Dale, MN truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Dale: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Dale and Cottonwood County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Cottonwood County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
0 of 136 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Cottonwood County compares with Minnesota
Cottonwood County against Minnesota and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Cottonwood County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Cottonwood County | Minnesota | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 102.6 | 39.0 | 49.7 | 2.6× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 8.6 | 3.0 | 3.4 | 2.9× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.60 | 0.37 | 0.49 | 1.6× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.0% | 2.8% | 2.3% | 100% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 27.3% | 25.6% | 6.2% | same |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 18.0% | 27.0% | 23.7% | 33% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 15.6% | 19.1% | 13.8% | 18% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 46.1% | 46.2% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 25.0% | 20.3% | 24.8% | 1.2× the state |
Cottonwood County sits below Minnesota on garbage-truck share, morning rush (6–10 am) and in rain, sleet or snow. It runs above Minnesota on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash.
Cottonwood County at a glance: 8.6 deaths per 100 truck crashes, vs 3.0 in Minnesota.
Overview
Cottonwood County has recorded 136 truck crashes since 2015, with 85 people injured and 12 killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 31 days.
Only 5 truck crashes were reported in Dale since 2015; patterns below come from Cottonwood County as a whole.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in October (11.8% of the year) and are lowest in July (1.5%).
November through March accounts for 46.1% of truck crashes here, compared with 46.2% in Minnesota.
By time of day, 1–2 pm stands out with 12.5% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 27.3% 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 Dale since 2015: CR-2 520Th Ave (1), CR-4 450Th Ave (1), CR-5 (1), SR-60 (1) and US-71 (1). No single road stands out.
Garbage & waste trucks
Since 2015, no garbage-truck crashes were reported for Cottonwood County.
Route planning tips for Dale fleets
- Review driver schedules for October, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
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 Cottonwood County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| CR-2 520Th Ave | 1 |
| CR-4 450Th Ave | 1 |
| CR-5 | 1 |
| SR-60 | 1 |
| US-71 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Cottonwood County) |
|---|---|
| Mnth 60 | 50 |
| Usth 71 | 18 |
| Mnth 30 | 6 |
| Mnth 62 | 5 |
| Hwy | 5 |
| Csah 1 | 5 |
| Csah 5 | 4 |
| 16Th St | 2 |
Dale at a glance
| Population | 141 |
| Land area | 35.6 sq mi |
| Density | 4 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 56145) | $58,750 |
| Median home value (ZIP 56145) | $98,098 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Cottonwood 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 | — | 0.3 |
| 2000s | 8 | +66% | 0.2 |
| 2010s | 11 | +30% | 0.7 |
| 2020s | 12 | +6% | 1.2 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 5 a year in the 1990s and 12 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 0.5 a year in 2016–19 and 1.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Dale
How common are truck crashes in Dale?
136 truck crashes have been reported in Cottonwood County since 2015, with 12 deaths and 85 injuries.
When do most truck crashes happen in Dale?
Truck crashes in Cottonwood County peak in October, with 11.8% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Dale?
Garbage trucks were involved in 0 reported crashes in Cottonwood County since 2015 (0.0% of truck crashes).
How does Dale compare with Minnesota for truck crashes?
Cottonwood County records 102.6 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 39.0 across Minnesota.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Dale?
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.