Carlston, MN truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Carlston: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Carlston 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 |
Compared with Minnesota, Freeborn County is lower on 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% of truck crashes happened on snow, slush or ice, vs 25.6% in Minnesota.
Overview
Since 2015, 540 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Freeborn County. They injured 170 people and killed 17.
That averages about one truck crash every 8 days in fully reported years.
With 5 truck crashes reported in Carlston since 2015, this page uses Freeborn County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
December has the most truck crashes, 16.9% of the yearly total, while May has the fewest (3.0%).
November through March accounts for 67.5% of truck crashes here, compared with 46.2% in Minnesota.
The busiest hour is 1–2 pm, with 9.3% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 51.8% of truck crashes, compared with 25.6% in Minnesota.
Where crashes happen
SR-13 leads within 10 miles of Carlston with 2 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. It is followed by 220th St (1), CR-10 660Th Ave (1) and I-90 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 8 of the truck crashes here, or 1.5%, compared with 2.8% in Minnesota.
Route planning tips for Carlston fleets
- Review driver schedules for December, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Look at alternatives to SR-13 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 51.8% 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
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 Freeborn County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-13 | 2 |
| 220th St | 1 |
| CR-10 660Th Ave | 1 |
| I-90 | 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 |
Carlston at a glance
| Population | 298 |
| Land area | 33.0 sq mi |
| Density | 9 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 56009) | $80,804 |
| Median home value (ZIP 56009) | $203,214 |
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 |
In the 1990s about 18 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 47. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. NHTSA counts 0.5 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 2.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Carlston
How common are truck crashes in Carlston?
540 truck crashes have been reported in Freeborn County since 2015, with 17 deaths and 170 injuries.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in Carlston?
Since 2015, SR-13 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Carlston: 2.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Carlston?
December has the most truck crashes in Freeborn County, 16.9% of the yearly total.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Carlston?
Garbage trucks were involved in 8 reported crashes in Freeborn County since 2015 (1.5% of truck crashes).
How does Carlston compare with Minnesota for truck crashes?
The yearly rate is 152.3 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Freeborn County, vs 39.0 for Minnesota.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Carlston?
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.