ZIP 50540 (Fonda, IA) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 50540: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Pocahontas 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 85 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Pocahontas County compares with Iowa
Pocahontas County against Iowa and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Pocahontas County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Pocahontas County | Iowa | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 109.0 | 68.1 | 49.7 | 1.6× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 4.8 | 3.5 | 3.4 | 1.4× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.64 | 0.41 | 0.49 | 1.6× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.2% | 2.2% | 2.3% | 45% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 15.5% | 18.7% | 6.2% | 17% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 27.4% | 24.0% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 3.6% | 15.1% | 13.8% | 76% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 35.7% | 45.4% | 41.9% | 21% below the state |
| After dark | 16.7% | 23.1% | 24.8% | 28% below the state |
Pocahontas County sits below Iowa on garbage-truck share, on snow, slush or ice and in rain, sleet or snow. It runs above Iowa on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash.
What stands out in Pocahontas County: October the month with the most truck crashes: 14.1% of the year's total.
Overview
Police reported 85 crashes involving commercial trucks in Pocahontas County since 2015: 54 people were injured and 4 were killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 48 days.
When crashes happen
The worst month is October with 14.1% of truck crashes; the quietest is May at 2.4%.
The five winter months (November to March) hold 35.7% of truck crashes, against 45.4% across Iowa.
By time of day, 3–4 pm stands out with 14.1% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 15.5% 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 50540 since 2015: SR-4 (1). No single road stands out.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 1 crash, 1.2% of the total, against 2.2% across Iowa.
Route planning tips for ZIP 50540 fleets
- Build extra time into October routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- 27.4% of truck crashes happen between 6 and 10 am, above Iowa; consider earlier or later starts where possible.
- 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 Pocahontas County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-4 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Pocahontas County) |
|---|---|
| 130Th Ave | 5 |
| State 4/220Th Ave | 3 |
| C049/570Th St | 3 |
| 110Th Ave | 2 |
| 130Th Ave And Ia 3 | 2 |
| 140Th Ave | 2 |
| 590Th St | 2 |
| Ia 4 | 2 |
ZIP 50540 at a glance
| Population | 998 |
| Density | 4 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $73,438 |
| Median home value | $123,782 |
| Home ownership | 73% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Pocahontas 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 | — | 0.5 |
| 2000s | 6 | +96% | 0.3 |
| 2010s | 6 | +15% | 0.2 |
| 2020s | 8 | +32% | 0.2 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 3 a year in the 1990s and 8 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. NHTSA counts 0.2 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 0.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 50540
How common are truck crashes in ZIP 50540?
Since 2015, 85 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Pocahontas County (54 injured, 4 killed).
What is the worst month for truck crashes in ZIP 50540?
Truck crashes in Pocahontas County peak in October, with 14.1% of the year's crashes.
Are garbage truck crashes common in ZIP 50540?
Garbage trucks were involved in 1 reported crash in Pocahontas County since 2015 (1.2% of truck crashes).
How does ZIP 50540 compare with Iowa for truck crashes?
The yearly rate is 109.0 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Pocahontas County, vs 68.1 for Iowa.
How can I plan a safer truck route in ZIP 50540?
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.