ZIP 50571 (Palmer, IA) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 50571: 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 has lower values than Iowa for garbage-truck share, on snow, slush or ice and in rain, sleet or snow. Where it is higher: crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash.
Pocahontas County at a glance: October the month with the most truck crashes: 14.1% of the year's total.
Overview
Pocahontas County has recorded 85 truck crashes since 2015, with 54 people injured and 4 killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 48 days.
When crashes happen
October has the most truck crashes, 14.1% of the yearly total, while May has the fewest (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.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 15.5% 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 50571 happened on SR-4 (1); no road leads clearly.
Garbage & waste trucks
1 crash involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 1.2% share (Iowa: 2.2%).
Route planning tips for ZIP 50571 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.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
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 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 50571 at a glance
| Population | 273 |
| Density | 2 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $59,583 |
| Median home value | $59,102 |
| Home ownership | 76% |
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 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 3 to 8. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 0.2 a year in 2016–19 and 0.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 50571
How common are truck crashes in ZIP 50571?
Pocahontas County has had 85 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 54 people and killing 4.
When do most truck crashes happen in ZIP 50571?
October has the most truck crashes in Pocahontas County, 14.1% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in ZIP 50571?
Garbage trucks were involved in 1 reported crash in Pocahontas County since 2015 (1.2% of truck crashes).
How does ZIP 50571 compare with Iowa for truck crashes?
Pocahontas County records 109.0 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 68.1 across Iowa.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in ZIP 50571?
Use the free Route Planner: enter your stops to get a risk score, safer alternatives and the low bridges on your route.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.