Minnesota, SD truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Minnesota: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Minnesota and Roberts County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Roberts County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
1 of 133 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Roberts County compares with South Dakota
Roberts County against South Dakota and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Roberts County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Roberts County | South Dakota | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 105.2 | 42.0 | 49.7 | 2.5× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.5 | 5.2 | 3.4 | 52% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.12 | 0.13 | 0.49 | 8% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.8% | 1.6% | 2.3% | 48% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 52.9% | 28.6% | 6.2% | 1.8× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 23.5% | 22.2% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 22.7% | 17.5% | 13.8% | 1.3× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 67.2% | 48.8% | 41.9% | 1.4× the state |
| After dark | 24.4% | 22.8% | 24.8% | same |
Roberts County sits below South Dakota on deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share. It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr, on snow, slush or ice and in rain, sleet or snow.
Roberts County at a glance: March the month with the most truck crashes: 18.0% of the year's total.
Overview
Since 2015, 133 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Roberts County. They injured 19 people and killed 3.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 34 days.
With 0 truck crashes reported in Minnesota since 2015, this page uses Roberts County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
March has the most truck crashes, 18.0% of the yearly total, while June has the fewest (2.3%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 67.2% of truck crashes, vs 48.8% for South Dakota.
More truck crashes happen at 3–4 pm than at any other hour (9.8%).
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 52.9% of truck crashes, compared with 28.6% in South Dakota.
Where crashes happen
Since 2015, fatal crashes with a large truck within 10 miles of Minnesota happened on I-29 (2) and SR-127 (1); no road leads clearly.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 1 crash, 0.8% of the total, against 1.6% across South Dakota.
Route planning tips for Minnesota fleets
- Review driver schedules for March, the month with the most truck crashes.
- With 52.9% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above South Dakota), plan winter equipment checks early.
- 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 Roberts County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-29 | 2 |
| SR-127 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Roberts County) |
|---|---|
| I-29 | 85 |
| US-12 | 17 |
| Ave | 5 |
| Sd Hwy 10 | 3 |
| Sd Hwy 106 | 3 |
| Sd Hwy 127 | 3 |
| Ramp | 2 |
| Sd Hwy 15 | 2 |
Minnesota at a glance
| Population | 103 |
| Land area | 46.9 sq mi |
| Density | 2 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 57255) | $63,393 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Roberts 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 | 6 | — | 0.5 |
| 2000s | 6 | +0% | 0.5 |
| 2010s | 12 | +105% | 0.6 |
| 2020s | 11 | -11% | 0.2 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 6 a year in the 1990s and 11 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 0.8 a year in 2016–19 and 0.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Minnesota
How common are truck crashes in Minnesota?
Since 2015, 133 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Roberts County (19 injured, 3 killed).
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Minnesota?
The worst month is March: 18.0% of truck crashes in Roberts County happen then.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Minnesota?
Since 2015, Roberts County has reported 1 garbage-truck crash, or 0.8% of its truck crashes.
How does Minnesota compare with South Dakota for truck crashes?
Per 100,000 residents, Roberts County has 105.2 truck crashes a year; South Dakota has 42.0.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Minnesota?
The free Route Planner takes your stops and returns a route risk score, safer alternatives and low-bridge warnings.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.