Orton, MN truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Orton: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Orton and Wadena County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Wadena County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
2 of 70 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Wadena County compares with Minnesota
Wadena County against Minnesota and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Wadena County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Wadena County | Minnesota | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 42.2 | 39.0 | 49.7 | 1.1× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 10.4 | 3.0 | 3.4 | 3.5× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.55 | 0.37 | 0.49 | 1.5× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 3.0% | 2.8% | 2.3% | same |
| On snow, slush or ice | 25.4% | 25.6% | 6.2% | same |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 22.4% | 27.0% | 23.7% | 17% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 10.4% | 19.1% | 13.8% | 45% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 47.8% | 46.2% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 20.9% | 20.3% | 24.8% | same |
Compared with Minnesota, Wadena County is lower on morning rush (6–10 am) and in rain, sleet or snow. Where it is higher: crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash.
What stands out in Wadena County: 10.4 people killed per 100 truck crashes (Minnesota: 3.0).
Overview
Wadena County has recorded 70 truck crashes since 2015, with 39 people injured and 7 killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 60 days in fully reported years.
With 1 truck crash reported in Orton since 2015, this page uses Wadena County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
March has the most truck crashes, 18.6% of the yearly total, while August has the fewest (1.4%).
November through March accounts for 47.8% of truck crashes here, compared with 46.2% in Minnesota.
More truck crashes happen at 11 am–12 pm than at any other hour (12.9%).
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 25.4% of truck crashes, compared with 25.6% in Minnesota.
Where crashes happen
Since 2015, fatal crashes with a large truck within 10 miles of Orton happened on SR-64 (2); no road leads clearly.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 2 crashes, 2.9% of the total, against 2.8% across Minnesota.
Route planning tips for Orton fleets
- Build extra time into March routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- 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 Wadena County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-64 | 2 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Wadena County) |
|---|---|
| Usth 71 | 11 |
| Usth 10 | 8 |
| Ash Ave | 5 |
| Hwy | 4 |
| Jefferson St | 4 |
| Aspen Ave | 3 |
| Csah 23 | 3 |
| Main St | 3 |
Orton at a glance
| Population | 208 |
| Land area | 34.5 sq mi |
| Density | 6 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 56477) | $57,857 |
| Median home value (ZIP 56477) | $187,052 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Wadena 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 | 3 | — | 0.3 |
| 2000s | 6 | +113% | 0.2 |
| 2010s | 6 | +16% | 0.5 |
| 2020s | 5 | -23% | 0.8 |
In the 1990s about 3 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 5. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. NHTSA counts 0.2 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 0.8 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Orton
How common are truck crashes in Orton?
Since 2015, 70 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Wadena County (39 injured, 7 killed).
Which month has the most truck crashes in Orton?
March has the most truck crashes in Wadena County, 18.6% of the yearly total.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Orton?
Since 2015, Wadena County has reported 2 garbage-truck crashes, or 2.9% of its truck crashes.
How does Orton compare with Minnesota for truck crashes?
The yearly rate is 42.2 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Wadena County, vs 39.0 for Minnesota.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Orton?
Paste your stops into the free CurbWaste Route Planner: it scores your route against fatal-crash locations, suggests safer alternatives and flags low bridges.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.