Plato, MN truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Plato: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Plato and McLeod County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use McLeod County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
10 of 210 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How McLeod County compares with Minnesota
McLeod County against Minnesota and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where McLeod County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | McLeod County | Minnesota | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 47.0 | 39.0 | 49.7 | 1.2× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 7.4 | 3.0 | 3.4 | 2.5× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.62 | 0.37 | 0.49 | 1.7× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 5.3% | 2.8% | 2.3% | 1.9× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 16.8% | 25.6% | 6.2% | 34% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 28.4% | 27.0% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 9.5% | 19.1% | 13.8% | 50% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 39.5% | 46.2% | 41.9% | 15% below the state |
| After dark | 21.1% | 20.3% | 24.8% | same |
McLeod County has lower values than Minnesota for on snow, slush or ice, in rain, sleet or snow and winter months (nov–mar). Where it is higher: crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash.
The headline for McLeod County: 7.4 people killed per 100 truck crashes (Minnesota: 3.0).
Overview
Police reported 210 crashes involving commercial trucks in McLeod County since 2015: 133 people were injured and 17 were killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 21 days.
With 2 truck crashes reported in Plato since 2015, this page uses McLeod County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in September (13.3% of the year) and are lowest in February (5.7%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 39.5% of truck crashes, against 46.2% across Minnesota.
The busiest hour is 10–11 am, with 9.5% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 16.8% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Minnesota: 25.6%).
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks within 10 miles of Plato is US-212, with 3 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. Next come SR-7 (2) and 16th St E (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 10 of the truck crashes here, or 4.8%, compared with 2.8% in Minnesota.
Route planning tips for Plato fleets
- Review driver schedules for September, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Check whether your routes use US-212, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
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 McLeod County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-212 | 3 |
| SR-7 | 2 |
| 16th St E | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (McLeod County) |
|---|---|
| Usth 212 | 47 |
| Mnth 15 | 34 |
| Mnth 7 | 18 |
| Mnth 22 | 17 |
| 4Th Ave Nw | 5 |
| Babcock Ave | 5 |
| Hwy | 4 |
| Major Ave | 3 |
Plato at a glance
| Population | 325 |
| Land area | 0.3 sq mi |
| Density | 937 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 55370) | $103,750 |
| Median home value (ZIP 55370) | $304,012 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in McLeod 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 | 5 | — | 1.6 |
| 2000s | 15 | +185% | 0.5 |
| 2010s | 14 | -9% | 0.8 |
| 2020s | 19 | +39% | 1.4 |
In the 1990s about 5 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 19. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal large-truck crashes: 0.5 a year in 2016–19, 1.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Plato
How many truck crashes happen in Plato?
210 truck crashes have been reported in McLeod County since 2015, with 17 deaths and 133 injuries.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Plato?
Since 2015, US-212 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Plato: 3.
When do most truck crashes happen in Plato?
The worst month is September: 13.3% of truck crashes in McLeod County happen then.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Plato?
Since 2015, McLeod County has reported 10 garbage-truck crashes, or 4.8% of its truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in Plato compare with Minnesota?
McLeod County records 47.0 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 39.0 across Minnesota.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Plato?
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.