ZIP 51038 (Merrill, IA) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 51038: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Plymouth 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
2 of 357 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Plymouth County compares with Iowa
Plymouth County against Iowa and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Plymouth County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Plymouth County | Iowa | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 121.1 | 68.1 | 49.7 | 1.8× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 5.2 | 3.5 | 3.4 | 1.5× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.48 | 0.41 | 0.49 | 1.2× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.3% | 2.2% | 2.3% | 87% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 15.1% | 18.7% | 6.2% | 19% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 18.9% | 24.0% | 23.7% | 21% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 7.0% | 15.1% | 13.8% | 54% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 41.6% | 45.4% | 41.9% | 8% below the state |
| After dark | 20.3% | 23.1% | 24.8% | 12% below the state |
Compared with Iowa, Plymouth County is lower on garbage-truck share, on snow, slush or ice and morning rush (6–10 am). Where it is higher: crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash.
Plymouth County at a glance: 1 in 345 crashes involve a garbage truck (2 since 2015), vs 2.2% across Iowa.
Overview
Plymouth County has recorded 357 truck crashes since 2015, with 173 people injured and 18 killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 12 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in October (13.2% of the year) and are lowest in February (5.3%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 41.6% of truck crashes, vs 45.4% for Iowa.
By time of day, 12–1 pm stands out with 10.4% of truck crashes.
15.1% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 18.7% across Iowa.
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks within 10 miles of ZIP 51038 is US-75, with 4 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. It is followed by CR-C38 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 2 crashes, 0.6% of the total, against 2.2% across Iowa.
Route planning tips for ZIP 51038 fleets
- Build extra time into October routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Look at alternatives to US-75 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- 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 Plymouth County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-75 | 4 |
| CR-C38 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Plymouth County) |
|---|---|
| US-75 | 20 |
| Ia 12 | 3 |
| Us 75/Floyd Ave | 3 |
| C80 And Us 75 | 3 |
| State 140/Iowa 140 And C044/25 | 3 |
| 260Th St And Us 75 | 3 |
| Main St And Us 0075 / Floyd Av | 3 |
| K42 And Ia 3 | 3 |
ZIP 51038 at a glance
| Population | 1,449 |
| Density | 6 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $95,893 |
| Median home value | $189,228 |
| Home ownership | 88% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Plymouth 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 | 22 | — | 0.8 |
| 2000s | 21 | -2% | 1.0 |
| 2010s | 23 | +9% | 0.7 |
| 2020s | 35 | +49% | 1.2 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 22 a year in the 1990s and 35 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. NHTSA counts 1.2 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 1.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 51038
How many truck accidents are there in ZIP 51038?
Plymouth County has had 357 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 173 people and killing 18.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in ZIP 51038?
Since 2015, US-75 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 51038: 4.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in ZIP 51038?
October has the most truck crashes in Plymouth County, 13.2% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in ZIP 51038?
2 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Plymouth County since 2015, 0.6% of all truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in ZIP 51038 compared with Iowa?
Plymouth County records 121.1 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 68.1 across Iowa.
How can I plan a safer truck route in ZIP 51038?
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.