ZIP 56501 (Detroit Lakes, MN) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 56501: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Becker 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
4 of 146 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Becker County compares with Minnesota
Becker County against Minnesota and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Becker County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Becker County | Minnesota | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 34.1 | 39.0 | 49.7 | 13% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.8 | 3.0 | 3.4 | 1.3× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.38 | 0.37 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.3% | 2.8% | 2.3% | 20% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 33.8% | 25.6% | 6.2% | 1.3× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 25.6% | 27.0% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 18.1% | 19.1% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 49.6% | 46.2% | 41.9% | 1.1× the state |
| After dark | 18.1% | 20.3% | 24.8% | 11% below the state |
Becker County sits below Minnesota on crashes per 100k residents / yr, garbage-truck share and after dark. Where it is higher: deaths per 100 crashes, on snow, slush or ice and winter months (nov–mar).
Becker County at a glance: 33.8% on snowy, slushy or icy roads, against 25.6% across Minnesota.
Overview
Police reported 146 crashes involving commercial trucks in Becker County since 2015: 56 people were injured and 6 were killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 30 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
The worst month is February with 11.6% of truck crashes; the quietest is August at 5.5%.
The five winter months (November to March) hold 49.6% of truck crashes, against 46.2% across Minnesota.
More truck crashes happen at 3–4 pm than at any other hour (10.3%).
33.8% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 25.6% across Minnesota.
Where crashes happen
Roads with fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of ZIP 56501 since 2015: US-59 (1). No single road stands out.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 4 crashes, 2.7% of the total, against 2.8% across Minnesota.
Route planning tips for ZIP 56501 fleets
- Plan February schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Becker County.
- With 33.8% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above Minnesota), plan winter equipment checks early.
- 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 Becker County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-59 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Becker County) |
|---|---|
| Usth 10 | 52 |
| Usth 59 | 16 |
| Mnth 34 | 15 |
| Csah 37 | 4 |
| Mnth 87 | 3 |
| Csah 21 | 3 |
| Csah 15 | 2 |
| Csah 40 | 2 |
ZIP 56501 at a glance
| Population | 18,004 |
| Density | 37 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $70,037 |
| Median home value | $315,826 |
| Home ownership | 70% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Becker 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 | 5 | — | 0.5 |
| 2000s | 12 | +157% | 0.5 |
| 2010s | 12 | +0% | 0.2 |
| 2020s | 11 | -12% | 0.4 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 5 to 11. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. NHTSA counts 0.2 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 56501
How common are truck crashes in ZIP 56501?
Since 2015, 146 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Becker County (56 injured, 6 killed).
Which month has the most truck crashes in ZIP 56501?
February has the most truck crashes in Becker County, 11.6% of the yearly total.
Are garbage truck crashes common in ZIP 56501?
4 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Becker County since 2015, 2.7% of all truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in ZIP 56501 compared with Minnesota?
Per 100,000 residents, Becker County has 34.1 truck crashes a year; Minnesota has 39.0.
How can I plan a safer truck route in ZIP 56501?
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.