Michigan truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Michigan: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes, 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
1.6 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 2.1 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Michigan compares with United States
Michigan against United States, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Michigan stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Michigan | United States | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 52.4 | 49.7 | same |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.1 | 3.4 | 38% below the US |
| Injuries per crash | 0.30 | 0.49 | 39% below the US |
| Garbage-truck share | 3.2% | 2.3% | 1.4× the US |
| On snow, slush or ice | 17.7% | 6.2% | 2.9× the US |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 25.5% | 23.7% | 1.1× the US |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 21.9% | 13.8% | 1.6× the US |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 44.4% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 20.7% | 24.8% | 17% below the US |
Michigan sits below the US on deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and after dark. It stands out for higher garbage-truck share, on snow, slush or ice and morning rush (6–10 am).
What stands out in Michigan: 17.7% on snowy, slushy or icy roads, against 6.2% across the US.
Overview
Michigan has recorded 62,907 truck crashes since 2015, with 19,008 people injured and 1,294 killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly 15 truck crashes every day.
When crashes happen
The worst month is January with 11.4% of truck crashes; the quietest is April at 6.6%.
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 44.4% of truck crashes, vs 41.9% for the US.
By time of day, 10–11 am stands out with 7.5% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 17.7% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (the US: 6.2%).
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks in Michigan is I-94, with 74 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. It is followed by I-75 (43), US-131 (34) and US-23 (25).
Garbage & waste trucks
2,011 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 3.2% share (the US: 2.3%).
Garbage-truck crashes peak in January (10% of them).
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 1.6, vs 2.1 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for Michigan fleets
- Plan January schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Michigan.
- Check whether your routes use I-94, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- Waste haulers: January is the peak month for garbage-truck crashes in Michigan.
- 25.5% of truck crashes happen between 6 and 10 am, above the US; consider earlier or later starts where possible.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 17.7% of truck crashes here, more than the US; schedule winter checks early.
- 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 Michigan
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Michigan) |
|---|---|
| I-94 | 74 |
| I-75 | 43 |
| US-131 | 34 |
| US-23 | 25 |
| US-31 | 25 |
| I-96 | 23 |
| I-69 | 16 |
| US-12 | 16 |
| US-24 | 13 |
| SR-57 | 11 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Michigan) |
|---|---|
| I-94 | 3,631 |
| I-75 | 2,719 |
| I-96 | 1,724 |
| Mile | 1,691 |
| US-131 | 945 |
| US-23 | 809 |
| Telegraph | 799 |
| I-69 | 783 |
Michigan at a glance
| Population | 10,140,459 |
| Land area | 56,611.0 sq mi |
| Density | 179 per sq mi |
Historical data: truck crashes in Michigan 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 | 2,824 | — | 131.8 |
| 2000s | 4,007 | +42% | 105.7 |
| 2010s | 3,735 | -7% | 81.2 |
| 2020s | 5,613 | +50% | 95.2 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 2,824 a year in the 1990s and 5,613 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. NHTSA counts 93.0 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 95.2 a year in 2020–24.
Counties in Michigan
Largest places in Michigan
Nearby states
Questions fleets ask about Michigan
How many truck crashes happen in Michigan?
Michigan has had 62,907 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 19,008 people and killing 1,294.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in Michigan?
I-94 had 74 fatal crashes involving a large truck in Michigan since 2015, more than any other road.
When do most truck crashes happen in Michigan?
The worst month is January: 11.4% of truck crashes in Michigan happen then.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Michigan?
2,011 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Michigan since 2015, 3.2% of all truck crashes.
How does Michigan compare with the US for truck crashes?
The yearly rate is 52.4 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Michigan, vs 49.7 for the US.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Michigan?
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.