Union, ND truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Union: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Union and Grand Forks County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Grand Forks County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
8 of 359 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Grand Forks County compares with North Dakota
Grand Forks County against North Dakota and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Grand Forks County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Grand Forks County | North Dakota | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 41.7 | 73.9 | 49.7 | 44% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 5.3 | 4.1 | 3.4 | 1.3× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.42 | 0.33 | 0.49 | 1.3× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.4% | 0.9% | 2.3% | 2.6× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 33.1% | 34.4% | 6.2% | same |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 18.3% | 22.7% | 23.7% | 19% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 15.7% | 16.2% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 46.8% | 47.2% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 21.3% | 24.7% | 24.8% | 14% below the state |
Compared with North Dakota, Grand Forks County is lower on crashes per 100k residents / yr, morning rush (6–10 am) and after dark. It runs above North Dakota on deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share.
Grand Forks County at a glance: 1 in 42 of truck crashes here involve garbage trucks: 2.4%, vs 0.9% in North Dakota.
Overview
Police reported 359 crashes involving commercial trucks in Grand Forks County since 2015: 144 people were injured and 18 were killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 12 days.
Only 0 truck crashes were reported in Union since 2015; patterns below come from Grand Forks County as a whole.
64% of truck crash reports in Grand Forks County since 2015 leave the city field blank; place counts include only reports that name the place.
When crashes happen
October has the most truck crashes, 13.4% of the yearly total, while May has the fewest (3.6%).
November through March accounts for 46.8% of truck crashes here, compared with 47.2% in North Dakota.
By time of day, 10–11 am stands out with 12.0% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 33.1% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (North Dakota: 34.4%).
Where crashes happen
Fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Union since 2015 were spread across roads: CR-EAGLE Ave (1) and I-29 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 8 crashes, 2.2% of the total, against 0.9% across North Dakota.
Route planning tips for Union fleets
- Plan October schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Grand Forks County.
- 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 Grand Forks County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| CR-EAGLE Ave | 1 |
| I-29 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Grand Forks County) |
|---|---|
| US-2 | 4 |
| 11Th St Ne | 3 |
| 18Th St Ne | 3 |
| 32Nd Ave | 3 |
| I-29 | 3 |
| 47Th Ave | 2 |
| 48Th St | 2 |
| 55Th St | 2 |
Union at a glance
| Population | 182 |
| Land area | 35.9 sq mi |
| Density | 5 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 58275) | $105,385 |
| Median home value (ZIP 58275) | $203,016 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Grand Forks 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 | 20 | — | 0.6 |
| 2000s | 8 | -60% | 1.1 |
| 2010s | 28 | +256% | 1.2 |
| 2020s | 32 | +15% | 1.0 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 20 to 32. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. NHTSA counts 1.5 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 1.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Union
How many truck crashes happen in Union?
Since 2015, 359 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Grand Forks County (144 injured, 18 killed).
When do most truck crashes happen in Union?
October has the most truck crashes in Grand Forks County, 13.4% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Union?
8 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Grand Forks County since 2015, 2.2% of all truck crashes.
How does Union compare with North Dakota for truck crashes?
Grand Forks County records 41.7 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 73.9 across North Dakota.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Union?
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.