Ideal, MN truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Ideal: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Ideal and Crow Wing County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Crow Wing County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
9 of 189 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Crow Wing County compares with Minnesota
Crow Wing County against Minnesota and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Crow Wing County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Crow Wing County | Minnesota | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 23.0 | 39.0 | 49.7 | 41% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 4.0 | 3.0 | 3.4 | 1.3× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.45 | 0.37 | 0.49 | 1.2× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 4.6% | 2.8% | 2.3% | 1.6× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 27.0% | 25.6% | 6.2% | same |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 29.3% | 27.0% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 15.5% | 19.1% | 13.8% | 19% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 41.9% | 46.2% | 41.9% | 9% below the state |
| After dark | 14.4% | 20.3% | 24.8% | 29% below the state |
Crow Wing County sits below Minnesota on crashes per 100k residents / yr, in rain, sleet or snow and winter months (nov–mar). Where it is higher: deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share.
The headline for Crow Wing County: 1 in 22 of truck crashes here involve garbage trucks: 4.6%, vs 2.8% in Minnesota.
Overview
Police reported 189 crashes involving commercial trucks in Crow Wing County since 2015: 93 people were injured and 7 were killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 23 days.
With 2 truck crashes reported in Ideal since 2015, this page uses Crow Wing County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in January (11.1% of the year) and are lowest in April (4.8%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 41.9% of truck crashes, against 46.2% across Minnesota.
By time of day, 11 am–12 pm stands out with 12.2% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 27.0% of truck crashes, compared with 25.6% in Minnesota.
Where crashes happen
Since 2015, fatal crashes with a large truck within 10 miles of Ideal happened on SR-371 (1); no road leads clearly.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 9 of the truck crashes here, or 4.8%, compared with 2.8% in Minnesota.
Route planning tips for Ideal fleets
- Review driver schedules for January, the month with the most truck crashes.
- The morning rush (6–10 am) holds 29.3% of truck crashes here, more than Minnesota; adjust start times where you can.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
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 Crow Wing 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 (Crow Wing County) |
|---|---|
| Mnth 371 | 41 |
| Mnth 210 | 19 |
| Mnth 18 | 7 |
| Csah 1 | 6 |
| Csah 12 | 4 |
| Washington St | 3 |
| Mnth 371B | 3 |
| Mnth 25 | 3 |
Ideal at a glance
| Population | 1,284 |
| Land area | 20.7 sq mi |
| Density | 62 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 56442) | $79,896 |
| Median home value (ZIP 56442) | $479,001 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Crow Wing 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 | 4 | — | 0.8 |
| 2000s | 14 | +249% | 0.6 |
| 2010s | 16 | +8% | 0.9 |
| 2020s | 14 | -9% | 0.6 |
In the 1990s about 4 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 14. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 1.5 a year in 2016–19 and 0.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Ideal
How many truck crashes happen in Ideal?
Crow Wing County has had 189 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 93 people and killing 7.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Ideal?
January has the most truck crashes in Crow Wing County, 11.1% of the yearly total.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Ideal?
9 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Crow Wing County since 2015, 4.8% of all truck crashes.
How does Ideal compare with Minnesota for truck crashes?
Crow Wing County records 23.0 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 39.0 across Minnesota.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Ideal?
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.