Otter Tail County, MN truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Otter Tail County: 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
7 of 466 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Otter Tail County compares with Minnesota
Otter Tail County against Minnesota and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Otter Tail County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Otter Tail County | Minnesota | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 64.5 | 39.0 | 49.7 | 1.7× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.4 | same |
| Injuries per crash | 0.34 | 0.37 | 0.49 | 8% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.6% | 2.8% | 2.3% | 42% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 35.2% | 25.6% | 6.2% | 1.4× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 28.2% | 27.0% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 19.9% | 19.1% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 48.1% | 46.2% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 22.0% | 20.3% | 24.8% | 1.1× the state |
Otter Tail County sits below Minnesota on injuries per crash and garbage-truck share. It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr, on snow, slush or ice and after dark.
The headline for Otter Tail County: SR-210 6 fatal truck crashes since 2015, more than any other road in Otter Tail County.
Overview
Since 2015, 466 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Otter Tail County. They injured 166 people and killed 14.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 9 days.
When crashes happen
The worst month is December with 12.7% of truck crashes; the quietest is May at 6.0%.
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 48.1% of truck crashes, vs 46.2% for Minnesota.
The busiest hour is 8–9 am, with 9.7% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 35.2% of truck crashes, compared with 25.6% in Minnesota.
Where crashes happen
SR-210 leads in Otter Tail County with 6 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. After it: I-94 (2), CR-23 (1) and CR-80 W Main St (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
7 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 1.5% share (Minnesota: 2.8%).
Route planning tips for Otter Tail County fleets
- Review driver schedules for December, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Look at alternatives to SR-210 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- 35.2% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice, above Minnesota; plan winter equipment checks before the season.
- 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 Otter Tail County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Otter Tail County) |
|---|---|
| SR-210 | 6 |
| I-94 | 2 |
| CR-23 | 1 |
| CR-80 W Main St | 1 |
| SR-78 | 1 |
| US-10 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Otter Tail County) |
|---|---|
| Isth 94 | 146 |
| Usth 10 | 35 |
| Mnth 210 | 23 |
| Mnth 29 | 12 |
| Mnth 78 | 12 |
| Usth 59 | 11 |
| Mnth 108 | 10 |
| Csah 75 | 6 |
Otter Tail County at a glance
| Population | 60,884 |
| Land area | 1,971.6 sq mi |
| Density | 31 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $71,246 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Otter Tail 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 | 14 | — | 1.0 |
| 2000s | 28 | +97% | 1.2 |
| 2010s | 34 | +21% | 0.9 |
| 2020s | 41 | +19% | 1.6 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 14 a year in the 1990s and 41 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 0.8 a year in 2016–19 and 1.6 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in Otter Tail County
ZIP codes in Otter Tail County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Otter Tail County
How many truck crashes happen in Otter Tail County?
466 truck crashes have been reported in Otter Tail County since 2015, with 14 deaths and 166 injuries.
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in Otter Tail County?
NHTSA data shows SR-210 with 6 fatal large-truck crashes in Otter Tail County since 2015, the highest of any road.
When do most truck crashes happen in Otter Tail County?
December has the most truck crashes in Otter Tail County, 12.7% of the yearly total.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Otter Tail County?
Garbage trucks were involved in 7 reported crashes in Otter Tail County since 2015 (1.5% of truck crashes).
What is the truck crash rate in Otter Tail County compared with Minnesota?
Per 100,000 residents, Otter Tail County has 64.5 truck crashes a year; Minnesota has 39.0.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Otter Tail County?
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.