Berrien County, MI truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Berrien County: 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
5.7 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 1.8 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Berrien County compares with Michigan
Berrien County against Michigan and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Berrien County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Berrien County | Michigan | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 112.9 | 52.4 | 49.7 | 2.2× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 1.8 | 2.1 | 3.4 | 14% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.22 | 0.30 | 0.49 | 27% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.8% | 3.2% | 2.3% | 43% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 38.2% | 17.7% | 6.2% | 2.2× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 23.7% | 25.5% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 38.4% | 21.9% | 13.8% | 1.8× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 56.5% | 44.4% | 41.9% | 1.3× the state |
| After dark | 28.1% | 20.7% | 24.8% | 1.4× the state |
Berrien County has lower values than Michigan for deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share. It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr, on snow, slush or ice and in rain, sleet or snow.
The headline for Berrien County: 38.2% share of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (Michigan: 17.7%).
Overview
Since 2015, 2,066 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Berrien County. They injured 460 people and killed 39.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 2 days.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in January (19.6% of the year) and are lowest in March (5.9%).
November through March accounts for 56.5% of truck crashes here, compared with 44.4% in Michigan.
By time of day, 10–11 am stands out with 7.9% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 38.2% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Michigan: 17.7%).
Where crashes happen
I-94 leads in Berrien County with 7 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. After it: US-12 (5), SR-51 (2) and CR-COUNTY Line Rd (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
38 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 1.8% share (Michigan: 3.2%).
The most garbage-truck crashes happen in July (21%).
Per 100 crashes, garbage trucks recorded 5.7 deaths compared with 1.8 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for Berrien County fleets
- Build extra time into January routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Where you can, review stops along I-94; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- For residential and commercial waste routes, look again at July schedules: garbage-truck crashes peak then.
- With 38.2% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above Michigan), plan winter equipment 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 Berrien County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Berrien County) |
|---|---|
| I-94 | 7 |
| US-12 | 5 |
| SR-51 | 2 |
| CR-COUNTY Line Rd | 1 |
| CR-LEMON Creek Rd | 1 |
| CR-RANGELINE Rd | 1 |
| CR-RED Bud Trl | 1 |
| CR-W Linco Rd | 1 |
| I-196 | 1 |
| Nickerson Ave | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Berrien County) |
|---|---|
| I-94 | 631 |
| Pulaski | 56 |
| Napier | 49 |
| I-196 | 36 |
| N Us 31 | 33 |
| Red Arrow | 32 |
| US-31 | 28 |
| US-12 | 28 |
Berrien County at a glance
| Population | 152,703 |
| Land area | 567.8 sq mi |
| Density | 269 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $69,177 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Berrien 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 | 113 | — | 4.0 |
| 2000s | 119 | +5% | 3.9 |
| 2010s | 132 | +11% | 2.7 |
| 2020s | 172 | +30% | 2.2 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 113 a year in the 1990s and 172 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal large-truck crashes: 2.5 a year in 2016–19, 2.2 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in Berrien County
ZIP codes in Berrien County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Berrien County
How many truck crashes happen in Berrien County?
2,066 truck crashes have been reported in Berrien County since 2015, with 39 deaths and 460 injuries.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Berrien County?
I-94 had 7 fatal crashes involving a large truck in Berrien County since 2015, more than any other road.
When do most truck crashes happen in Berrien County?
The worst month is January: 19.6% of truck crashes in Berrien County happen then.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Berrien County?
Since 2015, Berrien County has reported 38 garbage-truck crashes, or 1.8% of its truck crashes.
How does Berrien County compare with Michigan for truck crashes?
Per 100,000 residents, Berrien County has 112.9 truck crashes a year; Michigan has 52.4.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Berrien County?
The free Route Planner takes your stops and returns a route risk score, safer alternatives and low-bridge warnings.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.