Stearns County, MN truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Stearns 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
0.0 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 3.0 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Stearns County compares with Minnesota
Stearns County against Minnesota and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Stearns County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Stearns County | Minnesota | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 56.2 | 39.0 | 49.7 | 1.4× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.4 | same |
| Injuries per crash | 0.32 | 0.37 | 0.49 | 14% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.0% | 2.8% | 2.3% | 30% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 34.0% | 25.6% | 6.2% | 1.3× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 26.8% | 27.0% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 25.4% | 19.1% | 13.8% | 1.3× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 50.9% | 46.2% | 41.9% | 1.1× the state |
| After dark | 28.8% | 20.3% | 24.8% | 1.4× the state |
Compared with Minnesota, Stearns 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 in rain, sleet or snow.
Stearns County at a glance: 1.7× yearly fatal truck crashes in Stearns County: 1.8 in 2016–19, 3.0 in 2020–24.
Overview
Stearns County has recorded 1,072 truck crashes since 2015, with 349 people injured and 30 killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 4 days.
When crashes happen
December has the most truck crashes, 11.4% of the yearly total, while July has the fewest (5.5%).
November through March accounts for 50.9% of truck crashes here, compared with 46.2% in Minnesota.
More truck crashes happen at 9–10 am than at any other hour (8.5%).
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 34.0% of truck crashes, compared with 25.6% in Minnesota.
Where crashes happen
I-94 leads in Stearns County with 10 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. After it: SR-23 (4), CR-75 (2) and SR-15 (2).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 21 of the truck crashes here, or 2.0%, compared with 2.8% in Minnesota.
The most garbage-truck crashes happen in June (14%).
Per 100 crashes, garbage trucks recorded 0.0 deaths compared with 3.0 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for Stearns County fleets
- Build extra time into December routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Where you can, review stops along I-94; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in June; review collection routes for that month.
- With 34.0% 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
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 Stearns County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Stearns County) |
|---|---|
| I-94 | 10 |
| SR-23 | 4 |
| CR-75 | 2 |
| SR-15 | 2 |
| US-71 | 2 |
| CR-133 | 1 |
| CR-136 | 1 |
| CR-9 | 1 |
| CR-CSAH 2 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Stearns County) |
|---|---|
| Isth 94 | 415 |
| Mnth 23 | 68 |
| Mnth 15 | 44 |
| Division St | 33 |
| Csah 75 | 26 |
| Hwy | 18 |
| Usth 71 | 16 |
| Csah 2 | 15 |
Stearns County at a glance
| Population | 163,997 |
| Land area | 1,342.9 sq mi |
| Density | 122 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $79,543 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Stearns 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 | 18 | — | 2.6 |
| 2000s | 71 | +284% | 2.2 |
| 2010s | 88 | +25% | 1.9 |
| 2020s | 93 | +5% | 3.0 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 18 to 93. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. NHTSA counts 1.8 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 3.0 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in Stearns County
ZIP codes in Stearns County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Stearns County
How common are truck crashes in Stearns County?
1,072 truck crashes have been reported in Stearns County since 2015, with 30 deaths and 349 injuries.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in Stearns County?
NHTSA data shows I-94 with 10 fatal large-truck crashes in Stearns County since 2015, the highest of any road.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Stearns County?
December has the most truck crashes in Stearns County, 11.4% of the yearly total.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Stearns County?
Since 2015, Stearns County has reported 21 garbage-truck crashes, or 2.0% of its truck crashes.
How does Stearns County compare with Minnesota for truck crashes?
Per 100,000 residents, Stearns County has 56.2 truck crashes a year; Minnesota has 39.0.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Stearns 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.