ZIP 52134 (Chester, IA) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 52134: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Howard 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 87 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Howard County compares with Iowa
Howard County against Iowa and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Howard County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Howard County | Iowa | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 74.8 | 68.1 | 49.7 | 1.1× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 1.3 | 3.5 | 3.4 | 63% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.57 | 0.41 | 0.49 | 1.4× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.6% | 2.2% | 2.3% | 1.2× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 27.3% | 18.7% | 6.2% | 1.5× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 20.8% | 24.0% | 23.7% | 14% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 11.7% | 15.1% | 13.8% | 23% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 53.2% | 45.4% | 41.9% | 1.2× the state |
| After dark | 23.4% | 23.1% | 24.8% | same |
Compared with Iowa, Howard County is lower on deaths per 100 crashes, morning rush (6–10 am) and in rain, sleet or snow. It runs above Iowa on crashes per 100k residents / yr, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share.
The headline for Howard County: February worst month: 12.6% of truck crashes, vs 8.3% in an average month.
Overview
Since 2015, 87 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Howard County. They injured 47 people and killed 1.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 52 days.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in February (12.6% of the year) and are lowest in August (3.4%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 53.2% of truck crashes, vs 45.4% for Iowa.
More truck crashes happen at 11 am–12 pm than at any other hour (16.1%).
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 27.3% 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 52134 since 2015: US-63 (3). No single road stands out.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 2 of the truck crashes here, or 2.3%, compared with 2.2% in Iowa.
Route planning tips for ZIP 52134 fleets
- Build extra time into February routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 27.3% of truck crashes here, more than Iowa; schedule winter checks early.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
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 Howard County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-63 | 3 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Howard County) |
|---|---|
| US-63 | 19 |
| 150Th St | 3 |
| 150Th St And Willow Ave | 2 |
| A023/50Th St | 2 |
| B017/190Th St | 2 |
| Ft North Of 175Th St. On U | 2 |
| Ia 9 | 2 |
| Us 63 And State 9/Iowa 9 | 2 |
ZIP 52134 at a glance
| Population | 223 |
| Density | 3 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $63,125 |
| Home ownership | 85% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Howard 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 | — | 0.3 |
| 2000s | 6 | +157% | 0.4 |
| 2010s | 6 | +15% | 0.1 |
| 2020s | 6 | -13% | 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. NHTSA counts 0.0 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 0.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 52134
How common are truck crashes in ZIP 52134?
Since 2015, 87 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Howard County (47 injured, 1 killed).
Which month has the most truck crashes in ZIP 52134?
Truck crashes in Howard County peak in February, with 12.6% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in ZIP 52134?
2 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Howard County since 2015, 2.3% of all truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in ZIP 52134 compared with Iowa?
Howard County records 74.8 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 68.1 across Iowa.
How can I plan a safer truck route in ZIP 52134?
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.