Cosmos, MN truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Cosmos: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Cosmos and Meeker County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Meeker County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
7 of 143 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
No fatal large-truck crashes with a road name recorded here since 2015.
How Meeker County compares with Minnesota
Meeker County against Minnesota and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Meeker County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Meeker County | Minnesota | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 49.5 | 39.0 | 49.7 | 1.3× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.9 | 3.0 | 3.4 | 1.3× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.56 | 0.37 | 0.49 | 1.5× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 4.7% | 2.8% | 2.3% | 1.7× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 18.8% | 25.6% | 6.2% | 27% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 28.1% | 27.0% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 15.6% | 19.1% | 13.8% | 18% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 43.0% | 46.2% | 41.9% | 7% below the state |
| After dark | 14.8% | 20.3% | 24.8% | 27% below the state |
Meeker County sits below Minnesota on on snow, slush or ice, in rain, sleet or snow and winter months (nov–mar). It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash.
The headline for Meeker County: 1 in 21 garbage-truck share of crashes is 4.7%, against 2.8% for Minnesota.
Overview
Meeker County has recorded 143 truck crashes since 2015, with 79 people injured and 5 killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 31 days.
With 3 truck crashes reported in Cosmos since 2015, this page uses Meeker County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
October has the most truck crashes, 14.0% of the yearly total, while April has the fewest (3.5%).
November through March accounts for 43.0% of truck crashes here, compared with 46.2% in Minnesota.
By time of day, 11 am–12 pm stands out with 11.9% of truck crashes.
18.8% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 25.6% across Minnesota.
Where crashes happen
NHTSA lists no located fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Cosmos since 2015.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 7 crashes, 4.9% of the total, against 2.8% across Minnesota.
Route planning tips for Cosmos fleets
- Review driver schedules for October, the month with the most truck crashes.
- 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 Meeker County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
No fatal crashes involving a large truck with a road name were recorded within 10 miles since 2015.
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Meeker County) |
|---|---|
| Usth 12 | 30 |
| Mnth 15 | 18 |
| Sibley Ave | 9 |
| Depot St | 8 |
| Mnth 22 | 8 |
| Mnth 24 | 7 |
| Hwy | 5 |
| Mnth 4 | 5 |
Cosmos at a glance
| Population | 495 |
| Land area | 1.0 sq mi |
| Density | 507 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 56228) | $69,844 |
| Median home value (ZIP 56228) | $147,373 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Meeker 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 | — | 1.0 |
| 2000s | 8 | +58% | 0.6 |
| 2010s | 10 | +17% | 0.6 |
| 2020s | 13 | +33% | 0.6 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 5 to 13. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 0.5 a year in 2016–19 and 0.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Cosmos
How many truck crashes happen in Cosmos?
143 truck crashes have been reported in Meeker County since 2015, with 5 deaths and 79 injuries.
When do most truck crashes happen in Cosmos?
The worst month is October: 14.0% of truck crashes in Meeker County happen then.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Cosmos?
7 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Meeker County since 2015, 4.9% of all truck crashes.
How does Cosmos compare with Minnesota for truck crashes?
Per 100,000 residents, Meeker County has 49.5 truck crashes a year; Minnesota has 39.0.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Cosmos?
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.