ZIP 56523 (Climax, MN) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 56523: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Polk 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
3 of 210 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Polk County compares with Minnesota
Polk County against Minnesota and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Polk County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Polk County | Minnesota | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 57.4 | 39.0 | 49.7 | 1.5× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 7.8 | 3.0 | 3.4 | 2.6× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.52 | 0.37 | 0.49 | 1.4× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.6% | 2.8% | 2.3% | 44% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 28.1% | 25.6% | 6.2% | 1.1× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 28.1% | 27.0% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 14.1% | 19.1% | 13.8% | 26% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 43.8% | 46.2% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 17.2% | 20.3% | 24.8% | 15% below the state |
Polk County sits below Minnesota on garbage-truck share, in rain, sleet or snow and after dark. It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash.
Polk County at a glance: 7.8 people killed per 100 truck crashes (Minnesota: 3.0).
Overview
Polk County has recorded 210 truck crashes since 2015, with 107 people injured and 15 killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 21 days.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in October (16.2% of the year) and are lowest in July (3.3%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 43.8% of truck crashes, vs 46.2% for Minnesota.
More truck crashes happen at 8–9 am than at any other hour (13.3%).
28.1% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 25.6% across Minnesota.
Where crashes happen
Fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 56523 since 2015 were spread across roads: US-75 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
3 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 1.4% share (Minnesota: 2.8%).
Route planning tips for ZIP 56523 fleets
- Plan October schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Polk County.
- 28.1% 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 Polk County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-75 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Polk County) |
|---|---|
| Usth 2 | 48 |
| Usth 75 | 16 |
| Mnth 220 | 6 |
| Hwy | 6 |
| 170Th St Sw | 5 |
| Gateway Dr Nw | 5 |
| 150Th St Sw | 4 |
| 430Th St Se | 4 |
ZIP 56523 at a glance
| Population | 382 |
| Density | 2 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $56,685 |
| Median home value | $165,991 |
| Home ownership | 81% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Polk 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 | 8 | — | 1.4 |
| 2000s | 17 | +114% | 0.9 |
| 2010s | 18 | +3% | 1.4 |
| 2020s | 17 | -4% | 0.2 |
In the 1990s about 8 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 17. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. NHTSA counts 1.8 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 0.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 56523
How many truck accidents are there in ZIP 56523?
210 truck crashes have been reported in Polk County since 2015, with 15 deaths and 107 injuries.
When do most truck crashes happen in ZIP 56523?
The worst month is October: 16.2% of truck crashes in Polk County happen then.
Are garbage truck crashes common in ZIP 56523?
Garbage trucks were involved in 3 reported crashes in Polk County since 2015 (1.4% of truck crashes).
How do truck crashes in ZIP 56523 compare with Minnesota?
Per 100,000 residents, Polk County has 57.4 truck crashes a year; Minnesota has 39.0.
How can I plan a safer truck route in ZIP 56523?
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.