Pickerel Lake, MN truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Pickerel Lake: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Pickerel Lake 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 runs above Minnesota on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and on snow, slush or ice.
Freeborn County at a glance: 51.8% on snowy, slushy or icy roads, against 25.6% across Minnesota.
Overview
Police reported 540 crashes involving commercial trucks in Freeborn County since 2015: 170 people were injured and 17 were killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 8 days.
With 12 truck crashes reported in Pickerel Lake since 2015, this page uses Freeborn County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
The worst month is December with 16.9% of truck crashes; the quietest is May at 3.0%.
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 67.5% of truck crashes, vs 46.2% for Minnesota.
More truck crashes happen at 1–2 pm than at any other hour (9.3%).
Road surface: 51.8% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Minnesota: 25.6%).
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks within 10 miles of Pickerel Lake is I-90, with 3 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. Next come I-35 (2), 220th St (1) and SR-13 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
8 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 1.5% share (Minnesota: 2.8%).
Route planning tips for Pickerel Lake fleets
- Build extra time into December routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Look at alternatives to I-90 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) |
|---|---|
| I-90 | 3 |
| I-35 | 2 |
| 220th St | 1 |
| 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 |
Pickerel Lake at a glance
| Population | 633 |
| Land area | 34.9 sq mi |
| Density | 18 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 56020) | $83,750 |
| Median home value (ZIP 56020) | $109,362 |
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 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 18 a year in the 1990s and 47 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. 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 Pickerel Lake
How many truck crashes happen in Pickerel Lake?
Freeborn County has had 540 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 170 people and killing 17.
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in Pickerel Lake?
Since 2015, I-90 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Pickerel Lake: 3.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Pickerel Lake?
Truck crashes in Freeborn County peak in December, with 16.9% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Pickerel Lake?
Since 2015, Freeborn County has reported 8 garbage-truck crashes, or 1.5% of its truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in Pickerel Lake compared with Minnesota?
Freeborn County records 152.3 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 39.0 across Minnesota.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Pickerel Lake?
Use the free Route Planner: enter your stops to get a risk score, safer alternatives and the low bridges on your route.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.