Freedom, MN truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Freedom: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Freedom and Waseca County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Waseca County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
1 of 121 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Waseca County compares with Minnesota
Waseca County against Minnesota and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Waseca County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Waseca County | Minnesota | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 55.0 | 39.0 | 49.7 | 1.4× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.7 | 3.0 | 3.4 | 10% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.41 | 0.37 | 0.49 | 1.1× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.9% | 2.8% | 2.3% | 69% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 32.7% | 25.6% | 6.2% | 1.3× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 22.1% | 27.0% | 23.7% | 18% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 22.1% | 19.1% | 13.8% | 1.2× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 52.2% | 46.2% | 41.9% | 1.1× the state |
| After dark | 25.7% | 20.3% | 24.8% | 1.3× the state |
Waseca County sits below Minnesota on deaths per 100 crashes, garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am). It runs above Minnesota on crashes per 100k residents / yr, injuries per crash and on snow, slush or ice.
The headline for Waseca County: 1 in 114 crashes involve a garbage truck (1 since 2015), vs 2.8% across Minnesota.
Overview
Police reported 121 crashes involving commercial trucks in Waseca County since 2015: 51 people were injured and 3 were killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 36 days.
With 4 truck crashes reported in Freedom since 2015, this page uses Waseca County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in January (14.0% of the year) and are lowest in July (4.1%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 52.2% of truck crashes, against 46.2% across Minnesota.
More truck crashes happen at 12–1 pm than at any other hour (12.4%).
Road surface: 32.7% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Minnesota: 25.6%).
Where crashes happen
Fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Freedom since 2015 were spread across roads: CR-10 164Th St (1) and SR-83 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 1 crash, 0.8% of the total, against 2.8% across Minnesota.
Route planning tips for Freedom fleets
- Build extra time into January routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- With 32.7% 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 Waseca County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| CR-10 164Th St | 1 |
| SR-83 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Waseca County) |
|---|---|
| Usth 14 | 63 |
| 140Th St | 8 |
| State St | 5 |
| 230Th St | 4 |
| Hwy | 3 |
| 2Nd St Nw | 2 |
| 5Th Ave Se | 2 |
| Csah-14 | 2 |
Freedom at a glance
| Population | 335 |
| Land area | 35.8 sq mi |
| Density | 9 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 56078) | $80,208 |
| Median home value (ZIP 56078) | $196,484 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Waseca 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 | — | 0.4 |
| 2000s | 8 | +184% | 0.3 |
| 2010s | 11 | +41% | 0.8 |
| 2020s | 9 | -21% | 0.2 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 3 a year in the 1990s and 9 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. NHTSA counts 0.5 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 0.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Freedom
How common are truck crashes in Freedom?
Since 2015, 121 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Waseca County (51 injured, 3 killed).
Which month has the most truck crashes in Freedom?
Truck crashes in Waseca County peak in January, with 14.0% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Freedom?
1 crash involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Waseca County since 2015, 0.8% of all truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in Freedom compare with Minnesota?
Per 100,000 residents, Waseca County has 55.0 truck crashes a year; Minnesota has 39.0.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Freedom?
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.