Wells County, ND truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Wells 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 84 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Wells County compares with North Dakota
Wells County against North Dakota and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Wells County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Wells County | North Dakota | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 193.6 | 73.9 | 49.7 | 2.6× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.5 | 4.1 | 3.4 | 39% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.46 | 0.33 | 0.49 | 1.4× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.0% | 0.9% | 2.3% | 100% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 40.7% | 34.4% | 6.2% | 1.2× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 13.6% | 22.7% | 23.7% | 40% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 19.8% | 16.2% | 13.8% | 1.2× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 45.7% | 47.2% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 23.5% | 24.7% | 24.8% | same |
Compared with North Dakota, Wells County is lower on deaths per 100 crashes, garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am). Where it is higher: crashes per 100k residents / yr, injuries per crash and on snow, slush or ice.
The headline for Wells County: 0 crashes involve a garbage truck (0 since 2015), vs 0.9% across North Dakota.
Overview
Police reported 84 crashes involving commercial trucks in Wells County since 2015: 37 people were injured and 2 were killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 50 days.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in May (14.3% of the year) and are lowest in April (2.4%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 45.7% of truck crashes, vs 47.2% for North Dakota.
The busiest hour is 2–3 pm, with 9.5% of truck crashes.
40.7% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 34.4% across North Dakota.
Where crashes happen
Roads with fatal crashes involving a large truck in Wells County since 2015: US-15 (1). No single road stands out.
Garbage & waste trucks
FMCSA lists no garbage-truck crashes in Wells County since 2015.
Route planning tips for Wells County fleets
- Review driver schedules for May, the month with the most truck crashes.
- 40.7% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice, above North Dakota; plan winter equipment checks before the season.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
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 Wells County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Wells County) |
|---|---|
| US-15 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Wells County) |
|---|---|
| US-52 | 3 |
| 46Th Ave Ne | 2 |
| 10Th St Ne | 1 |
| 23Th St Ne | 1 |
| 6Th St Se | 1 |
| Hiway 52 | 1 |
Wells County at a glance
| Population | 3,803 |
| Land area | 1,270.5 sq mi |
| Density | 3 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $65,484 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Wells 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 | 2 | — | 0.4 |
| 2000s | 3 | +22% | 0.4 |
| 2010s | 8 | +179% | 0.2 |
| 2020s | 8 | +1% | 0.2 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 2 a year in the 1990s and 8 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal large-truck crashes: 0.0 a year in 2016–19, 0.2 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in Wells County
ZIP codes in Wells County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Wells County
How common are truck crashes in Wells County?
Wells County has had 84 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 37 people and killing 2.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Wells County?
Truck crashes in Wells County peak in May, with 14.3% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Wells County?
Garbage trucks were involved in 0 reported crashes in Wells County since 2015 (0.0% of truck crashes).
How do truck crashes in Wells County compare with North Dakota?
The yearly rate is 193.6 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Wells County, vs 73.9 for North Dakota.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Wells 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.