ZIP 50565 (Marathon, IA) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 50565: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Buena Vista 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
5 of 170 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Buena Vista County compares with Iowa
Buena Vista County against Iowa and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Buena Vista County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Buena Vista County | Iowa | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 68.6 | 68.1 | 49.7 | same |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 5.7 | 3.5 | 3.4 | 1.6× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.40 | 0.41 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.5% | 2.2% | 2.3% | 1.2× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 20.4% | 18.7% | 6.2% | 1.1× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 28.0% | 24.0% | 23.7% | 1.2× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 12.7% | 15.1% | 13.8% | 16% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 49.7% | 45.4% | 41.9% | 1.1× the state |
| After dark | 17.8% | 23.1% | 24.8% | 23% below the state |
Compared with Iowa, Buena Vista County is lower on in rain, sleet or snow and after dark. It runs above Iowa on deaths per 100 crashes, garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice.
The headline for Buena Vista County: January the month with the most truck crashes: 12.9% of the year's total.
Overview
Since 2015, 170 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Buena Vista County. They injured 69 people and killed 10.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 26 days.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in January (12.9% of the year) and are lowest in March (3.5%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 49.7% of truck crashes, vs 45.4% for Iowa.
The busiest hour is 7–8 am, with 11.8% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 20.4% of truck crashes, compared with 18.7% in Iowa.
Where crashes happen
Fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 50565 since 2015 were spread across roads: US-71 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
5 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 2.9% share (Iowa: 2.2%).
Route planning tips for ZIP 50565 fleets
- Plan January schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Buena Vista County.
- The morning rush (6–10 am) holds 28.0% of truck crashes here, more than Iowa; adjust start times where you can.
- With 20.4% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above Iowa), plan winter equipment checks early.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
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 Buena Vista County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-71 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Buena Vista County) |
|---|---|
| Ia 7 | 4 |
| US-71 | 3 |
| SR-71 | 3 |
| 100Th Ave And C013/440Th St An | 3 |
| 20Th Ave And Ia 3 | 2 |
| C025/480Th St And Us 71/130Th | 2 |
| Highway 3, West Of M-54 | 2 |
| Hwy 71 & C-49 | 2 |
ZIP 50565 at a glance
| Population | 380 |
| Density | 3 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $51,875 |
| Median home value | $84,189 |
| Home ownership | 89% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Buena Vista 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 | 6 | — | 0.5 |
| 2000s | 11 | +81% | 0.5 |
| 2010s | 13 | +20% | 0.7 |
| 2020s | 15 | +13% | 0.4 |
In the 1990s about 6 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 15. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal large-truck crashes: 0.8 a year in 2016–19, 0.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 50565
How many truck accidents are there in ZIP 50565?
170 truck crashes have been reported in Buena Vista County since 2015, with 10 deaths and 69 injuries.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in ZIP 50565?
Truck crashes in Buena Vista County peak in January, with 12.9% of the year's crashes.
Are garbage truck crashes common in ZIP 50565?
Garbage trucks were involved in 5 reported crashes in Buena Vista County since 2015 (2.9% of truck crashes).
How does ZIP 50565 compare with Iowa for truck crashes?
Per 100,000 residents, Buena Vista County has 68.6 truck crashes a year; Iowa has 68.1.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in ZIP 50565?
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.