ZIP 51531 (Elk Horn, IA) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 51531: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Shelby 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 73 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Shelby County compares with Iowa
Shelby County against Iowa and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Shelby County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Shelby County | Iowa | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 53.1 | 68.1 | 49.7 | 22% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 4.3 | 3.5 | 3.4 | 1.2× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.84 | 0.41 | 0.49 | 2.0× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.5% | 2.2% | 2.3% | 33% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 7.2% | 18.7% | 6.2% | 61% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 31.9% | 24.0% | 23.7% | 1.3× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 7.2% | 15.1% | 13.8% | 52% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 43.5% | 45.4% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 15.9% | 23.1% | 24.8% | 31% below the state |
Shelby County sits below Iowa on crashes per 100k residents / yr, garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice. It stands out for higher deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and morning rush (6–10 am).
Shelby County at a glance: June the month with the most truck crashes: 13.7% of the year's total.
Overview
Since 2015, 73 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Shelby County. They injured 62 people and killed 4.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 58 days.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in June (13.7% of the year) and are lowest in January (1.4%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 43.5% of truck crashes, vs 45.4% for Iowa.
More truck crashes happen at 8–9 am than at any other hour (15.1%).
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 7.2% of truck crashes, compared with 18.7% in Iowa.
Where crashes happen
Roads with fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of ZIP 51531 since 2015: I-80 (4). No single road stands out.
Garbage & waste trucks
1 crash involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 1.4% share (Iowa: 2.2%).
Route planning tips for ZIP 51531 fleets
- Build extra time into June routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- The morning rush (6–10 am) holds 31.9% of truck crashes here, more than Iowa; adjust start times where you can.
- 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 Shelby County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-80 | 4 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Shelby County) |
|---|---|
| US-59 | 9 |
| State 44/Chatburn Ave | 4 |
| 1500Th St And St F32 Unsigned | 3 |
| F032/Street F32 | 2 |
| Ia 191 | 2 |
| Ia 44 | 2 |
| Ia 44 East Of Exchange | 2 |
| State 37/Iowa 37 | 2 |
ZIP 51531 at a glance
| Population | 889 |
| Density | 13 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $59,199 |
| Median home value | $133,332 |
| Home ownership | 78% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Shelby 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 | 2 | — | 0.4 |
| 2000s | 2 | +53% | 0.3 |
| 2010s | 6 | +158% | 0.4 |
| 2020s | 6 | -9% | 0.2 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 2 to 6. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 0.8 a year in 2016–19 and 0.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 51531
How many truck accidents are there in ZIP 51531?
Since 2015, 73 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Shelby County (62 injured, 4 killed).
What is the worst month for truck crashes in ZIP 51531?
Truck crashes in Shelby County peak in June, with 13.7% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in ZIP 51531?
Since 2015, Shelby County has reported 1 garbage-truck crash, or 1.4% of its truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in ZIP 51531 compared with Iowa?
Per 100,000 residents, Shelby County has 53.1 truck crashes a year; Iowa has 68.1.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in ZIP 51531?
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.