ZIP 50536 (Emmetsburg, IA) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 50536: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Palo Alto 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
1 of 91 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Palo Alto County compares with Iowa
Palo Alto County against Iowa and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Palo Alto County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Palo Alto County | Iowa | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 89.8 | 68.1 | 49.7 | 1.3× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.3 | 3.5 | 3.4 | 34% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.32 | 0.41 | 0.49 | 22% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.1% | 2.2% | 2.3% | 47% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 20.7% | 18.7% | 6.2% | 1.1× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 25.3% | 24.0% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 6.9% | 15.1% | 13.8% | 54% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 33.3% | 45.4% | 41.9% | 27% below the state |
| After dark | 17.2% | 23.1% | 24.8% | 25% below the state |
Compared with Iowa, Palo Alto County is lower on deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share. Where it is higher: crashes per 100k residents / yr and on snow, slush or ice.
The headline for Palo Alto County: June the month with the most truck crashes: 15.4% of the year's total.
Overview
Palo Alto County has recorded 91 truck crashes since 2015, with 29 people injured and 2 killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 46 days.
When crashes happen
The worst month is June with 15.4% of truck crashes; the quietest is July at 4.4%.
The five winter months (November to March) hold 33.3% of truck crashes, against 45.4% across Iowa.
The busiest hour is 3–4 pm, with 12.1% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 20.7% of truck crashes, compared with 18.7% in Iowa.
Where crashes happen
Since 2015, fatal crashes with a large truck within 10 miles of ZIP 50536 happened on US-18 (2); no road leads clearly.
Garbage & waste trucks
1 crash involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 1.1% share (Iowa: 2.2%).
Route planning tips for ZIP 50536 fleets
- Plan June schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Palo Alto County.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 20.7% of truck crashes here, more than Iowa; schedule winter checks early.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
About the data
Sources: the FMCSA crash file for all reported truck crashes and NHTSA FARS for fatal crashes with a large truck. Every statement here comes straight from those numbers.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Palo Alto County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-18 | 2 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Palo Alto County) |
|---|---|
| US-18 | 3 |
| 3700-Blk 480Th Ave | 2 |
| 390St & 580 Ave | 2 |
| 4200 280 St | 2 |
| 480Th Ave And Us 18 | 2 |
| 4900 370 St | 2 |
| 4900 460 Ave | 2 |
| State 4/460 Ave And 390 St | 2 |
ZIP 50536 at a glance
| Population | 4,207 |
| Density | 11 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $59,261 |
| Median home value | $124,228 |
| Home ownership | 70% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Palo Alto 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 | 3 | — | 0.2 |
| 2000s | 6 | +93% | 0.3 |
| 2010s | 8 | +41% | 0.7 |
| 2020s | 7 | -11% | 0.0 |
In the 1990s about 3 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 7. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 0.5 a year in 2016–19 and 0.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 50536
How many truck crashes happen in ZIP 50536?
91 truck crashes have been reported in Palo Alto County since 2015, with 2 deaths and 29 injuries.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in ZIP 50536?
June has the most truck crashes in Palo Alto County, 15.4% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in ZIP 50536?
1 crash involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Palo Alto County since 2015, 1.1% of all truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in ZIP 50536 compare with Iowa?
Per 100,000 residents, Palo Alto County has 89.8 truck crashes a year; Iowa has 68.1.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in ZIP 50536?
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.