Nelson County, ND truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Nelson 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 of 49 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
No fatal large-truck crashes with a road name recorded here since 2015.
How Nelson County compares with North Dakota
Nelson County against North Dakota and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Nelson County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Nelson County | North Dakota | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 148.1 | 73.9 | 49.7 | 2.0× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.0 | 4.1 | 3.4 | 51% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.35 | 0.33 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.0% | 0.9% | 2.3% | 100% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 30.6% | 34.4% | 6.2% | 11% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 14.3% | 22.7% | 23.7% | 37% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 12.2% | 16.2% | 13.8% | 24% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 36.7% | 47.2% | 41.9% | 22% below the state |
| After dark | 22.4% | 24.7% | 24.8% | 9% below the state |
Compared with North Dakota, Nelson County is lower on deaths per 100 crashes, garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice. It runs above North Dakota on crashes per 100k residents / yr.
Nelson County at a glance: October worst month: 20.4% of truck crashes, vs 8.3% in an average month.
Overview
Since 2015, 49 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Nelson County. They injured 17 people and killed 1.
That averages about one truck crash every 82 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in October (20.4% of the year) and are lowest in May (2.0%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 36.7% of truck crashes, against 47.2% across North Dakota.
By time of day, 2–3 pm stands out with 16.3% of truck crashes.
30.6% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 34.4% across North Dakota.
Where crashes happen
NHTSA lists no located fatal large-truck crashes in Nelson County since 2015.
Garbage & waste trucks
FMCSA lists no garbage-truck crashes in Nelson County since 2015.
Route planning tips for Nelson County fleets
- Plan October schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Nelson 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 Nelson County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
No fatal crashes involving a large truck with a road name were recorded in Nelson County since 2015.
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Nelson County) |
|---|---|
| 110Th Ave Ne | 1 |
| 34Th St Ne | 1 |
| US-2 | 1 |
Nelson County at a glance
| Population | 3,007 |
| Land area | 981.8 sq mi |
| Density | 3 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $73,897 |
Historical data: truck crashes in Nelson 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 | 4 | — | 0.1 |
| 2000s | 1 | -85% | 0.3 |
| 2010s | 4 | +550% | 0.1 |
| 2020s | 5 | +28% | 0.0 |
In the 1990s about 4 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 5. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods.
Cities, towns & communities in Nelson County
ZIP codes in Nelson County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Nelson County
How many truck crashes happen in Nelson County?
49 truck crashes have been reported in Nelson County since 2015, with 1 deaths and 17 injuries.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Nelson County?
The worst month is October: 20.4% of truck crashes in Nelson County happen then.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Nelson County?
Garbage trucks were involved in 0 reported crashes in Nelson County since 2015 (0.0% of truck crashes).
What is the truck crash rate in Nelson County compared with North Dakota?
The yearly rate is 148.1 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Nelson County, vs 73.9 for North Dakota.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Nelson County?
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.