Benton Harbor, MI truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Benton Harbor: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Benton Harbor and Berrien County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Berrien County numbers.
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 |
Compared with Michigan, Berrien County is lower on 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.
That averages about one truck crash every 2 days in fully reported years.
Benton Harbor had 13 reported truck crashes since 2015, too few for reliable patterns, so the charts and findings on this page use Berrien County numbers.
When crashes happen
The worst month is January with 19.6% of truck crashes; the quietest is March at 5.9%.
The five winter months (November to March) hold 56.5% of truck crashes, against 44.4% across Michigan.
By time of day, 10–11 am stands out with 7.9% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 38.2% of truck crashes, compared with 17.7% in Michigan.
Where crashes happen
Within this area, I-94 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (4). It is followed by CR-W Linco Rd (1), I-196 (1) and Nickerson Ave (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 38 crashes, 1.8% of the total, against 3.2% across Michigan.
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 Benton Harbor fleets
- Review driver schedules for January, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Look at alternatives to I-94 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in July; review collection routes for that month.
- With 38.2% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above Michigan), plan winter equipment checks early.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
About the data
This report uses the FMCSA crash file (reported crashes of trucks over 10,000 lb) and NHTSA FARS (fatal crashes). It reports the numbers without guessing at reasons.
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 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-94 | 4 |
| 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 |
Benton Harbor at a glance
| Population | 8,848 |
| Land area | 4.4 sq mi |
| Density | 2,016 per sq mi |
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 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 113 to 172. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal large-truck crashes: 2.5 a year in 2016–19, 2.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Benton Harbor
How many truck crashes happen in Benton Harbor?
Berrien County has had 2,066 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 460 people and killing 39.
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in Benton Harbor?
NHTSA data shows I-94 with 4 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Benton Harbor since 2015, the highest of any road.
When do most truck crashes happen in Benton Harbor?
The worst month is January: 19.6% of truck crashes in Berrien County happen then.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Benton Harbor?
Garbage trucks were involved in 38 reported crashes in Berrien County since 2015 (1.8% of truck crashes).
How does Benton Harbor compare with Michigan for truck crashes?
Per 100,000 residents, Berrien County has 112.9 truck crashes a year; Michigan has 52.4.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Benton Harbor?
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.