Douglas, MN truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Douglas: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Douglas and Dakota County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Dakota County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
0.0 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 2.2 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Dakota County compares with Minnesota
Dakota County against Minnesota and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Dakota County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Dakota County | Minnesota | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 35.4 | 39.0 | 49.7 | 9% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.2 | 3.0 | 3.4 | 27% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.29 | 0.37 | 0.49 | 22% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 3.5% | 2.8% | 2.3% | 1.2× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 20.1% | 25.6% | 6.2% | 21% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 30.1% | 27.0% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 17.8% | 19.1% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 44.2% | 46.2% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 19.7% | 20.3% | 24.8% | same |
Compared with Minnesota, Dakota County is lower on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash. It stands out for higher garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am).
The headline for Douglas: US-52 deadliest road: 2 fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of Douglas since 2015.
Overview
Since 2015, 1,906 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Dakota County. They injured 599 people and killed 40.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 2 days.
With 13 truck crashes reported in Douglas since 2015, this page uses Dakota County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
December has the most truck crashes, 10.5% of the yearly total, while March has the fewest (6.7%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 44.2% of truck crashes, vs 46.2% for Minnesota.
More truck crashes happen at 11 am–12 pm than at any other hour (8.4%).
20.1% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 25.6% across Minnesota.
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks within 10 miles of Douglas is US-52, with 2 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. After it: CR-47 Northfield Boulevard (1), SR-316 (1) and SR-50 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 73 crashes, 3.8% of the total, against 2.8% across Minnesota.
Their busiest month is September, with 16% of garbage-truck crashes.
They recorded 0.0 deaths per 100 crashes, against 2.2 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for Douglas fleets
- Plan December schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Dakota County.
- Where you can, review stops along US-52; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- Waste haulers: September is the peak month for garbage-truck crashes in Dakota County.
- Morning starts matter: 30.1% of truck crashes fall between 6 and 10 am, higher than Minnesota.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
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 Dakota County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-52 | 2 |
| CR-47 Northfield Boulevard | 1 |
| SR-316 | 1 |
| SR-50 | 1 |
| SR-56 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Dakota County) |
|---|---|
| Isth 494 | 135 |
| Usth 52 | 109 |
| I-35 | 76 |
| Mnth 13 | 53 |
| Mnth 55 | 49 |
| Coates Blvd | 35 |
| Cedar Ave | 31 |
| 160Th St | 30 |
Douglas at a glance
| Population | 736 |
| Land area | 34.0 sq mi |
| Density | 22 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 55031) | $114,338 |
| Median home value (ZIP 55031) | $410,118 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Dakota 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 | 29 | — | 3.1 |
| 2000s | 144 | +399% | 2.9 |
| 2010s | 158 | +10% | 2.5 |
| 2020s | 152 | -4% | 3.0 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 29 a year in the 1990s and 152 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal large-truck crashes: 4.2 a year in 2016–19, 3.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Douglas
How common are truck crashes in Douglas?
1,906 truck crashes have been reported in Dakota County since 2015, with 40 deaths and 599 injuries.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Douglas?
Since 2015, US-52 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Douglas: 2.
When do most truck crashes happen in Douglas?
Truck crashes in Dakota County peak in December, with 10.5% of the year's crashes.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Douglas?
73 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Dakota County since 2015, 3.8% of all truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in Douglas compare with Minnesota?
Per 100,000 residents, Dakota County has 35.4 truck crashes a year; Minnesota has 39.0.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Douglas?
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.