Waterford, MN truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Waterford: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Waterford 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).
What stands out in Waterford: SR-19 deadliest road: 2 fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of Waterford since 2015.
Overview
Police reported 1,906 crashes involving commercial trucks in Dakota County since 2015: 599 people were injured and 40 were killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 2 days in fully reported years.
With 8 truck crashes reported in Waterford since 2015, this page uses Dakota County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
The worst month is December with 10.5% of truck crashes; the quietest is March at 6.7%.
November through March accounts for 44.2% of truck crashes here, compared with 46.2% in Minnesota.
The busiest hour is 11 am–12 pm, with 8.4% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 20.1% of truck crashes, compared with 25.6% in Minnesota.
Where crashes happen
Within this area, SR-19 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (2). It is followed by CR-23 (1), CR-47 (1) and CR-86 30Th St W (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
73 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 3.8% share (Minnesota: 2.8%).
Garbage-truck crashes peak in September (16% of them).
They recorded 0.0 deaths per 100 crashes, against 2.2 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for Waterford fleets
- Plan December schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Dakota County.
- Where you can, review stops along SR-19; 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.
- 30.1% of truck crashes happen between 6 and 10 am, above Minnesota; consider earlier or later starts where possible.
- 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) |
|---|---|
| SR-19 | 2 |
| CR-23 | 1 |
| CR-47 | 1 |
| CR-86 30Th St W | 1 |
| I-35 | 1 |
| SR-3 | 1 |
| SR-50 | 1 |
| SR-56 | 1 |
| US-52 | 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 |
Waterford at a glance
| Population | 519 |
| Land area | 14.6 sq mi |
| Density | 36 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 55057) | $92,622 |
| Median home value (ZIP 55057) | $361,756 |
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 large-truck crashes: 4.2 a year in 2016–19, 3.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Waterford
How common are truck crashes in Waterford?
Dakota County has had 1,906 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 599 people and killing 40.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in Waterford?
NHTSA data shows SR-19 with 2 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Waterford since 2015, the highest of any road.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Waterford?
Truck crashes in Dakota County peak in December, with 10.5% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Waterford?
Garbage trucks were involved in 73 reported crashes in Dakota County since 2015 (3.8% of truck crashes).
What is the truck crash rate in Waterford 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 Waterford?
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.