Minneapolis, MN truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Minneapolis: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
3.3 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 0.9 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Minneapolis compares with Minnesota
Minneapolis against Minnesota and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Minneapolis stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Minneapolis | Minnesota | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 29.2 | 39.0 | 49.7 | 25% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 0.9 | 3.0 | 3.4 | 70% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.38 | 0.37 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 4.4% | 2.8% | 2.3% | 1.6× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 13.1% | 25.6% | 6.2% | 49% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 25.2% | 27.0% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 16.0% | 19.1% | 13.8% | 16% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 41.2% | 46.2% | 41.9% | 11% below the state |
| After dark | 18.2% | 20.3% | 24.8% | 10% below the state |
Minneapolis sits below Minnesota on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and on snow, slush or ice. Where it is higher: garbage-truck share.
Minneapolis at a glance: 1 in 23 of truck crashes here involve garbage trucks: 4.4%, vs 2.8% in Minnesota.
Overview
Minneapolis has recorded 1,433 truck crashes since 2015, with 555 people injured and 15 killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 3 days.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in September (9.6% of the year) and are lowest in April (6.6%).
November through March accounts for 41.2% of truck crashes here, compared with 46.2% in Minnesota.
By time of day, 9–10 am stands out with 8.7% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 13.1% of truck crashes, compared with 25.6% in Minnesota.
Where crashes happen
SR-55 leads within 15 miles of Minneapolis with 5 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. After it: I-35 (3), I-494 (3) and SR-47 (3).
Garbage & waste trucks
61 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 4.3% share (Minnesota: 2.8%).
The most garbage-truck crashes happen in December (16%).
Per 100 crashes, garbage trucks recorded 3.3 deaths compared with 0.9 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for Minneapolis fleets
- Build extra time into September routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Look at alternatives to SR-55 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- Waste haulers: December is the peak month for garbage-truck crashes in Minneapolis.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
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 Minneapolis
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 15 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-55 | 5 |
| I-35 | 3 |
| I-494 | 3 |
| SR-47 | 3 |
| US-169 | 3 |
| I-35W | 2 |
| Lyndale Ave N | 2 |
| SR-13 | 2 |
| SR-5 | 2 |
| SR-65 | 2 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Minneapolis) |
|---|---|
| Isth 94 | 57 |
| Washington Ave | 42 |
| Broadway St Ne | 27 |
| Lyndale Ave | 23 |
| Hiawatha Ave | 19 |
| 2Nd St | 18 |
| E Hennepin Ave | 18 |
| University Ave Ne | 16 |
Minneapolis at a glance
| Population | 428,579 |
| Land area | 54.0 sq mi |
| Density | 7,937 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 55404) | $41,940 |
| Median home value (ZIP 55404) | $291,510 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Minneapolis 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 | 27 | — | 5.6 |
| 2000s | 121 | +354% | 4.9 |
| 2010s | 136 | +12% | 4.6 |
| 2020s | 102 | -25% | 4.2 |
In the 1990s about 27 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 102. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal large-truck crashes: 5.2 a year in 2016–19, 4.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Minneapolis
How many truck accidents are there in Minneapolis?
1,433 truck crashes have been reported in Minneapolis since 2015, with 15 deaths and 555 injuries.
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in Minneapolis?
SR-55 had 5 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 15 miles of Minneapolis since 2015, more than any other road.
When do most truck crashes happen in Minneapolis?
September has the most truck crashes in Minneapolis, 9.6% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Minneapolis?
61 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Minneapolis since 2015, 4.3% of all truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in Minneapolis compared with Minnesota?
The yearly rate is 29.2 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Minneapolis, vs 39.0 for Minnesota.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Minneapolis?
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.