ZIP 56081 (Saint James, MN) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 56081: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Watonwan 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
2 of 155 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Watonwan County compares with Minnesota
Watonwan County against Minnesota and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Watonwan County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Watonwan County | Minnesota | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 118.5 | 39.0 | 49.7 | 3.0× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.1 | 3.0 | 3.4 | 30% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.51 | 0.37 | 0.49 | 1.4× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.4% | 2.8% | 2.3% | 51% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 25.3% | 25.6% | 6.2% | same |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 26.7% | 27.0% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 14.4% | 19.1% | 13.8% | 25% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 45.9% | 46.2% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 20.5% | 20.3% | 24.8% | same |
Compared with Minnesota, Watonwan County is lower on deaths per 100 crashes, garbage-truck share and in rain, sleet or snow. It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr and injuries per crash.
What stands out in Watonwan County: 1 in 73 garbage-truck share of crashes is 1.4%, against 2.8% for Minnesota.
Overview
Watonwan County has recorded 155 truck crashes since 2015, with 77 people injured and 4 killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 28 days.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in March (13.5% of the year) and are lowest in July (3.9%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 45.9% of truck crashes, against 46.2% across Minnesota.
More truck crashes happen at 8–9 am than at any other hour (11.6%).
Road surface: 25.3% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Minnesota: 25.6%).
Where crashes happen
Roads with fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of ZIP 56081 since 2015: SR-30 (1). No single road stands out.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 2 of the truck crashes here, or 1.3%, compared with 2.8% in Minnesota.
Route planning tips for ZIP 56081 fleets
- Build extra time into March routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
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 Watonwan County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-30 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Watonwan County) |
|---|---|
| Mnth 60 | 56 |
| Mnth 15 | 26 |
| Hwy | 8 |
| Mnth 4 | 4 |
| 10Th St | 3 |
| 7Th Ave | 3 |
| Mnth 30 | 3 |
| 250Th St | 2 |
ZIP 56081 at a glance
| Population | 6,172 |
| Density | 13 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $67,337 |
| Median home value | $168,427 |
| Home ownership | 72% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Watonwan 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 | 3 | — | 0.4 |
| 2000s | 7 | +158% | 0.2 |
| 2010s | 11 | +49% | 0.1 |
| 2020s | 14 | +29% | 0.2 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 3 a year in the 1990s and 14 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. NHTSA counts 0.0 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 0.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 56081
How many truck accidents are there in ZIP 56081?
Since 2015, 155 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Watonwan County (77 injured, 4 killed).
What is the worst month for truck crashes in ZIP 56081?
Truck crashes in Watonwan County peak in March, with 13.5% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in ZIP 56081?
Garbage trucks were involved in 2 reported crashes in Watonwan County since 2015 (1.3% of truck crashes).
How do truck crashes in ZIP 56081 compare with Minnesota?
Watonwan County records 118.5 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 39.0 across Minnesota.
How can I plan a safer truck route in ZIP 56081?
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.