Thomson, MN truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Thomson: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Thomson 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
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 |
Compared with Minnesota, Carlton County is lower 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).
Carlton County at a glance: 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.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 31 days.
Thomson had 24 reported truck crashes since 2015, too few for reliable patterns, so the charts and findings on this page use Carlton County numbers.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in December (19.6% of the year) and are lowest in May (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.
Road surface: 46.2% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Minnesota: 25.6%).
Where crashes happen
Roads with fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Thomson since 2015: CR-4 (1), I-35 (1), SR-194 (1) and US-2 (1). No single road stands out.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 3 crashes, 2.1% of the total, against 2.8% across Minnesota.
Route planning tips for Thomson fleets
- Plan December schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Carlton County.
- 46.2% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice, above Minnesota; plan winter equipment checks before the season.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
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 Carlton County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| CR-4 | 1 |
| I-35 | 1 |
| SR-194 | 1 |
| US-2 | 1 |
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 |
Thomson at a glance
| Population | 5,575 |
| Land area | 39.7 sq mi |
| Density | 140 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 55733) | $118,260 |
| Median home value (ZIP 55733) | $353,094 |
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 large-truck crashes: 0.2 a year in 2016–19, 0.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Thomson
How many truck accidents are there in Thomson?
143 truck crashes have been reported in Carlton County since 2015, with 3 deaths and 42 injuries.
When do most truck crashes happen in Thomson?
Truck crashes in Carlton County peak in December, with 19.6% of the year's crashes.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Thomson?
Garbage trucks were involved in 3 reported crashes in Carlton County since 2015 (2.1% of truck crashes).
How does Thomson compare with Minnesota for truck crashes?
Carlton County records 32.2 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 39.0 across Minnesota.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Thomson?
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.