German Township, St. Joseph County, IN truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in German Township, St. Joseph County: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in German Township, St. Joseph County and St. Joseph County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use St. Joseph County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
0.0 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 2.8 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How St. Joseph County compares with Indiana
St. Joseph County against Indiana and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where St. Joseph County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | St. Joseph County | Indiana | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 52.4 | 80.8 | 49.7 | 35% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.8 | 2.9 | 3.4 | same |
| Injuries per crash | 0.34 | 0.36 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.5% | 2.4% | 2.3% | 1.1× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 22.3% | 10.6% | 6.2% | 2.1× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 25.6% | 22.4% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 21.1% | 17.4% | 13.8% | 1.2× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 48.8% | 42.7% | 41.9% | 1.1× the state |
| After dark | 30.5% | 32.0% | 24.8% | same |
Compared with Indiana, St. Joseph County is lower on crashes per 100k residents / yr. Where it is higher: garbage-truck share, on snow, slush or ice and morning rush (6–10 am).
St. Joseph County at a glance: 22.3% share of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (Indiana: 10.6%).
Overview
St. Joseph County has recorded 1,696 truck crashes since 2015, with 658 people injured and 44 killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 3 days in fully reported years.
With 0 truck crashes reported in German Township, St. Joseph County since 2015, this page uses St. Joseph County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
January has the most truck crashes, 15.3% of the yearly total, while May has the fewest (6.1%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 48.8% of truck crashes, vs 42.7% for Indiana.
More truck crashes happen at 11 am–12 pm than at any other hour (8.8%).
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 22.3% of truck crashes, compared with 10.6% in Indiana.
Where crashes happen
I-80 leads within 10 miles of German with 7 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. Next come SR-2 (6), US-12 (5) and SR-51 (2).
Garbage & waste trucks
44 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 2.6% share (Indiana: 2.4%).
Garbage-truck crashes peak in June (11% of them).
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 0.0, vs 2.8 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for German Township, St. Joseph County fleets
- Review driver schedules for January, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Look at alternatives to I-80 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in June; review collection routes for that month.
- The morning rush (6–10 am) holds 25.6% of truck crashes here, more than Indiana; adjust start times where you can.
- 22.3% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice, above Indiana; plan winter equipment checks before the season.
- 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 St. Joseph County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-80 | 7 |
| SR-2 | 6 |
| US-12 | 5 |
| SR-51 | 2 |
| US-20 | 2 |
| US-20W | 2 |
| CR-RANGELINE Rd | 1 |
| CR-RED Bud Trl | 1 |
| CR-REDFIELD St | 1 |
| Day Rd | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (St. Joseph County) |
|---|---|
| I-80 | 318 |
| US-20 | 122 |
| SR-2 | 75 |
| US-31 | 41 |
| SR-23 | 37 |
| SR-331 | 31 |
| St Joseph Valley Pkwy | 29 |
| SR-933 | 26 |
German Township, St. Joseph County at a glance
| Population | 10,074 |
| Land area | 16.8 sq mi |
| Density | 600 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 46628) | $61,759 |
| Median home value (ZIP 46628) | $176,690 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in St. Joseph 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 | 58 | — | 3.1 |
| 2000s | 124 | +114% | 2.6 |
| 2010s | 139 | +12% | 3.1 |
| 2020s | 127 | -8% | 3.0 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 58 a year in the 1990s and 127 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. NHTSA counts 4.2 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 3.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about German Township, St. Joseph County
How many truck crashes happen in German Township, St. Joseph County?
Since 2015, 1,696 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in St. Joseph County (658 injured, 44 killed).
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in German Township, St. Joseph County?
I-80 had 7 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of German since 2015, more than any other road.
When do most truck crashes happen in German Township, St. Joseph County?
The worst month is January: 15.3% of truck crashes in St. Joseph County happen then.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in German Township, St. Joseph County?
Since 2015, St. Joseph County has reported 44 garbage-truck crashes, or 2.6% of its truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in German Township, St. Joseph County compare with Indiana?
The yearly rate is 52.4 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in St. Joseph County, vs 80.8 for Indiana.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in German Township, St. Joseph County?
Paste your stops into the free CurbWaste Route Planner: it scores your route against fatal-crash locations, suggests safer alternatives and flags low bridges.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.