ZIP 56736 (Mentor, MN) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 56736: 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 deaths for every 100 truck crashes, against 3.0 across Minnesota.
Overview
Polk County has recorded 210 truck crashes since 2015, with 107 people injured and 15 killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 21 days.
When crashes happen
The worst month is October with 16.2% of truck crashes; the quietest is July at 3.3%.
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 43.8% of truck crashes, vs 46.2% for Minnesota.
The busiest hour is 8–9 am, with 13.3% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 28.1% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Minnesota: 25.6%).
Where crashes happen
Fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 56736 since 2015 were spread across roads: CR-10 160Th Ave Se (1), CR-12 (Red Lake Co) (1) and US-2 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 3 crashes, 1.4% of the total, against 2.8% across Minnesota.
Route planning tips for ZIP 56736 fleets
- Review driver schedules for October, the month with the most truck crashes.
- With 28.1% 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 Polk County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| CR-10 160Th Ave Se | 1 |
| CR-12 (Red Lake Co) | 1 |
| US-2 | 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 56736 at a glance
| Population | 687 |
| Density | 2 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $95,000 |
| Median home value | $417,123 |
| Home ownership | 91% |
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. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 1.8 a year in 2016–19 and 0.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 56736
How many truck accidents are there in ZIP 56736?
Since 2015, 210 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Polk County (107 injured, 15 killed).
When do most truck crashes happen in ZIP 56736?
Truck crashes in Polk County peak in October, with 16.2% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in ZIP 56736?
3 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Polk County since 2015, 1.4% of all truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in ZIP 56736 compare with Minnesota?
The yearly rate is 57.4 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Polk County, vs 39.0 for Minnesota.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in ZIP 56736?
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.