Ottertail, MN truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Ottertail: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Ottertail 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 of truck crashes here involve garbage trucks: 1.6%, vs 2.8% in 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.
With 5 truck crashes reported in Ottertail since 2015, this page uses Otter Tail County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
December has the most truck crashes, 12.7% of the yearly total, while May has the fewest (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.
Road surface: 35.2% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Minnesota: 25.6%).
Where crashes happen
Roads with fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Ottertail since 2015: SR-78 (1) and US-10 (1). No single road stands out.
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 Ottertail 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.
- 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 Otter Tail County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| 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 |
Ottertail at a glance
| Population | 721 |
| Land area | 4.3 sq mi |
| Density | 169 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 56571) | $85,865 |
| Median home value (ZIP 56571) | $362,803 |
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. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 0.8 a year in 2016–19 and 1.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Ottertail
How many truck accidents are there in Ottertail?
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 Ottertail?
Truck crashes in Otter Tail County peak in December, with 12.7% of the year's crashes.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Ottertail?
7 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Otter Tail County since 2015, 1.5% of all truck crashes.
How does Ottertail 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.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Ottertail?
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.