Nelson, MN truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Nelson: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Nelson and Douglas County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Douglas County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
11 of 357 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Douglas County compares with Minnesota
Douglas County against Minnesota and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Douglas County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Douglas County | Minnesota | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 76.0 | 39.0 | 49.7 | 1.9× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 1.8 | 3.0 | 3.4 | 40% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.32 | 0.37 | 0.49 | 14% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.7% | 2.8% | 2.3% | same |
| On snow, slush or ice | 41.0% | 25.6% | 6.2% | 1.6× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 23.9% | 27.0% | 23.7% | 11% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 27.8% | 19.1% | 13.8% | 1.5× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 50.6% | 46.2% | 41.9% | 1.1× the state |
| After dark | 26.7% | 20.3% | 24.8% | 1.3× the state |
Compared with Minnesota, Douglas County is lower on deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and morning rush (6–10 am). It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr, on snow, slush or ice and in rain, sleet or snow.
The headline for Douglas County: 41.0% of truck crashes happened on snow, slush or ice, vs 25.6% in Minnesota.
Overview
Since 2015, 357 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Douglas County. They injured 118 people and killed 7.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 12 days.
Only 0 truck crashes were reported in Nelson since 2015; patterns below come from Douglas County as a whole.
When crashes happen
The worst month is January with 13.7% of truck crashes; the quietest is October at 5.0%.
November through March accounts for 50.6% of truck crashes here, compared with 46.2% in Minnesota.
More truck crashes happen at 1–2 pm than at any other hour (7.6%).
Road surface: 41.0% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Minnesota: 25.6%).
Where crashes happen
Within this area, I-94 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (2). Next come CR-45 (1), CR-46 (1) and CR-82 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 11 crashes, 3.1% of the total, against 2.8% across Minnesota.
Route planning tips for Nelson fleets
- Plan January schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Douglas County.
- Where you can, review stops along I-94; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 41.0% of truck crashes here, more than Minnesota; schedule winter checks early.
- 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 Douglas County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-94 | 2 |
| CR-45 | 1 |
| CR-46 | 1 |
| CR-82 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Douglas County) |
|---|---|
| Isth 94 | 210 |
| Mnth 29 | 20 |
| Csah 82 | 10 |
| Mnth 27 | 9 |
| Csah 5 | 6 |
| 34Th Ave | 6 |
| Broadway St | 5 |
| Csah 7 | 4 |
Nelson at a glance
| Population | 183 |
| Land area | 0.7 sq mi |
| Density | 277 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 56355) | $97,500 |
| Median home value (ZIP 56355) | $327,087 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Douglas 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 | 11 | — | 0.3 |
| 2000s | 20 | +86% | 0.8 |
| 2010s | 26 | +31% | 0.5 |
| 2020s | 34 | +30% | 1.2 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 11 a year in the 1990s and 34 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. NHTSA counts 0.2 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 1.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Nelson
How common are truck crashes in Nelson?
Since 2015, 357 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Douglas County (118 injured, 7 killed).
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Nelson?
I-94 had 2 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Nelson since 2015, more than any other road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Nelson?
January has the most truck crashes in Douglas County, 13.7% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Nelson?
Since 2015, Douglas County has reported 11 garbage-truck crashes, or 3.1% of its truck crashes.
How does Nelson compare with Minnesota for truck crashes?
Per 100,000 residents, Douglas County has 76.0 truck crashes a year; Minnesota has 39.0.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Nelson?
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.