Rochester, MN truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Rochester: 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
17 of 279 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Rochester compares with Minnesota
Rochester against Minnesota and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Rochester stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Rochester | Minnesota | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 19.0 | 39.0 | 49.7 | 51% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 1.2 | 3.0 | 3.4 | 60% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.29 | 0.37 | 0.49 | 22% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 6.6% | 2.8% | 2.3% | 2.3× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 20.1% | 25.6% | 6.2% | 21% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 27.4% | 27.0% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 14.7% | 19.1% | 13.8% | 23% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 47.5% | 46.2% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 19.3% | 20.3% | 24.8% | same |
Compared with Minnesota, Rochester is lower on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash. It runs above Minnesota on garbage-truck share.
Rochester at a glance: 1 in 15 of truck crashes here involve garbage trucks: 6.6%, vs 2.8% in Minnesota.
Overview
Since 2015, 279 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Rochester. They injured 83 people and killed 4.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 16 days.
When crashes happen
The worst month is August with 11.8% of truck crashes; the quietest is June at 5.0%.
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 47.5% of truck crashes, vs 46.2% for Minnesota.
By time of day, 7–8 am stands out with 12.5% of truck crashes.
20.1% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 25.6% across Minnesota.
Where crashes happen
Fatal large-truck crashes within 15 miles of Rochester since 2015 were spread across roads: SR-42 (3), US-63 (3), SR-30 (2), US-52 (2) and CR-34 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 17 crashes, 6.1% of the total, against 2.8% across Minnesota.
Route planning tips for Rochester fleets
- Plan August schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Rochester.
- 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 Rochester
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 15 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-42 | 3 |
| US-63 | 3 |
| SR-30 | 2 |
| US-52 | 2 |
| CR-34 | 1 |
| CR-44 60Th Ave Sw | 1 |
| I-90 | 1 |
| US-14 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Rochester) |
|---|---|
| Usth 52 | 45 |
| West Circle Dr Nw | 13 |
| Usth 63 | 10 |
| S Broadway Ave | 9 |
| Usth 14 | 6 |
| Marion Rd Se | 5 |
| Hwy | 5 |
| 19Th St Nw | 5 |
Rochester at a glance
| Population | 123,624 |
| Land area | 56.7 sq mi |
| Density | 2,182 per sq mi |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Rochester 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 | 8 | — | 2.0 |
| 2000s | 31 | +297% | 1.7 |
| 2010s | 24 | -21% | 1.0 |
| 2020s | 20 | -18% | 1.6 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 8 to 20. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. NHTSA counts 0.2 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 1.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Rochester
How many truck crashes happen in Rochester?
279 truck crashes have been reported in Rochester since 2015, with 4 deaths and 83 injuries.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Rochester?
Truck crashes in Rochester peak in August, with 11.8% of the year's crashes.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Rochester?
Since 2015, Rochester has reported 17 garbage-truck crashes, or 6.1% of its truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in Rochester compared with Minnesota?
The yearly rate is 19.0 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Rochester, vs 39.0 for Minnesota.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Rochester?
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.