Independence, MN truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Independence: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Independence and Hennepin County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Hennepin County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
1.7 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 1.0 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Hennepin County compares with Minnesota
Hennepin County against Minnesota and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Hennepin County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Hennepin County | Minnesota | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 32.7 | 39.0 | 49.7 | 16% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 1.0 | 3.0 | 3.4 | 67% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.31 | 0.37 | 0.49 | 16% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 3.9% | 2.8% | 2.3% | 1.4× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 16.4% | 25.6% | 6.2% | 36% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 27.9% | 27.0% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 16.9% | 19.1% | 13.8% | 12% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 42.2% | 46.2% | 41.9% | 9% below the state |
| After dark | 17.1% | 20.3% | 24.8% | 16% below the state |
Compared with Minnesota, Hennepin County is lower on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash. It runs above Minnesota on garbage-truck share.
Independence at a glance: US-12 deadliest road: 4 fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of Independence since 2015.
Overview
Police reported 4,851 crashes involving commercial trucks in Hennepin County since 2015: 1,545 people were injured and 52 were killed.
That averages about 1 truck crash a day in fully reported years.
With 35 truck crashes reported in Independence since 2015, this page uses Hennepin County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
February has the most truck crashes, 9.7% of the yearly total, while April has the fewest (6.7%).
November through March accounts for 42.2% of truck crashes here, compared with 46.2% in Minnesota.
The busiest hour is 8–9 am, with 8.6% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 16.4% of truck crashes, compared with 25.6% in Minnesota.
Where crashes happen
Within this area, US-12 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (4). It is followed by SR-7 (3), SR-55 (2) and CR-15 Shoreline Dr (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 187 crashes, 3.9% of the total, against 2.8% across Minnesota.
Garbage-truck crashes peak in December (13% of them).
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 1.7, vs 1.0 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for Independence fleets
- Plan February schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Hennepin County.
- Check whether your routes use US-12, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- Waste haulers: December is the peak month for garbage-truck crashes in Hennepin County.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
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 Hennepin County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-12 | 4 |
| SR-7 | 3 |
| SR-55 | 2 |
| CR-15 Shoreline Dr | 1 |
| CR-19 | 1 |
| CR-6 Watertown Rd | 1 |
| Railroad Ave E | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Hennepin County) |
|---|---|
| Isth 94 | 430 |
| Isth 494 | 263 |
| Usth 169 | 160 |
| Csah 81 | 68 |
| Mnth 55 | 55 |
| Mnth 62 | 45 |
| Washington Ave | 44 |
| Mnth 100 | 42 |
Independence at a glance
| Population | 3,710 |
| Land area | 32.4 sq mi |
| Density | 114 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 55359) | $129,250 |
| Median home value (ZIP 55359) | $552,972 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Hennepin 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 | 103 | — | 5.6 |
| 2000s | 435 | +324% | 4.9 |
| 2010s | 435 | +0% | 4.6 |
| 2020s | 373 | -14% | 4.2 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 103 a year in the 1990s and 373 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal large-truck crashes: 5.2 a year in 2016–19, 4.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Independence
How common are truck crashes in Independence?
Hennepin County has had 4,851 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 1,545 people and killing 52.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Independence?
NHTSA data shows US-12 with 4 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Independence since 2015, the highest of any road.
When do most truck crashes happen in Independence?
February has the most truck crashes in Hennepin County, 9.7% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Independence?
Garbage trucks were involved in 187 reported crashes in Hennepin County since 2015 (3.9% of truck crashes).
What is the truck crash rate in Independence compared with Minnesota?
Hennepin County records 32.7 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 39.0 across Minnesota.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Independence?
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.