ZIP 56401 (Brainerd, MN) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 56401: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Crow Wing 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
9 of 189 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Crow Wing County compares with Minnesota
Crow Wing County against Minnesota and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Crow Wing County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Crow Wing County | Minnesota | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 23.0 | 39.0 | 49.7 | 41% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 4.0 | 3.0 | 3.4 | 1.3× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.45 | 0.37 | 0.49 | 1.2× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 4.6% | 2.8% | 2.3% | 1.6× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 27.0% | 25.6% | 6.2% | same |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 29.3% | 27.0% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 15.5% | 19.1% | 13.8% | 19% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 41.9% | 46.2% | 41.9% | 9% below the state |
| After dark | 14.4% | 20.3% | 24.8% | 29% below the state |
Crow Wing County sits below Minnesota on crashes per 100k residents / yr, in rain, sleet or snow and winter months (nov–mar). It stands out for higher deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share.
Crow Wing County at a glance: 1 in 22 crashes involve a garbage truck (9 since 2015), vs 2.8% across Minnesota.
Overview
Police reported 189 crashes involving commercial trucks in Crow Wing County since 2015: 93 people were injured and 7 were killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 23 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
The worst month is January with 11.1% of truck crashes; the quietest is April at 4.8%.
November through March accounts for 41.9% of truck crashes here, compared with 46.2% in Minnesota.
The busiest hour is 11 am–12 pm, with 12.2% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 27.0% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Minnesota: 25.6%).
Where crashes happen
Within this area, SR-25 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (3). After it: SR-371 (1) and SR-371B (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 9 of the truck crashes here, or 4.8%, compared with 2.8% in Minnesota.
Route planning tips for ZIP 56401 fleets
- Plan January schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Crow Wing County.
- Where you can, review stops along SR-25; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- Morning starts matter: 29.3% of truck crashes fall between 6 and 10 am, higher than Minnesota.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
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 Crow Wing County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-25 | 3 |
| SR-371 | 1 |
| SR-371B | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Crow Wing County) |
|---|---|
| Mnth 371 | 41 |
| Mnth 210 | 19 |
| Mnth 18 | 7 |
| Csah 1 | 6 |
| Csah 12 | 4 |
| Washington St | 3 |
| Mnth 371B | 3 |
| Mnth 25 | 3 |
ZIP 56401 at a glance
| Population | 31,841 |
| Density | 38 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $73,128 |
| Median home value | $258,566 |
| Home ownership | 74% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Crow Wing 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 | 4 | — | 0.8 |
| 2000s | 14 | +249% | 0.6 |
| 2010s | 16 | +8% | 0.9 |
| 2020s | 14 | -9% | 0.6 |
In the 1990s about 4 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 14. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. NHTSA counts 1.5 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 0.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 56401
How common are truck crashes in ZIP 56401?
189 truck crashes have been reported in Crow Wing County since 2015, with 7 deaths and 93 injuries.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in ZIP 56401?
SR-25 had 3 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of ZIP 56401 since 2015, more than any other road.
Which month has the most truck crashes in ZIP 56401?
Truck crashes in Crow Wing County peak in January, with 11.1% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in ZIP 56401?
9 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Crow Wing County since 2015, 4.8% of all truck crashes.
How does ZIP 56401 compare with Minnesota for truck crashes?
Crow Wing County records 23.0 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 39.0 across Minnesota.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in ZIP 56401?
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.