ZIP 52215 (Chelsea, IA) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 52215: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Tama 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 135 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Tama County compares with Iowa
Tama County against Iowa and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Tama County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Tama County | Iowa | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 69.0 | 68.1 | 49.7 | same |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 6.3 | 3.5 | 3.4 | 1.8× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.41 | 0.41 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.8% | 2.2% | 2.3% | 64% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 15.8% | 18.7% | 6.2% | 16% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 33.9% | 24.0% | 23.7% | 1.4× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 14.2% | 15.1% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 48.0% | 45.4% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 20.5% | 23.1% | 24.8% | 11% below the state |
Tama County has lower values than Iowa for garbage-truck share, on snow, slush or ice and after dark. It stands out for higher deaths per 100 crashes and morning rush (6–10 am).
Tama County at a glance: 1 in 127 of truck crashes here involve garbage trucks: 0.8%, vs 2.2% in Iowa.
Overview
Since 2015, 135 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Tama County. They injured 54 people and killed 9.
That averages about one truck crash every 32 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in November (12.6% of the year) and are lowest in May (3.7%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 48.0% of truck crashes, against 45.4% across Iowa.
The busiest hour is 7–8 am, with 11.1% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 15.8% of truck crashes, compared with 18.7% in Iowa.
Where crashes happen
US-30 leads within 10 miles of ZIP 52215 with 4 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. Next come CR-320TH St (1), SR-21 (1) and US-18 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 1 crash, 0.7% of the total, against 2.2% across Iowa.
Route planning tips for ZIP 52215 fleets
- Review driver schedules for November, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Where you can, review stops along US-30; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- Morning starts matter: 33.9% of truck crashes fall between 6 and 10 am, higher than Iowa.
- 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 Tama County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-30 | 4 |
| CR-320TH St | 1 |
| SR-21 | 1 |
| US-18 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Tama County) |
|---|---|
| US-30 | 27 |
| US-63 | 11 |
| Ia 8 | 3 |
| Highway T47 | 2 |
| Highway V18 And 230Th St And H | 2 |
| New Highway 30 Construction | 2 |
| State 21/Iowa 21 And Us 30 And | 2 |
| T047/Hwy T47 | 2 |
ZIP 52215 at a glance
| Population | 960 |
| Density | 5 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $61,932 |
| Median home value | $185,533 |
| Home ownership | 99% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Tama 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 | 6 | — | 1.2 |
| 2000s | 7 | +22% | 0.6 |
| 2010s | 9 | +29% | 0.9 |
| 2020s | 13 | +40% | 0.0 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 6 to 13. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 1.2 a year in 2016–19 and 0.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 52215
How many truck crashes happen in ZIP 52215?
Tama County has had 135 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 54 people and killing 9.
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in ZIP 52215?
NHTSA data shows US-30 with 4 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 52215 since 2015, the highest of any road.
When do most truck crashes happen in ZIP 52215?
The worst month is November: 12.6% of truck crashes in Tama County happen then.
Are garbage truck crashes common in ZIP 52215?
1 crash involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Tama County since 2015, 0.7% of all truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in ZIP 52215 compared with Iowa?
The yearly rate is 69.0 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Tama County, vs 68.1 for Iowa.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in ZIP 52215?
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.