Albert Lea, MN truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Albert Lea: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Albert Lea and Freeborn County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Freeborn County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
8 of 540 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Freeborn County compares with Minnesota
Freeborn County against Minnesota and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Freeborn County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Freeborn County | Minnesota | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 152.3 | 39.0 | 49.7 | 3.9× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.3 | 3.0 | 3.4 | 1.1× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.32 | 0.37 | 0.49 | 14% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.6% | 2.8% | 2.3% | 44% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 51.8% | 25.6% | 6.2% | 2.0× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 23.2% | 27.0% | 23.7% | 14% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 26.0% | 19.1% | 13.8% | 1.4× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 67.5% | 46.2% | 41.9% | 1.5× the state |
| After dark | 28.3% | 20.3% | 24.8% | 1.4× the state |
Freeborn County has lower values than Minnesota for injuries per crash, garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am). It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and on snow, slush or ice.
What stands out in Freeborn County: 51.8% share of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (Minnesota: 25.6%).
Overview
Police reported 540 crashes involving commercial trucks in Freeborn County since 2015: 170 people were injured and 17 were killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 8 days.
Only 189 truck crashes were reported in Albert Lea since 2015; patterns below come from Freeborn County as a whole.
When crashes happen
The worst month is December with 16.9% of truck crashes; the quietest is May at 3.0%.
The five winter months (November to March) hold 67.5% of truck crashes, against 46.2% across Minnesota.
The busiest hour is 1–2 pm, with 9.3% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 51.8% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Minnesota: 25.6%).
Where crashes happen
Fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Albert Lea since 2015 were spread across roads: I-35 (3), I-90 (3), SR-13 (1) and US-69 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 8 crashes, 1.5% of the total, against 2.8% across Minnesota.
Route planning tips for Albert Lea fleets
- Review driver schedules for December, the month with the most truck crashes.
- 51.8% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice, above Minnesota; plan winter equipment checks before the season.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
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 Freeborn County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-35 | 3 |
| I-90 | 3 |
| SR-13 | 1 |
| US-69 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Freeborn County) |
|---|---|
| I-35 | 198 |
| Isth 90 | 71 |
| Mnth 13 | 11 |
| Msas 135 | 9 |
| Csah 46 | 8 |
| Usth 65 | 6 |
| E Main St | 4 |
| I-90 | 4 |
Albert Lea at a glance
| Population | 18,159 |
| Land area | 13.3 sq mi |
| Density | 1,367 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 56007) | $68,846 |
| Median home value (ZIP 56007) | $166,962 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Freeborn 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 | 18 | — | 0.9 |
| 2000s | 41 | +123% | 0.9 |
| 2010s | 43 | +5% | 0.6 |
| 2020s | 47 | +9% | 2.0 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 18 to 47. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 0.5 a year in 2016–19 and 2.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Albert Lea
How many truck crashes happen in Albert Lea?
Freeborn County has had 540 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 170 people and killing 17.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Albert Lea?
The worst month is December: 16.9% of truck crashes in Freeborn County happen then.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Albert Lea?
Garbage trucks were involved in 8 reported crashes in Freeborn County since 2015 (1.5% of truck crashes).
How does Albert Lea compare with Minnesota for truck crashes?
Freeborn County records 152.3 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 39.0 across Minnesota.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Albert Lea?
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.