ZIP 56296 (Wheaton, MN) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 56296: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Traverse 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 41 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Traverse County compares with Minnesota
Traverse County against Minnesota and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Traverse County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Traverse County | Minnesota | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 110.2 | 39.0 | 49.7 | 2.8× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 5.3 | 3.0 | 3.4 | 1.8× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.74 | 0.37 | 0.49 | 2.0× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 5.3% | 2.8% | 2.3% | 1.9× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 10.5% | 25.6% | 6.2% | 59% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 18.4% | 27.0% | 23.7% | 32% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 13.2% | 19.1% | 13.8% | 31% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 31.6% | 46.2% | 41.9% | 32% below the state |
| After dark | 10.5% | 20.3% | 24.8% | 48% below the state |
Compared with Minnesota, Traverse County is lower on on snow, slush or ice, morning rush (6–10 am) and in rain, sleet or snow. Where it is higher: crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash.
Traverse County at a glance: 1 in 19 garbage-truck share of crashes is 5.3%, against 2.8% for Minnesota.
Overview
Traverse County has recorded 41 truck crashes since 2015, with 28 people injured and 2 killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 106 days.
When crashes happen
The worst month is May with 14.6% of truck crashes; the quietest is June at 0.0%.
The five winter months (November to March) hold 31.6% of truck crashes, against 46.2% across Minnesota.
The busiest hour is 12–1 pm, with 17.1% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 10.5% of truck crashes, compared with 25.6% in Minnesota.
Where crashes happen
Roads with fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of ZIP 56296 since 2015: CR-76 650Th St (1). No single road stands out.
Garbage & waste trucks
2 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 4.9% share (Minnesota: 2.8%).
Route planning tips for ZIP 56296 fleets
- Build extra time into May 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
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 Traverse County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| CR-76 650Th St | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Traverse County) |
|---|---|
| Mnth 27 | 7 |
| Hwy | 5 |
| 590Th St | 4 |
| Mnth 9 | 4 |
| Usth 75 | 4 |
| Broadway Ave | 3 |
| 2Nd Ave | 2 |
| Csah 4 | 2 |
ZIP 56296 at a glance
| Population | 1,956 |
| Density | 3 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $53,527 |
| Median home value | $102,247 |
| Home ownership | 80% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Traverse 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 | 1 | — | 0.1 |
| 2000s | 2 | +317% | 0.1 |
| 2010s | 3 | +16% | 0.0 |
| 2020s | 3 | -2% | 0.4 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 1 a year in the 1990s and 3 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 0.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 56296
How many truck crashes happen in ZIP 56296?
41 truck crashes have been reported in Traverse County since 2015, with 2 deaths and 28 injuries.
When do most truck crashes happen in ZIP 56296?
The worst month is May: 14.6% of truck crashes in Traverse County happen then.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in ZIP 56296?
2 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Traverse County since 2015, 4.9% of all truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in ZIP 56296 compared with Minnesota?
Per 100,000 residents, Traverse County has 110.2 truck crashes a year; Minnesota has 39.0.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in ZIP 56296?
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.