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Iowa Truck Accidents

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (Title 49, Parts 350-399) govern all vehicles engaged in interstate traffic.

There are some situations where a tractor-trailer or other commercial motor vehicle is involved in only intrastate travel. For example, an appliance store in Lost Nation may own a truck that only makes in-state deliveries.

The Iowa Department of Public Safety has adopted Title 49, Parts 382-384 and 390-399 of the federal regulations.

If you want to learn about the federal laws that apply to all over-the-road trucks, click here.

The following provisions are an overview of Iowa laws that affect trucks operating only in Iowa:

Driver Qualification:

Iowa has adopted Part 391 of the Federal Regulations with some exceptions. Drivers of commercial vehicles in Iowa must only be 18 years old unless they are transporting hazardous materials, in which case, they must be 21. Federal law mandates that drivers be a minimum of 21 years of age.

Drivers must meet the Federal vision requirements (Sec. 391.41(b)(10)), unless exempted by state law.

Driving of Motor Vehicles:

In Iowa, when involved in an accident a driver must stop and give aid to anyone injured. Failure to do so could result in a fine or jail. A police officer must be contacted immediately.

Drivers cannot carry a concealed firearm unless the weapons are unloaded and either in the trunk of the vehicle or in a closed container which is too large to be effectively concealed.

Inspection and Maintenance:

Iowa has adopted Part 396 of the Federal Regulations. Special plated farm vehicles (intrastate) are exempt from the annual inspection requirement.

Crash reports are available from:

Records Section
Office of Driver Services
Department of Transportation
Park Fair Mall
100 Euclid
P.O. Box 9204
Des Moines, Iowa 50306

If you have been involved in a truck accident in Iowa, click here for more information or to ask any questions you have.

In the event this material is not deemed to fully comply with the provisions of the rules of professional conduct of any particular state, this firm will not accept clients or representation that derive from the distribution of this material within those jurisdictions.

"If each time a rig is inspected it is done in an identical fashion the driver will be less likely to omit a key element of the process during a future inspection."

Learn more about State and Federal Trucking Laws

Iowa Truck Accident News:

No Iowa truck accident news available at this time.


Iowa Cities:

  • Des Moines
  • Iowa City
  • Cedar Rapids
  • Council Bluffs
  • Davenport
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  • Dubuque
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  • Sioux City
  • Ames
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  • Waterloo
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  • West Des Moines

    • Major Iowa Interstates:

  • I-29
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  • I-280
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  • I-35
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  • I-680
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  • I-80
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