Otto, MN truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Otto: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Otto 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. It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr, on snow, slush or ice and after dark.
The headline for Otter Tail County: 1 in 62 crashes involve a garbage truck (7 since 2015), vs 2.8% across Minnesota.
Overview
Otter Tail County has recorded 466 truck crashes since 2015, with 166 people injured and 14 killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 9 days.
With 1 truck crash reported in Otto since 2015, this page uses Otter Tail County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
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
Since 2015, fatal crashes with a large truck within 10 miles of Otto happened on CR-80 W Main St (1), SR-78 (1) and US-10 (1); no road leads clearly.
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 Otto 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
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) |
|---|---|
| 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 |
Otto at a glance
| Population | 599 |
| Land area | 31.0 sq mi |
| Density | 19 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 |
In the 1990s about 14 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 41. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. 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 Otto
How many truck accidents are there in Otto?
466 truck crashes have been reported in Otter Tail County since 2015, with 14 deaths and 166 injuries.
When do most truck crashes happen in Otto?
December has the most truck crashes in Otter Tail County, 12.7% of the yearly total.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Otto?
Garbage trucks were involved in 7 reported crashes in Otter Tail County since 2015 (1.5% of truck crashes).
How does Otto 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 Otto?
Paste your stops into the free CurbWaste Route Planner: it scores your route against fatal-crash locations, suggests safer alternatives and flags low bridges.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.