Mendota Heights, MN truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Mendota Heights: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Mendota Heights 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 |
Dakota County sits below Minnesota on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash. It runs above Minnesota on garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am).
Mendota Heights at a glance: SR-55 deadliest road: 3 fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of Mendota Heights since 2015.
Overview
Police reported 1,906 crashes involving commercial trucks in Dakota County since 2015: 599 people were injured and 40 were killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 2 days.
Only 84 truck crashes were reported in Mendota Heights since 2015; patterns below come from Dakota County as a whole.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in December (10.5% of the year) and are lowest in March (6.7%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 44.2% of truck crashes, against 46.2% across Minnesota.
More truck crashes happen at 11 am–12 pm than at any other hour (8.4%).
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 20.1% of truck crashes, compared with 25.6% in Minnesota.
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks within 10 miles of Mendota Heights is SR-55, with 3 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. Next come I-35 (2), I-494 (2) and 12th St N (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 73 crashes, 3.8% of the total, against 2.8% across Minnesota.
The most garbage-truck crashes happen in September (16%).
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 0.0, vs 2.2 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for Mendota Heights fleets
- Build extra time into December routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Where you can, review stops along SR-55; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- For residential and commercial waste routes, look again at September schedules: garbage-truck crashes peak then.
- The morning rush (6–10 am) holds 30.1% of truck crashes here, more than Minnesota; adjust start times where you can.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
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 Dakota County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-55 | 3 |
| I-35 | 2 |
| I-494 | 2 |
| 12th St N | 1 |
| Alleyway | 1 |
| CR-152 Cedar Ave S | 1 |
| CR-28 Yankee Doodle Rd | 1 |
| CR-36 University Ave Se | 1 |
| CR-38A Maxwell Ave | 1 |
| CR-46 Cleveland Ave N | 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 |
Mendota Heights at a glance
| Population | 11,542 |
| Land area | 9.1 sq mi |
| Density | 1,272 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 55120) | $116,346 |
| Median home value (ZIP 55120) | $515,682 |
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 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 29 to 152. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 4.2 a year in 2016–19 and 3.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Mendota Heights
How many truck crashes happen in Mendota Heights?
Since 2015, 1,906 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Dakota County (599 injured, 40 killed).
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Mendota Heights?
NHTSA data shows SR-55 with 3 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Mendota Heights since 2015, the highest of any road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Mendota Heights?
Truck crashes in Dakota County peak in December, with 10.5% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Mendota Heights?
73 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Dakota County since 2015, 3.8% of all truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in Mendota Heights compared with Minnesota?
Per 100,000 residents, Dakota County has 35.4 truck crashes a year; Minnesota has 39.0.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Mendota Heights?
Paste your stops into the free CurbWaste Route Planner: it scores your route against fatal-crash locations, suggests safer alternatives and flags low bridges.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.