ZIP 51537 (Harlan, IA) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 51537: 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 |
Compared with Iowa, Shelby County is lower on crashes per 100k residents / yr, garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice. Where it is 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
The worst month is June with 13.7% of truck crashes; the quietest is January at 1.4%.
November through March accounts for 43.5% of truck crashes here, compared with 45.4% in Iowa.
The busiest hour is 8–9 am, with 15.1% of truck crashes.
7.2% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 18.7% across Iowa.
Where crashes happen
Fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 51537 since 2015 were spread across roads: US-59 (2) and Nishna Ave (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 1 of the truck crashes here, or 1.4%, compared with 2.2% in Iowa.
Route planning tips for ZIP 51537 fleets
- Plan June schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Shelby County.
- The morning rush (6–10 am) holds 31.9% of truck crashes here, more than Iowa; adjust start times where you can.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
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) |
|---|---|
| US-59 | 2 |
| Nishna Ave | 1 |
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 51537 at a glance
| Population | 6,382 |
| Density | 15 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $65,000 |
| Median home value | $166,888 |
| Home ownership | 76% |
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 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 2 a year in the 1990s and 6 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal large-truck crashes: 0.8 a year in 2016–19, 0.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 51537
How many truck crashes happen in ZIP 51537?
Shelby County has had 73 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 62 people and killing 4.
When do most truck crashes happen in ZIP 51537?
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 51537?
Garbage trucks were involved in 1 reported crash in Shelby County since 2015 (1.4% of truck crashes).
How do truck crashes in ZIP 51537 compare with Iowa?
Per 100,000 residents, Shelby County has 53.1 truck crashes a year; Iowa has 68.1.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in ZIP 51537?
Paste your stops into the free CurbWaste Route Planner: it scores your route against fatal-crash locations, suggests safer alternatives and flags low bridges.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.