ZIP 56352 (Melrose, MN) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 56352: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Stearns 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 3.0 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Stearns County compares with Minnesota
Stearns County against Minnesota and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Stearns County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Stearns County | Minnesota | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 56.2 | 39.0 | 49.7 | 1.4× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.4 | same |
| Injuries per crash | 0.32 | 0.37 | 0.49 | 14% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.0% | 2.8% | 2.3% | 30% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 34.0% | 25.6% | 6.2% | 1.3× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 26.8% | 27.0% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 25.4% | 19.1% | 13.8% | 1.3× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 50.9% | 46.2% | 41.9% | 1.1× the state |
| After dark | 28.8% | 20.3% | 24.8% | 1.4× the state |
Stearns County sits below Minnesota on injuries per crash and garbage-truck share. It runs above Minnesota on crashes per 100k residents / yr, on snow, slush or ice and in rain, sleet or snow.
What stands out in ZIP 56352: I-94 most fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 56352: 5 since 2015.
Overview
Stearns County has recorded 1,072 truck crashes since 2015, with 349 people injured and 30 killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 4 days.
When crashes happen
December has the most truck crashes, 11.4% of the yearly total, while July has the fewest (5.5%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 50.9% of truck crashes, vs 46.2% for Minnesota.
By time of day, 9–10 am stands out with 8.5% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 34.0% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Minnesota: 25.6%).
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks within 10 miles of ZIP 56352 is I-94, with 5 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. Next come US-71 (2).
Garbage & waste trucks
21 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 2.0% share (Minnesota: 2.8%).
Garbage-truck crashes peak in June (14% of them).
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 0.0, vs 3.0 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for ZIP 56352 fleets
- Plan December schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Stearns County.
- Check whether your routes use I-94, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- Waste haulers: June is the peak month for garbage-truck crashes in Stearns County.
- 34.0% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice, above Minnesota; plan winter equipment checks before the season.
- 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 Stearns County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-94 | 5 |
| US-71 | 2 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Stearns County) |
|---|---|
| Isth 94 | 415 |
| Mnth 23 | 68 |
| Mnth 15 | 44 |
| Division St | 33 |
| Csah 75 | 26 |
| Hwy | 18 |
| Usth 71 | 16 |
| Csah 2 | 15 |
ZIP 56352 at a glance
| Population | 6,112 |
| Density | 22 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $73,721 |
| Median home value | $228,811 |
| Home ownership | 80% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Stearns 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 | 18 | — | 2.6 |
| 2000s | 71 | +284% | 2.2 |
| 2010s | 88 | +25% | 1.9 |
| 2020s | 93 | +5% | 3.0 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 18 to 93. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. NHTSA counts 1.8 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 56352
How many truck crashes happen in ZIP 56352?
Since 2015, 1,072 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Stearns County (349 injured, 30 killed).
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in ZIP 56352?
I-94 had 5 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of ZIP 56352 since 2015, more than any other road.
When do most truck crashes happen in ZIP 56352?
The worst month is December: 11.4% of truck crashes in Stearns County happen then.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in ZIP 56352?
Garbage trucks were involved in 21 reported crashes in Stearns County since 2015 (2.0% of truck crashes).
How do truck crashes in ZIP 56352 compare with Minnesota?
Stearns County records 56.2 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 39.0 across Minnesota.
How can I plan a safer truck route in ZIP 56352?
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.