Polk County, MN truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Polk 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
3 of 210 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Polk County compares with Minnesota
Polk County against Minnesota and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Polk County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Polk County | Minnesota | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 57.4 | 39.0 | 49.7 | 1.5× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 7.8 | 3.0 | 3.4 | 2.6× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.52 | 0.37 | 0.49 | 1.4× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.6% | 2.8% | 2.3% | 44% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 28.1% | 25.6% | 6.2% | 1.1× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 28.1% | 27.0% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 14.1% | 19.1% | 13.8% | 26% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 43.8% | 46.2% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 17.2% | 20.3% | 24.8% | 15% below the state |
Polk County sits below Minnesota on garbage-truck share, in rain, sleet or snow and after dark. Where it is higher: crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash.
Polk County at a glance: 7.8 deaths per 100 truck crashes, vs 3.0 in Minnesota.
Overview
Since 2015, 210 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Polk County. They injured 107 people and killed 15.
That averages about one truck crash every 21 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in October (16.2% of the year) and are lowest in July (3.3%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 43.8% of truck crashes, against 46.2% across Minnesota.
More truck crashes happen at 8–9 am than at any other hour (13.3%).
Road surface: 28.1% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Minnesota: 25.6%).
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks in Polk County is US-2, with 3 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. Next come CR-10 160Th Ave Se (1), CR-12 (Red Lake Co) (1) and CR-46 190Th Ave Sw (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
3 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 1.4% share (Minnesota: 2.8%).
Route planning tips for Polk County fleets
- Plan October schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Polk County.
- Check whether your routes use US-2, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 28.1% 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
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 Polk County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Polk County) |
|---|---|
| US-2 | 3 |
| CR-10 160Th Ave Se | 1 |
| CR-12 (Red Lake Co) | 1 |
| CR-46 190Th Ave Sw | 1 |
| SR-9 | 1 |
| US-75 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Polk County) |
|---|---|
| Usth 2 | 48 |
| Usth 75 | 16 |
| Mnth 220 | 6 |
| Hwy | 6 |
| 170Th St Sw | 5 |
| Gateway Dr Nw | 5 |
| 150Th St Sw | 4 |
| 430Th St Se | 4 |
Polk County at a glance
| Population | 30,413 |
| Land area | 1,971.0 sq mi |
| Density | 15 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $71,570 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Polk 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 | 8 | — | 1.4 |
| 2000s | 17 | +114% | 0.9 |
| 2010s | 18 | +3% | 1.4 |
| 2020s | 17 | -4% | 0.2 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 8 a year in the 1990s and 17 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 1.8 a year in 2016–19 and 0.2 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in Polk County
ZIP codes in Polk County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Polk County
How many truck accidents are there in Polk County?
Polk County has had 210 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 107 people and killing 15.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Polk County?
Since 2015, US-2 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes in Polk County: 3.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Polk County?
October has the most truck crashes in Polk County, 16.2% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Polk County?
Garbage trucks were involved in 3 reported crashes in Polk County since 2015 (1.4% of truck crashes).
How does Polk County compare with Minnesota for truck crashes?
Polk County records 57.4 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 39.0 across Minnesota.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Polk County?
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.