Sterling, MN truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Sterling: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Sterling 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 |
Compared with Minnesota, Blue Earth County is lower on injuries per crash, garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice. It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and morning rush (6–10 am).
The headline for Blue Earth County: December the month with the most truck crashes: 12.0% of the year's total.
Overview
Blue Earth County has recorded 358 truck crashes since 2015, with 125 people injured and 15 killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 12 days.
With 2 truck crashes reported in Sterling since 2015, this page uses Blue Earth County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in December (12.0% of the year) and are lowest in April (4.2%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 41.1% of truck crashes, against 46.2% across Minnesota.
The busiest hour is 8–9 am, with 12.0% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 19.8% of truck crashes, compared with 25.6% in Minnesota.
Where crashes happen
Fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Sterling since 2015 were spread across roads: SR-30 (1) and US-169 (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 Sterling fleets
- Review driver schedules for December, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Morning starts matter: 29.1% of truck crashes fall between 6 and 10 am, higher than Minnesota.
- 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 Blue Earth County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-30 | 1 |
| US-169 | 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 |
Sterling at a glance
| Population | 238 |
| Land area | 34.4 sq mi |
| Density | 7 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 56010) | $80,156 |
| Median home value (ZIP 56010) | $163,871 |
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 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 8 to 27. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal large-truck crashes: 1.5 a year in 2016–19, 1.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Sterling
How many truck crashes happen in Sterling?
Blue Earth County has had 358 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 125 people and killing 15.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Sterling?
Truck crashes in Blue Earth County peak in December, with 12.0% of the year's crashes.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Sterling?
7 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Blue Earth County since 2015, 2.0% of all truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in Sterling compare with Minnesota?
Per 100,000 residents, Blue Earth County has 42.8 truck crashes a year; Minnesota has 39.0.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Sterling?
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.