Dalton, MN truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Dalton: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Dalton and Otter Tail County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Otter Tail County numbers.
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 |
Compared with Minnesota, Otter Tail County is lower on injuries per crash and garbage-truck share. Where it is higher: crashes per 100k residents / yr, on snow, slush or ice and after dark.
Dalton at a glance: SR-210 3 fatal truck crashes since 2015, more than any other road within 10 miles of Dalton.
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.
Dalton had 0 reported truck crashes since 2015, too few for reliable patterns, so the charts and findings on this page use Otter Tail County numbers.
When crashes happen
December has the most truck crashes, 12.7% of the yearly total, while May has the fewest (6.0%).
November through March accounts for 48.1% of truck crashes here, compared with 46.2% in Minnesota.
The busiest hour is 8–9 am, with 9.7% of truck crashes.
35.2% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 25.6% across Minnesota.
Where crashes happen
Within this area, SR-210 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (3). After it: I-94 (2).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 7 crashes, 1.5% of the total, against 2.8% across Minnesota.
Route planning tips for Dalton fleets
- Plan December schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Otter Tail County.
- Where you can, review stops along SR-210; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 35.2% of truck crashes here, more than Minnesota; schedule winter checks early.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
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 Otter Tail County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-210 | 3 |
| I-94 | 2 |
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 |
Dalton at a glance
| Population | 214 |
| Land area | 0.2 sq mi |
| Density | 903 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 56324) | $82,917 |
| Median home value (ZIP 56324) | $263,343 |
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 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 14 to 41. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. NHTSA counts 0.8 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 1.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Dalton
How many truck accidents are there in Dalton?
Since 2015, 466 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Otter Tail County (166 injured, 14 killed).
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Dalton?
NHTSA data shows SR-210 with 3 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Dalton since 2015, the highest of any road.
When do most truck crashes happen in Dalton?
The worst month is December: 12.7% of truck crashes in Otter Tail County happen then.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Dalton?
Garbage trucks were involved in 7 reported crashes in Otter Tail County since 2015 (1.5% of truck crashes).
How does Dalton compare with Minnesota for truck crashes?
The yearly rate is 64.5 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Otter Tail County, vs 39.0 for Minnesota.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Dalton?
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.