ZIP 55049 (Medford, MN) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 55049: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Steele County, 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
6 of 387 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Steele County compares with Minnesota
Steele County against Minnesota and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Steele County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Steele County | Minnesota | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 87.4 | 39.0 | 49.7 | 2.2× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 1.9 | 3.0 | 3.4 | 37% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.33 | 0.37 | 0.49 | 11% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.1% | 2.8% | 2.3% | 60% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 42.2% | 25.6% | 6.2% | 1.7× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 23.9% | 27.0% | 23.7% | 11% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 25.3% | 19.1% | 13.8% | 1.3× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 54.2% | 46.2% | 41.9% | 1.2× the state |
| After dark | 26.1% | 20.3% | 24.8% | 1.3× the state |
Steele County sits below Minnesota 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.
Steele County at a glance: December worst month: 18.6% of truck crashes, vs 8.3% in an average month.
Overview
Steele County has recorded 387 truck crashes since 2015, with 120 people injured and 7 killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 11 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in December (18.6% of the year) and are lowest in September (4.9%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 54.2% of truck crashes, against 46.2% across Minnesota.
More truck crashes happen at 12–1 pm than at any other hour (9.6%).
42.2% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 25.6% across Minnesota.
Where crashes happen
I-35 leads within 10 miles of ZIP 55049 with 2 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. After it: CR-1 Cedar Ave (1), CR-17 (1) and CR-19 Glynnview Tr (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 6 crashes, 1.6% of the total, against 2.8% across Minnesota.
Route planning tips for ZIP 55049 fleets
- Build extra time into December routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Look at alternatives to I-35 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- With 42.2% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above Minnesota), plan winter equipment checks early.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
About the data
Sources: the FMCSA crash file for all reported truck crashes and NHTSA FARS for fatal crashes with a large truck. Every statement here comes straight from those numbers.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Steele County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-35 | 2 |
| CR-1 Cedar Ave | 1 |
| CR-17 | 1 |
| CR-19 Glynnview Tr | 1 |
| CR-7 Lemond Rd | 1 |
| North St | 1 |
| SR-60 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Steele County) |
|---|---|
| I-35 | 85 |
| Usth 14 | 19 |
| Mineral Springs Rd Ne | 8 |
| W Frontage Rd | 5 |
| Csah 45 | 4 |
| 10Th St Sw | 3 |
| Hoffman Dr | 3 |
| Hoffman Dr Nw | 3 |
ZIP 55049 at a glance
| Population | 2,636 |
| Density | 22 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $90,625 |
| Median home value | $243,449 |
| Home ownership | 86% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Steele 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 | 19 | — | 0.9 |
| 2000s | 36 | +93% | 1.1 |
| 2010s | 32 | -11% | 0.7 |
| 2020s | 34 | +5% | 0.6 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 19 a year in the 1990s and 34 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 0.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 55049
How common are truck crashes in ZIP 55049?
387 truck crashes have been reported in Steele County since 2015, with 7 deaths and 120 injuries.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in ZIP 55049?
Since 2015, I-35 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 55049: 2.
Which month has the most truck crashes in ZIP 55049?
December has the most truck crashes in Steele County, 18.6% of the yearly total.
Are garbage truck crashes common in ZIP 55049?
6 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Steele County since 2015, 1.6% of all truck crashes.
How does ZIP 55049 compare with Minnesota for truck crashes?
Steele County records 87.4 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 39.0 across Minnesota.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in ZIP 55049?
Paste your stops into the free CurbWaste Route Planner: it scores your route against fatal-crash locations, suggests safer alternatives and flags low bridges.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.