ZIP 56026 (Ellendale, MN) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 56026: 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 has lower values than Minnesota for deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share. Where it is 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.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 11 days.
When crashes happen
The worst month is December with 18.6% of truck crashes; the quietest is September at 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%).
Road surface: 42.2% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Minnesota: 25.6%).
Where crashes happen
Fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 56026 since 2015 were spread across roads: SR-13 (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 56026 fleets
- Build extra time into December routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- With 42.2% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above Minnesota), plan winter equipment checks early.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
About the data
Crash counts come from the FMCSA crash file (police-reported crashes involving trucks over 10,000 lb); fatal-crash locations come from NHTSA FARS. Text on this page states only what these numbers show.
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) |
|---|---|
| SR-13 | 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 56026 at a glance
| Population | 2,124 |
| Density | 8 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $100,169 |
| Median home value | $232,698 |
| Home ownership | 91% |
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. Fatal large-truck crashes: 0.5 a year in 2016–19, 0.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 56026
How common are truck crashes in ZIP 56026?
Steele County has had 387 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 120 people and killing 7.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in ZIP 56026?
Truck crashes in Steele County peak in December, with 18.6% of the year's crashes.
Are garbage truck crashes common in ZIP 56026?
Since 2015, Steele County has reported 6 garbage-truck crashes, or 1.6% of its truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in ZIP 56026 compare with Minnesota?
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 56026?
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.