Grand Forks, MN truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Grand Forks: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Grand Forks 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 |
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.
What stands out in Polk County: 7.8 deaths for every 100 truck crashes, against 3.0 across Minnesota.
Overview
Polk County has recorded 210 truck crashes since 2015, with 107 people injured and 15 killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 21 days.
Grand Forks had 7 reported truck crashes since 2015, too few for reliable patterns, so the charts and findings on this page use Polk County numbers.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in October (16.2% of the year) and are lowest in July (3.3%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 43.8% of truck crashes, vs 46.2% for Minnesota.
The busiest hour is 8–9 am, with 13.3% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 28.1% of truck crashes, compared with 25.6% in Minnesota.
Where crashes happen
US-2 leads within 10 miles of Grand Forks with 3 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. Next come CR-69TH St S (1) and US-02 (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 Grand Forks fleets
- Build extra time into October routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Check whether your routes use US-2, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- With 28.1% 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 Polk County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-2 | 3 |
| CR-69TH St S | 1 |
| US-02 | 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 |
Grand Forks at a glance
| Population | 191 |
| Land area | 13.8 sq mi |
| Density | 14 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 56721) | $82,525 |
| Median home value (ZIP 56721) | $258,211 |
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.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Grand Forks
How many truck crashes happen in Grand Forks?
Since 2015, 210 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Polk County (107 injured, 15 killed).
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in Grand Forks?
NHTSA data shows US-2 with 3 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Grand Forks since 2015, the highest of any road.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Grand Forks?
October has the most truck crashes in Polk County, 16.2% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Grand Forks?
3 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Polk County since 2015, 1.4% of all truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in Grand Forks compared with Minnesota?
Per 100,000 residents, Polk County has 57.4 truck crashes a year; Minnesota has 39.0.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Grand Forks?
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.