ZIP 56034 (Garden City, MN) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 56034: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Blue Earth 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
7 of 358 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Blue Earth County compares with Minnesota
Blue Earth County against Minnesota and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Blue Earth County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Blue Earth County | Minnesota | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 42.8 | 39.0 | 49.7 | 1.1× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 4.5 | 3.0 | 3.4 | 1.5× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.33 | 0.37 | 0.49 | 11% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.1% | 2.8% | 2.3% | 25% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 19.8% | 25.6% | 6.2% | 22% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 29.1% | 27.0% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 16.5% | 19.1% | 13.8% | 13% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 41.1% | 46.2% | 41.9% | 11% below the state |
| After dark | 17.4% | 20.3% | 24.8% | 14% below the state |
Blue Earth County has lower values than Minnesota for injuries per crash, garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice. It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and morning rush (6–10 am).
What stands out in Blue Earth County: December the month with the most truck crashes: 12.0% of the year's total.
Overview
Blue Earth County has recorded 358 truck crashes since 2015, with 125 people injured and 15 killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 12 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in December (12.0% of the year) and are lowest in April (4.2%).
November through March accounts for 41.1% of truck crashes here, compared with 46.2% in Minnesota.
The busiest hour is 8–9 am, with 12.0% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 19.8% of truck crashes, compared with 25.6% in Minnesota.
Where crashes happen
Fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 56034 since 2015 were spread across roads: SR-60 (2), US-169 (2) and CR-50 535Th Ave (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 7 of the truck crashes here, or 2.0%, compared with 2.8% in Minnesota.
Route planning tips for ZIP 56034 fleets
- Plan December schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Blue Earth County.
- 29.1% of truck crashes happen between 6 and 10 am, above Minnesota; consider earlier or later starts where possible.
- 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 Blue Earth County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-60 | 2 |
| US-169 | 2 |
| CR-50 535Th Ave | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Blue Earth County) |
|---|---|
| Usth 14 | 47 |
| Usth 169 | 45 |
| Mnth 60 | 29 |
| Mnth 22 | 25 |
| Hwy | 10 |
| Mnth 30 | 9 |
| 3Rd Ave | 8 |
| N Riverfront Dr | 7 |
ZIP 56034 at a glance
| Population | 393 |
| Density | 5 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $98,750 |
| Median home value | $194,153 |
| Home ownership | 85% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Blue Earth 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 | 8 | — | 1.3 |
| 2000s | 23 | +191% | 1.2 |
| 2010s | 30 | +27% | 1.1 |
| 2020s | 27 | -8% | 1.0 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 8 to 27. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal large-truck crashes: 1.5 a year in 2016–19, 1.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 56034
How many truck accidents are there in ZIP 56034?
Blue Earth County has had 358 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 125 people and killing 15.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in ZIP 56034?
December has the most truck crashes in Blue Earth County, 12.0% of the yearly total.
Are garbage truck crashes common in ZIP 56034?
Garbage trucks were involved in 7 reported crashes in Blue Earth County since 2015 (2.0% of truck crashes).
What is the truck crash rate in ZIP 56034 compared with Minnesota?
Per 100,000 residents, Blue Earth County has 42.8 truck crashes a year; Minnesota has 39.0.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in ZIP 56034?
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.