ZIP 51301 (Spencer, IA) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 51301: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Clay 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 119 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Clay County compares with Iowa
Clay County against Iowa and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Clay County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Clay County | Iowa | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 59.6 | 68.1 | 49.7 | 12% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 5.6 | 3.5 | 3.4 | 1.6× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.47 | 0.41 | 0.49 | 1.1× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.9% | 2.2% | 2.3% | 57% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 22.2% | 18.7% | 6.2% | 1.2× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 26.9% | 24.0% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 8.3% | 15.1% | 13.8% | 45% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 44.4% | 45.4% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 17.6% | 23.1% | 24.8% | 24% below the state |
Clay County sits below Iowa on crashes per 100k residents / yr, garbage-truck share and in rain, sleet or snow. It runs above Iowa on deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and on snow, slush or ice.
The headline for Clay County: 1 in 108 of truck crashes here involve garbage trucks: 0.9%, vs 2.2% in Iowa.
Overview
Clay County has recorded 119 truck crashes since 2015, with 54 people injured and 7 killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 37 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in April (11.8% of the year) and are lowest in September (5.9%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 44.4% of truck crashes, vs 45.4% for Iowa.
More truck crashes happen at 2–3 pm than at any other hour (10.9%).
Road surface: 22.2% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Iowa: 18.7%).
Where crashes happen
Since 2015, fatal crashes with a large truck within 10 miles of ZIP 51301 happened on US-18 (1) and US-71 (1); no road leads clearly.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 2 crashes, 1.7% of the total, against 2.2% across Iowa.
Route planning tips for ZIP 51301 fleets
- Build extra time into April routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Morning starts matter: 26.9% of truck crashes fall between 6 and 10 am, higher than Iowa.
- With 22.2% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above Iowa), plan winter equipment 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 Clay County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-18 | 1 |
| US-71 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Clay County) |
|---|---|
| US-71 | 10 |
| US-18 | 7 |
| Us 71 And B019/320Th St And Us | 6 |
| 130Th Ave | 4 |
| 310Th Ave | 2 |
| 430Th St And 310Th Ave | 2 |
| Ave And Us 18 | 2 |
| E 4Th St And Us 18/N Grand Ave | 2 |
ZIP 51301 at a glance
| Population | 12,638 |
| Density | 31 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $63,402 |
| Median home value | $187,770 |
| Home ownership | 70% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Clay 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 | 4 | — | 0.2 |
| 2000s | 10 | +121% | 0.6 |
| 2010s | 11 | +16% | 0.6 |
| 2020s | 10 | -14% | 0.6 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 4 a year in the 1990s and 10 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 0.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 51301
How many truck crashes happen in ZIP 51301?
Clay County has had 119 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 54 people and killing 7.
Which month has the most truck crashes in ZIP 51301?
The worst month is April: 11.8% of truck crashes in Clay County happen then.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in ZIP 51301?
Garbage trucks were involved in 2 reported crashes in Clay County since 2015 (1.7% of truck crashes).
How does ZIP 51301 compare with Iowa for truck crashes?
Per 100,000 residents, Clay County has 59.6 truck crashes a year; Iowa has 68.1.
How can I plan a safer truck route in ZIP 51301?
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.