Mankato, MN truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Mankato: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Mankato and Blue Earth County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Blue Earth County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
7 of 358 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Blue Earth County compares with Minnesota
Blue Earth County against Minnesota and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Blue Earth County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Blue Earth County | Minnesota | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 42.8 | 39.0 | 49.7 | 1.1× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 4.5 | 3.0 | 3.4 | 1.5× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.33 | 0.37 | 0.49 | 11% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.1% | 2.8% | 2.3% | 25% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 19.8% | 25.6% | 6.2% | 22% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 29.1% | 27.0% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 16.5% | 19.1% | 13.8% | 13% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 41.1% | 46.2% | 41.9% | 11% below the state |
| After dark | 17.4% | 20.3% | 24.8% | 14% below the state |
Blue Earth County has lower values than Minnesota for injuries per crash, garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice. Where it is higher: crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and morning rush (6–10 am).
The headline for Mankato: US-169 most fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of Mankato: 4 since 2015.
Overview
Police reported 358 crashes involving commercial trucks in Blue Earth County since 2015: 125 people were injured and 15 were killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 12 days in fully reported years.
Only 169 truck crashes were reported in Mankato since 2015; patterns below come from Blue Earth County as a whole.
When crashes happen
December has the most truck crashes, 12.0% of the yearly total, while April has the fewest (4.2%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 41.1% of truck crashes, vs 46.2% for Minnesota.
More truck crashes happen at 8–9 am than at any other hour (12.0%).
19.8% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 25.6% across Minnesota.
Where crashes happen
US-169 leads within 10 miles of Mankato with 4 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. It is followed by US-14 (2), CR-3 N Victory Dr (1) and CR-50 535Th Ave (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 7 crashes, 2.0% of the total, against 2.8% across Minnesota.
Route planning tips for Mankato fleets
- Plan December schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Blue Earth County.
- Check whether your routes use US-169, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- Morning starts matter: 29.1% of truck crashes fall between 6 and 10 am, higher than Minnesota.
- 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 Blue Earth County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-169 | 4 |
| US-14 | 2 |
| CR-3 N Victory Dr | 1 |
| CR-50 535Th Ave | 1 |
| SR-22 | 1 |
| SR-60 | 1 |
| Us-Usth 14 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Blue Earth County) |
|---|---|
| Usth 14 | 47 |
| Usth 169 | 45 |
| Mnth 60 | 29 |
| Mnth 22 | 25 |
| Hwy | 10 |
| Mnth 30 | 9 |
| 3Rd Ave | 8 |
| N Riverfront Dr | 7 |
Mankato at a glance
| Population | 46,459 |
| Land area | 19.9 sq mi |
| Density | 2,337 per sq mi |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Blue Earth 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 | 8 | — | 1.3 |
| 2000s | 23 | +191% | 1.2 |
| 2010s | 30 | +27% | 1.1 |
| 2020s | 27 | -8% | 1.0 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 8 a year in the 1990s and 27 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. NHTSA counts 1.5 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 1.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Mankato
How many truck accidents are there in Mankato?
358 truck crashes have been reported in Blue Earth County since 2015, with 15 deaths and 125 injuries.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Mankato?
Since 2015, US-169 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Mankato: 4.
When do most truck crashes happen in Mankato?
Truck crashes in Blue Earth County peak in December, with 12.0% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Mankato?
7 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Blue Earth County since 2015, 2.0% of all truck crashes.
How does Mankato compare with Minnesota for truck crashes?
The yearly rate is 42.8 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Blue Earth County, vs 39.0 for Minnesota.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Mankato?
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.