Balsam Township, Aitkin County, MN truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Balsam Township, Aitkin County: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Balsam Township, Aitkin County and Aitkin County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Aitkin County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
4 of 112 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
No fatal large-truck crashes with a road name recorded here since 2015.
How Aitkin County compares with Minnesota
Aitkin County against Minnesota and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Aitkin County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Aitkin County | Minnesota | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 60.7 | 39.0 | 49.7 | 1.6× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 6.4 | 3.0 | 3.4 | 2.1× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.34 | 0.37 | 0.49 | 8% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 3.7% | 2.8% | 2.3% | 1.3× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 30.3% | 25.6% | 6.2% | 1.2× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 26.6% | 27.0% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 17.4% | 19.1% | 13.8% | 9% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 43.1% | 46.2% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 19.3% | 20.3% | 24.8% | same |
Aitkin County has lower values than Minnesota for injuries per crash and in rain, sleet or snow. It runs above Minnesota on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and garbage-truck share.
What stands out in Aitkin County: 6.4 deaths for every 100 truck crashes, against 3.0 across Minnesota.
Overview
Police reported 112 crashes involving commercial trucks in Aitkin County since 2015: 38 people were injured and 7 were killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 37 days.
Only 0 truck crashes were reported in Balsam Township, Aitkin County since 2015; patterns below come from Aitkin County as a whole.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in December (14.3% of the year) and are lowest in June (4.5%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 43.1% of truck crashes, against 46.2% across Minnesota.
By time of day, 10–11 am stands out with 12.5% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 30.3% of truck crashes, compared with 25.6% in Minnesota.
Where crashes happen
NHTSA lists no located fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Balsam since 2015.
Garbage & waste trucks
4 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 3.6% share (Minnesota: 2.8%).
Route planning tips for Balsam Township, Aitkin County fleets
- Plan December schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Aitkin County.
- With 30.3% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above Minnesota), plan winter equipment checks early.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
About the data
Crash counts come from the FMCSA crash file (police-reported crashes involving trucks over 10,000 lb); fatal-crash locations come from NHTSA FARS. Text on this page states only what these numbers show.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Aitkin County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
No fatal crashes involving a large truck with a road name were recorded within 10 miles since 2015.
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Aitkin County) |
|---|---|
| Mnth 210 | 23 |
| Usth 169 | 18 |
| Mnth 200 | 12 |
| Mnth 65 | 12 |
| Mnth 18 | 7 |
| Hwy | 6 |
| Mnth 47 | 6 |
| Great River Rd | 2 |
Balsam Township, Aitkin County at a glance
| Population | 32 |
| Land area | 36.0 sq mi |
| Density | 1 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 55787) | $66,111 |
| Median home value (ZIP 55787) | $240,533 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Aitkin 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 | 3 | — | 0.4 |
| 2000s | 8 | +169% | 0.5 |
| 2010s | 9 | +6% | 0.2 |
| 2020s | 10 | +10% | 1.0 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 3 to 10. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 0.5 a year in 2016–19 and 1.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Balsam Township, Aitkin County
How many truck crashes happen in Balsam Township, Aitkin County?
Since 2015, 112 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Aitkin County (38 injured, 7 killed).
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Balsam Township, Aitkin County?
December has the most truck crashes in Aitkin County, 14.3% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Balsam Township, Aitkin County?
Garbage trucks were involved in 4 reported crashes in Aitkin County since 2015 (3.6% of truck crashes).
How does Balsam Township, Aitkin County compare with Minnesota for truck crashes?
The yearly rate is 60.7 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Aitkin County, vs 39.0 for Minnesota.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Balsam Township, Aitkin County?
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.