Clearwater, MN truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Clearwater: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Clearwater and Stearns County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Stearns County numbers.
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 |
Stearns County has lower values than Minnesota for 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.
Clearwater at a glance: I-94 most fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of Clearwater: 5 since 2015.
Overview
Since 2015, 1,072 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Stearns County. They injured 349 people and killed 30.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 4 days.
Clearwater had 1 reported truck crash since 2015, too few for reliable patterns, so the charts and findings on this page use Stearns County numbers.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in December (11.4% of the year) and are lowest in July (5.5%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 50.9% of truck crashes, against 46.2% across Minnesota.
By time of day, 9–10 am stands out with 8.5% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 34.0% of truck crashes, compared with 25.6% in Minnesota.
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks within 10 miles of Clearwater is I-94, with 5 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. Next come US-10 (2), CR-136 (1) and CR-20 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
21 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 2.0% share (Minnesota: 2.8%).
Their busiest month is June, with 14% of garbage-truck crashes.
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 0.0, vs 3.0 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for Clearwater 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.
- Waste haulers: June is the peak month for garbage-truck crashes in Stearns County.
- With 34.0% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above Minnesota), plan winter equipment 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 Stearns County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-94 | 5 |
| US-10 | 2 |
| CR-136 | 1 |
| CR-20 | 1 |
| CR-75 | 1 |
| I-Isth 94 | 1 |
| SR-15 | 1 |
| SR-24 | 1 |
| SR-25 | 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 |
Clearwater at a glance
| Population | 2,221 |
| Land area | 1.8 sq mi |
| Density | 1,243 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 55320) | $113,973 |
| Median home value (ZIP 55320) | $356,389 |
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 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 18 a year in the 1990s and 93 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal large-truck crashes: 1.8 a year in 2016–19, 3.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Clearwater
How common are truck crashes in Clearwater?
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 Clearwater?
I-94 had 5 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Clearwater since 2015, more than any other road.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Clearwater?
December has the most truck crashes in Stearns County, 11.4% of the yearly total.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Clearwater?
Garbage trucks were involved in 21 reported crashes in Stearns County since 2015 (2.0% of truck crashes).
What is the truck crash rate in Clearwater compared with Minnesota?
Per 100,000 residents, Stearns County has 56.2 truck crashes a year; Minnesota has 39.0.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Clearwater?
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.