Elmo, MN truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Elmo: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Elmo 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 |
Otter Tail County has lower values than Minnesota for injuries per crash and garbage-truck share. It runs above Minnesota on crashes per 100k residents / yr, on snow, slush or ice and after dark.
What stands out in Otter Tail County: 1 in 62 garbage-truck share of crashes is 1.6%, against 2.8% for Minnesota.
Overview
Otter Tail County has recorded 466 truck crashes since 2015, with 166 people injured and 14 killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 9 days.
Only 2 truck crashes were reported in Elmo since 2015; patterns below come from Otter Tail County as a whole.
When crashes happen
The worst month is December with 12.7% of truck crashes; the quietest is May at 6.0%.
The five winter months (November to March) hold 48.1% of truck crashes, against 46.2% across Minnesota.
By time of day, 8–9 am stands out 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
Fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Elmo since 2015 were spread across roads: SR-210 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 7 of the truck crashes here, or 1.5%, compared with 2.8% in Minnesota.
Route planning tips for Elmo fleets
- Build extra time into December routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- With 35.2% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above Minnesota), plan winter equipment checks early.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
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 Otter Tail County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-210 | 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 |
Elmo at a glance
| Population | 326 |
| Land area | 36.2 sq mi |
| Density | 9 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 56361) | $70,541 |
| Median home value (ZIP 56361) | $242,011 |
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 |
In the 1990s about 14 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 41. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal large-truck crashes: 0.8 a year in 2016–19, 1.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Elmo
How many truck crashes happen in Elmo?
Otter Tail County has had 466 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 166 people and killing 14.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Elmo?
December has the most truck crashes in Otter Tail County, 12.7% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Elmo?
7 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Otter Tail County since 2015, 1.5% of all truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in Elmo compare with Minnesota?
Otter Tail County records 64.5 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 39.0 across Minnesota.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Elmo?
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.