ZIP 51503 (Council Bluffs, IA) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 51503: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Pottawattamie 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
15 of 1,310 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Pottawattamie County compares with Iowa
Pottawattamie County against Iowa and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Pottawattamie County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Pottawattamie County | Iowa | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 118.3 | 68.1 | 49.7 | 1.7× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.1 | 3.5 | 3.4 | 40% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.33 | 0.41 | 0.49 | 20% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.1% | 2.2% | 2.3% | 47% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 17.5% | 18.7% | 6.2% | same |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 22.4% | 24.0% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 17.9% | 15.1% | 13.8% | 1.2× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 47.5% | 45.4% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 29.3% | 23.1% | 24.8% | 1.3× the state |
Pottawattamie County sits below Iowa on deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share. Where it is higher: crashes per 100k residents / yr, in rain, sleet or snow and after dark.
The headline for ZIP 51503: I-80 3 fatal truck crashes since 2015, more than any other road within 10 miles of ZIP 51503.
Overview
Pottawattamie County has recorded 1,310 truck crashes since 2015, with 420 people injured and 31 killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 3 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
The worst month is January with 11.9% of truck crashes; the quietest is April at 6.9%.
November through March accounts for 47.5% of truck crashes here, compared with 45.4% in Iowa.
The busiest hour is 10–11 am, with 6.6% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 17.5% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Iowa: 18.7%).
Where crashes happen
I-80 leads within 10 miles of ZIP 51503 with 3 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. After it: US-6 (2), US-75 (2) and Abbott Dr (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 15 crashes, 1.1% of the total, against 2.2% across Iowa.
Route planning tips for ZIP 51503 fleets
- Review driver schedules for January, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Look at alternatives to I-80 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
About the data
This report uses the FMCSA crash file (reported crashes of trucks over 10,000 lb) and NHTSA FARS (fatal crashes). It reports the numbers without guessing at reasons.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Pottawattamie County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-80 | 3 |
| US-6 | 2 |
| US-75 | 2 |
| Abbott Dr | 1 |
| CR-G066 Pioneer Trl | 1 |
| CR-L35 221St St | 1 |
| CR-MYNSTER Springs Rd | 1 |
| I-29 | 1 |
| I-480 | 1 |
| N 16th St | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Pottawattamie County) |
|---|---|
| I-80 | 62 |
| I-29 | 20 |
| Interstate 29/I 29 | 15 |
| Interstate 80/I 80 | 14 |
| US-6 | 11 |
| I-880 | 8 |
| Interstate 29/I29 Ramp | 8 |
| US-59 | 6 |
ZIP 51503 at a glance
| Population | 37,972 |
| Density | 120 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $79,010 |
| Median home value | $262,045 |
| Home ownership | 69% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Pottawattamie 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 | 70 | — | 2.9 |
| 2000s | 81 | +16% | 2.2 |
| 2010s | 96 | +18% | 1.7 |
| 2020s | 114 | +19% | 2.4 |
In the 1990s about 70 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 114. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal large-truck crashes: 2.2 a year in 2016–19, 2.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 51503
How common are truck crashes in ZIP 51503?
1,310 truck crashes have been reported in Pottawattamie County since 2015, with 31 deaths and 420 injuries.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in ZIP 51503?
Since 2015, I-80 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 51503: 3.
When do most truck crashes happen in ZIP 51503?
January has the most truck crashes in Pottawattamie County, 11.9% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in ZIP 51503?
15 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Pottawattamie County since 2015, 1.1% of all truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in ZIP 51503 compared with Iowa?
Per 100,000 residents, Pottawattamie County has 118.3 truck crashes a year; Iowa has 68.1.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in ZIP 51503?
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.