Kettle River, MN truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Kettle River: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Kettle River and Carlton County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Carlton County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
3 of 143 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
No fatal large-truck crashes with a road name recorded here since 2015.
How Carlton County compares with Minnesota
Carlton County against Minnesota and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Carlton County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Carlton County | Minnesota | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 32.2 | 39.0 | 49.7 | 17% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.3 | 3.0 | 3.4 | 23% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.26 | 0.37 | 0.49 | 30% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.3% | 2.8% | 2.3% | 18% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 46.2% | 25.6% | 6.2% | 1.8× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 24.6% | 27.0% | 23.7% | 9% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 31.5% | 19.1% | 13.8% | 1.7× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 65.4% | 46.2% | 41.9% | 1.4× the state |
| After dark | 29.2% | 20.3% | 24.8% | 1.4× the state |
Carlton County sits below Minnesota on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash. It stands out for higher on snow, slush or ice, in rain, sleet or snow and winter months (nov–mar).
The headline for Carlton County: December the month with the most truck crashes: 19.6% of the year's total.
Overview
Carlton County has recorded 143 truck crashes since 2015, with 42 people injured and 3 killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 31 days.
With 0 truck crashes reported in Kettle River since 2015, this page uses Carlton County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
The worst month is December with 19.6% of truck crashes; the quietest is May at 0.0%.
November through March accounts for 65.4% of truck crashes here, compared with 46.2% in Minnesota.
By time of day, 11 am–12 pm stands out with 9.1% of truck crashes.
46.2% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 25.6% across Minnesota.
Where crashes happen
NHTSA lists no located fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Kettle River since 2015.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 3 of the truck crashes here, or 2.1%, compared with 2.8% in Minnesota.
Route planning tips for Kettle River fleets
- Plan December schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Carlton County.
- With 46.2% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above Minnesota), plan winter equipment checks early.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
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 Carlton 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 (Carlton County) |
|---|---|
| I-35 | 36 |
| Mnth 210 | 20 |
| Mnth 45 | 8 |
| Mnth 73 | 6 |
| Csah 45 | 4 |
| Mnth 33 | 4 |
| W Co Hwy 61 | 3 |
| Cloquet Ave | 2 |
Kettle River at a glance
| Population | 173 |
| Land area | 0.4 sq mi |
| Density | 448 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 55757) | $61,538 |
| Median home value (ZIP 55757) | $207,491 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Carlton 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 | 2 | — | 0.2 |
| 2000s | 11 | +398% | 0.6 |
| 2010s | 12 | +11% | 0.5 |
| 2020s | 11 | -9% | 0.4 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 2 to 11. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 0.2 a year in 2016–19 and 0.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Kettle River
How many truck crashes happen in Kettle River?
Carlton County has had 143 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 42 people and killing 3.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Kettle River?
Truck crashes in Carlton County peak in December, with 19.6% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Kettle River?
Garbage trucks were involved in 3 reported crashes in Carlton County since 2015 (2.1% of truck crashes).
What is the truck crash rate in Kettle River compared with Minnesota?
Carlton County records 32.2 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 39.0 across Minnesota.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Kettle River?
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.