ZIP 55118 (Saint Paul, MN) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 55118: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Dakota 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
0.0 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 2.2 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Dakota County compares with Minnesota
Dakota County against Minnesota and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Dakota County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Dakota County | Minnesota | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 35.4 | 39.0 | 49.7 | 9% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.2 | 3.0 | 3.4 | 27% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.29 | 0.37 | 0.49 | 22% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 3.5% | 2.8% | 2.3% | 1.2× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 20.1% | 25.6% | 6.2% | 21% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 30.1% | 27.0% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 17.8% | 19.1% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 44.2% | 46.2% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 19.7% | 20.3% | 24.8% | same |
Compared with Minnesota, Dakota County is lower on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash. Where it is higher: garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am).
Dakota County at a glance: September is the peak month for garbage-truck crashes: 16% of them.
Overview
Police reported 1,906 crashes involving commercial trucks in Dakota County since 2015: 599 people were injured and 40 were killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 2 days.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in December (10.5% of the year) and are lowest in March (6.7%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 44.2% of truck crashes, vs 46.2% for Minnesota.
The busiest hour is 11 am–12 pm, with 8.4% of truck crashes.
20.1% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 25.6% across Minnesota.
Where crashes happen
Roads with fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of ZIP 55118 since 2015: I-494 (3), SR-55 (3), I-35 (2), CR-152 Cedar Ave S (1) and CR-28 Yankee Doodle Rd (1). No single road stands out.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 73 of the truck crashes here, or 3.8%, compared with 2.8% in Minnesota.
Garbage-truck crashes peak in September (16% of them).
Per 100 crashes, garbage trucks recorded 0.0 deaths compared with 2.2 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for ZIP 55118 fleets
- Build extra time into December routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in September; review collection routes for that month.
- Morning starts matter: 30.1% of truck crashes fall between 6 and 10 am, higher than Minnesota.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
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 Dakota County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-494 | 3 |
| SR-55 | 3 |
| I-35 | 2 |
| CR-152 Cedar Ave S | 1 |
| CR-28 Yankee Doodle Rd | 1 |
| CR-36 University Ave Se | 1 |
| CR-38A Maxwell Ave | 1 |
| CR-46 Cleveland Ave N | 1 |
| CR-52 Nicollet Ave S | 1 |
| CR-53 E 66Th St | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Dakota County) |
|---|---|
| Isth 494 | 135 |
| Usth 52 | 109 |
| I-35 | 76 |
| Mnth 13 | 53 |
| Mnth 55 | 49 |
| Coates Blvd | 35 |
| Cedar Ave | 31 |
| 160Th St | 30 |
ZIP 55118 at a glance
| Population | 29,564 |
| Density | 1,091 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $87,340 |
| Median home value | $353,223 |
| Home ownership | 65% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Dakota 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 | 29 | — | 3.1 |
| 2000s | 144 | +399% | 2.9 |
| 2010s | 158 | +10% | 2.5 |
| 2020s | 152 | -4% | 3.0 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 29 to 152. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. NHTSA counts 4.2 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 3.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 55118
How many truck crashes happen in ZIP 55118?
Dakota County has had 1,906 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 599 people and killing 40.
When do most truck crashes happen in ZIP 55118?
Truck crashes in Dakota County peak in December, with 10.5% of the year's crashes.
Are garbage truck crashes common in ZIP 55118?
Since 2015, Dakota County has reported 73 garbage-truck crashes, or 3.8% of its truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in ZIP 55118 compared with Minnesota?
The yearly rate is 35.4 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Dakota County, vs 39.0 for Minnesota.
How can I plan a safer truck route in ZIP 55118?
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.