 |
| Density | 7 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $74,306 |
| Median home value | $193,286 |
| Home ownership | 83% |
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 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 14 to 45. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal large-truck crashes: 1.0 a year in 2016–19, 1.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 50278
How many truck crashes happen in ZIP 50278?
Story County has had 535 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 203 people and killing 19.
When do most truck crashes happen in ZIP 50278?
January has the most truck crashes in Story County, 11.2% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in ZIP 50278?
23 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Story County since 2015, 4.3% of all truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in ZIP 50278 compare with Iowa?
The yearly rate is 44.8 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Story County, vs 68.1 for Iowa.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in ZIP 50278?
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.