ZIP 56481 (Verndale, MN) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 56481: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Wadena 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 70 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Wadena County compares with Minnesota
Wadena County against Minnesota and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Wadena County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Wadena County | Minnesota | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 42.2 | 39.0 | 49.7 | 1.1× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 10.4 | 3.0 | 3.4 | 3.5× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.55 | 0.37 | 0.49 | 1.5× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 3.0% | 2.8% | 2.3% | same |
| On snow, slush or ice | 25.4% | 25.6% | 6.2% | same |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 22.4% | 27.0% | 23.7% | 17% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 10.4% | 19.1% | 13.8% | 45% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 47.8% | 46.2% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 20.9% | 20.3% | 24.8% | same |
Compared with Minnesota, Wadena County is lower on morning rush (6–10 am) and in rain, sleet or snow. It runs above Minnesota on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash.
What stands out in Wadena County: 10.4 people killed per 100 truck crashes (Minnesota: 3.0).
Overview
Since 2015, 70 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Wadena County. They injured 39 people and killed 7.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 60 days.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in March (18.6% of the year) and are lowest in August (1.4%).
November through March accounts for 47.8% of truck crashes here, compared with 46.2% in Minnesota.
By time of day, 11 am–12 pm stands out with 12.9% of truck crashes.
25.4% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 25.6% across Minnesota.
Where crashes happen
US-71 leads within 10 miles of ZIP 56481 with 3 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. It is followed by CR-2 (1), CR-23 (1) and SR-210 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 2 crashes, 2.9% of the total, against 2.8% across Minnesota.
Route planning tips for ZIP 56481 fleets
- Build extra time into March routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Look at alternatives to US-71 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- 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 Wadena County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-71 | 3 |
| CR-2 | 1 |
| CR-23 | 1 |
| SR-210 | 1 |
| US-10 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Wadena County) |
|---|---|
| Usth 71 | 11 |
| Usth 10 | 8 |
| Ash Ave | 5 |
| Hwy | 4 |
| Jefferson St | 4 |
| Aspen Ave | 3 |
| Csah 23 | 3 |
| Main St | 3 |
ZIP 56481 at a glance
| Population | 2,255 |
| Density | 6 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $73,295 |
| Median home value | $165,317 |
| Home ownership | 90% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Wadena 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 | — | 0.3 |
| 2000s | 6 | +113% | 0.2 |
| 2010s | 6 | +16% | 0.5 |
| 2020s | 5 | -23% | 0.8 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 3 a year in the 1990s and 5 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. NHTSA counts 0.2 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 0.8 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 56481
How many truck crashes happen in ZIP 56481?
70 truck crashes have been reported in Wadena County since 2015, with 7 deaths and 39 injuries.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in ZIP 56481?
NHTSA data shows US-71 with 3 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 56481 since 2015, the highest of any road.
Which month has the most truck crashes in ZIP 56481?
The worst month is March: 18.6% of truck crashes in Wadena County happen then.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in ZIP 56481?
Garbage trucks were involved in 2 reported crashes in Wadena County since 2015 (2.9% of truck crashes).
How do truck crashes in ZIP 56481 compare with Minnesota?
Wadena County records 42.2 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 39.0 across Minnesota.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in ZIP 56481?
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.