ZIP 51521 (Avoca, IA) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 51521: 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 has lower values than Iowa for deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share. It runs above Iowa on crashes per 100k residents / yr, in rain, sleet or snow and after dark.
ZIP 51521 at a glance: I-80 5 fatal truck crashes since 2015, more than any other road within 10 miles of ZIP 51521.
Overview
Police reported 1,310 crashes involving commercial trucks in Pottawattamie County since 2015: 420 people were injured and 31 were killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 3 days.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in January (11.9% of the year) and are lowest in April (6.9%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 47.5% of truck crashes, vs 45.4% for Iowa.
More truck crashes happen at 10–11 am than at any other hour (6.6%).
Road surface: 17.5% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Iowa: 18.7%).
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks within 10 miles of ZIP 51521 is I-80, with 5 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. It is followed by US-59 (2) and CR-M47/510TH St (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 51521 fleets
- Build extra time into January routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Look at alternatives to I-80 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
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 Pottawattamie County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-80 | 5 |
| US-59 | 2 |
| CR-M47/510TH 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 51521 at a glance
| Population | 1,953 |
| Density | 9 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $73,769 |
| Median home value | $200,870 |
| Home ownership | 73% |
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 51521
How common are truck crashes in ZIP 51521?
Since 2015, 1,310 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Pottawattamie County (420 injured, 31 killed).
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in ZIP 51521?
NHTSA data shows I-80 with 5 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 51521 since 2015, the highest of any road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in ZIP 51521?
The worst month is January: 11.9% of truck crashes in Pottawattamie County happen then.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in ZIP 51521?
Since 2015, Pottawattamie County has reported 15 garbage-truck crashes, or 1.1% of its truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in ZIP 51521 compared with Iowa?
The yearly rate is 118.3 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Pottawattamie County, vs 68.1 for Iowa.
How can I plan a safer truck route in ZIP 51521?
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.