Climax, MN truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Climax: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Climax and Polk County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Polk County numbers.
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 |
Compared with Minnesota, Polk County is lower 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.
The headline for Polk County: 7.8 people killed per 100 truck crashes (Minnesota: 3.0).
Overview
Since 2015, 210 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Polk County. They injured 107 people and killed 15.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 21 days.
With 0 truck crashes reported in Climax since 2015, this page uses Polk County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
The worst month is October with 16.2% of truck crashes; the quietest is July at 3.3%.
The five winter months (November to March) hold 43.8% of truck crashes, against 46.2% across Minnesota.
The busiest hour is 8–9 am, with 13.3% of truck crashes.
28.1% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 25.6% across Minnesota.
Where crashes happen
Fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Climax since 2015 were spread across roads: US-75 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 3 crashes, 1.4% of the total, against 2.8% across Minnesota.
Route planning tips for Climax fleets
- Review driver schedules for October, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 28.1% of truck crashes here, more than Minnesota; schedule winter checks early.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
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 Polk County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| 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 |
Climax at a glance
| Population | 241 |
| Land area | 0.9 sq mi |
| Density | 257 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 56523) | $56,685 |
| Median home value (ZIP 56523) | $165,991 |
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 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 8 to 17. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal large-truck crashes: 1.8 a year in 2016–19, 0.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Climax
How many truck crashes happen in Climax?
210 truck crashes have been reported in Polk County since 2015, with 15 deaths and 107 injuries.
When do most truck crashes happen in Climax?
October has the most truck crashes in Polk County, 16.2% of the yearly total.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Climax?
Since 2015, Polk County has reported 3 garbage-truck crashes, or 1.4% of its truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in Climax compared with Minnesota?
The yearly rate is 57.4 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Polk County, vs 39.0 for Minnesota.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Climax?
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.