ZIP 50479 (Thornton, IA) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 50479: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Cerro Gordo 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
8 of 387 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Cerro Gordo County compares with Iowa
Cerro Gordo County against Iowa and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Cerro Gordo County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Cerro Gordo County | Iowa | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 75.5 | 68.1 | 49.7 | 1.1× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.4 | 3.5 | 3.4 | same |
| Injuries per crash | 0.31 | 0.41 | 0.49 | 24% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.0% | 2.2% | 2.3% | 9% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 30.9% | 18.7% | 6.2% | 1.7× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 25.8% | 24.0% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 22.1% | 15.1% | 13.8% | 1.5× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 55.8% | 45.4% | 41.9% | 1.2× the state |
| After dark | 28.1% | 23.1% | 24.8% | 1.2× the state |
Cerro Gordo County has lower values than Iowa for injuries per crash and garbage-truck share. Where it is higher: crashes per 100k residents / yr, on snow, slush or ice and morning rush (6–10 am).
What stands out in Cerro Gordo County: 30.9% on snowy, slushy or icy roads, against 18.7% across Iowa.
Overview
Police reported 387 crashes involving commercial trucks in Cerro Gordo County since 2015: 126 people were injured and 12 were killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 11 days.
When crashes happen
January has the most truck crashes, 15.0% of the yearly total, while September has the fewest (3.9%).
November through March accounts for 55.8% of truck crashes here, compared with 45.4% in Iowa.
More truck crashes happen at 10–11 am than at any other hour (10.6%).
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 30.9% 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 50479 since 2015: I-35 (1). No single road stands out.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 8 crashes, 2.1% of the total, against 2.2% across Iowa.
Route planning tips for ZIP 50479 fleets
- Build extra time into January routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Morning starts matter: 25.8% of truck crashes fall between 6 and 10 am, higher than Iowa.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 30.9% of truck crashes here, more than Iowa; schedule winter checks early.
- 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 Cerro Gordo County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-35 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Cerro Gordo County) |
|---|---|
| US-18 | 8 |
| US-65 | 8 |
| Interstate 35/I 35 | 6 |
| I-35 | 5 |
| 300Th St | 5 |
| 150Th St | 4 |
| Ramp Us 18 W To I 35 | 3 |
| Mm I 35 | 3 |
ZIP 50479 at a glance
| Population | 655 |
| Density | 4 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $68,750 |
| Median home value | $132,408 |
| Home ownership | 87% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Cerro Gordo 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 | — | 0.8 |
| 2000s | 27 | +92% | 1.0 |
| 2010s | 29 | +7% | 1.3 |
| 2020s | 30 | +5% | 0.6 |
In the 1990s about 14 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 30. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 1.0 a year in 2016–19 and 0.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 50479
How many truck crashes happen in ZIP 50479?
387 truck crashes have been reported in Cerro Gordo County since 2015, with 12 deaths and 126 injuries.
When do most truck crashes happen in ZIP 50479?
Truck crashes in Cerro Gordo County peak in January, with 15.0% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in ZIP 50479?
Since 2015, Cerro Gordo County has reported 8 garbage-truck crashes, or 2.1% of its truck crashes.
How does ZIP 50479 compare with Iowa for truck crashes?
Per 100,000 residents, Cerro Gordo County has 75.5 truck crashes a year; Iowa has 68.1.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in ZIP 50479?
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.