Elk Rapids, MI truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Elk Rapids: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Elk Rapids and Antrim County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Antrim County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
7 of 127 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Antrim County compares with Michigan
Antrim County against Michigan and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Antrim County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Antrim County | Michigan | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 43.0 | 52.4 | 49.7 | 18% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 6.0 | 2.1 | 3.4 | 2.9× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.43 | 0.30 | 0.49 | 1.4× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 4.3% | 3.2% | 2.3% | 1.3× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 39.7% | 17.7% | 6.2% | 2.2× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 28.4% | 25.5% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 30.2% | 21.9% | 13.8% | 1.4× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 50.0% | 44.4% | 41.9% | 1.1× the state |
| After dark | 17.2% | 20.7% | 24.8% | 17% below the state |
Antrim County has lower values than Michigan for crashes per 100k residents / yr and after dark. It stands out for higher deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share.
What stands out in Antrim County: 6.0 deaths per 100 truck crashes, vs 2.1 in Michigan.
Overview
Police reported 127 crashes involving commercial trucks in Antrim County since 2015: 50 people were injured and 7 were killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 35 days in fully reported years.
Only 8 truck crashes were reported in Elk Rapids since 2015; patterns below come from Antrim County as a whole.
When crashes happen
December has the most truck crashes, 15.0% of the yearly total, while November has the fewest (4.7%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 50.0% of truck crashes, against 44.4% across Michigan.
More truck crashes happen at 10–11 am than at any other hour (11.0%).
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 39.7% of truck crashes, compared with 17.7% in Michigan.
Where crashes happen
Fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Elk Rapids since 2015 were spread across roads: US-31 (2) and SR-72 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
7 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 5.5% share (Michigan: 3.2%).
Route planning tips for Elk Rapids fleets
- Plan December schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Antrim County.
- 28.4% of truck crashes happen between 6 and 10 am, above Michigan; consider earlier or later starts where possible.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 39.7% of truck crashes here, more than Michigan; 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 Antrim County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-31 | 2 |
| SR-72 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Antrim County) |
|---|---|
| US-131 | 39 |
| US-31 | 19 |
| Alba | 11 |
| Williams | 3 |
| Darragh | 2 |
| East Torch Lake | 2 |
| Elder | 2 |
| Alden | 1 |
Elk Rapids at a glance
| Population | 1,605 |
| Land area | 1.6 sq mi |
| Density | 973 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 49629) | $65,302 |
| Median home value (ZIP 49629) | $394,293 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Antrim 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 | 7 | — | 0.2 |
| 2000s | 9 | +16% | 0.8 |
| 2010s | 8 | -9% | 0.5 |
| 2020s | 11 | +45% | 0.6 |
In the 1990s about 7 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 11. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. NHTSA counts 0.2 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 0.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Elk Rapids
How many truck crashes happen in Elk Rapids?
Since 2015, 127 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Antrim County (50 injured, 7 killed).
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Elk Rapids?
Truck crashes in Antrim County peak in December, with 15.0% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Elk Rapids?
Since 2015, Antrim County has reported 7 garbage-truck crashes, or 5.5% of its truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in Elk Rapids compare with Michigan?
Per 100,000 residents, Antrim County has 43.0 truck crashes a year; Michigan has 52.4.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Elk Rapids?
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.