Backus, MN truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Backus: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Backus and Cass County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Cass County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
2 of 145 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Cass County compares with Minnesota
Cass County against Minnesota and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Cass County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Cass County | Minnesota | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 37.9 | 39.0 | 49.7 | same |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.8 | 3.0 | 3.4 | 1.3× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.49 | 0.37 | 0.49 | 1.3× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.5% | 2.8% | 2.3% | 46% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 26.7% | 25.6% | 6.2% | same |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 29.8% | 27.0% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 17.6% | 19.1% | 13.8% | 8% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 48.1% | 46.2% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 17.6% | 20.3% | 24.8% | 13% below the state |
Compared with Minnesota, Cass County is lower on garbage-truck share, in rain, sleet or snow and after dark. It runs above Minnesota on deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and morning rush (6–10 am).
Cass County at a glance: January the month with the most truck crashes: 13.8% of the year's total.
Overview
Cass County has recorded 145 truck crashes since 2015, with 71 people injured and 6 killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 31 days.
Only 0 truck crashes were reported in Backus since 2015; patterns below come from Cass County as a whole.
When crashes happen
January has the most truck crashes, 13.8% of the yearly total, while April has the fewest (2.8%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 48.1% of truck crashes, vs 46.2% for Minnesota.
More truck crashes happen at 10–11 am than at any other hour (10.3%).
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 26.7% of truck crashes, compared with 25.6% in Minnesota.
Where crashes happen
Fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Backus since 2015 were spread across roads: SR-371 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 2 of the truck crashes here, or 1.4%, compared with 2.8% in Minnesota.
Route planning tips for Backus fleets
- Build extra time into January routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Morning starts matter: 29.8% 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 Cass County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-371 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Cass County) |
|---|---|
| Mnth 64 | 29 |
| Mnth 210 | 13 |
| Mnth 371 Nw | 11 |
| Mnth 371 | 11 |
| Usth 2 | 10 |
| Mnth 200 | 10 |
| Hwy Nw | 4 |
| Mnth 6 | 4 |
Backus at a glance
| Population | 266 |
| Land area | 0.6 sq mi |
| Density | 429 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 56435) | $62,381 |
| Median home value (ZIP 56435) | $255,334 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Cass 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 | 5 | — | 1.9 |
| 2000s | 11 | +115% | 0.7 |
| 2010s | 11 | +1% | 0.4 |
| 2020s | 11 | -5% | 0.8 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 5 a year in the 1990s and 11 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 0.2 a year in 2016–19 and 0.8 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Backus
How many truck accidents are there in Backus?
Since 2015, 145 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Cass County (71 injured, 6 killed).
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Backus?
Truck crashes in Cass County peak in January, with 13.8% of the year's crashes.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Backus?
2 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Cass County since 2015, 1.4% of all truck crashes.
How does Backus compare with Minnesota for truck crashes?
Per 100,000 residents, Cass County has 37.9 truck crashes a year; Minnesota has 39.0.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Backus?
The free Route Planner takes your stops and returns a route risk score, safer alternatives and low-bridge warnings.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.