Bay, MI truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Bay: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Bay and Charlevoix County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Charlevoix County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
10 of 111 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Charlevoix County compares with Michigan
Charlevoix County against Michigan and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Charlevoix County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Charlevoix County | Michigan | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 36.9 | 52.4 | 49.7 | 30% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 6.6 | 2.1 | 3.4 | 3.1× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.38 | 0.30 | 0.49 | 1.3× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 9.4% | 3.2% | 2.3% | 2.9× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 36.8% | 17.7% | 6.2% | 2.1× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 34.0% | 25.5% | 23.7% | 1.3× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 22.6% | 21.9% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 53.8% | 44.4% | 41.9% | 1.2× the state |
| After dark | 8.5% | 20.7% | 24.8% | 59% below the state |
Charlevoix County has lower values than Michigan for crashes per 100k residents / yr and after dark. Where it is higher: deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share.
What stands out in Charlevoix County: 1 in 11 of truck crashes here involve garbage trucks: 9.4%, vs 3.2% in Michigan.
Overview
Police reported 111 crashes involving commercial trucks in Charlevoix County since 2015: 43 people were injured and 7 were killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 38 days.
Bay had 1 reported truck crash since 2015, too few for reliable patterns, so the charts and findings on this page use Charlevoix County numbers.
When crashes happen
July has the most truck crashes, 14.4% of the yearly total, while June has the fewest (2.7%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 53.8% of truck crashes, vs 44.4% for Michigan.
By time of day, 8–9 am stands out with 14.4% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 36.8% of truck crashes, compared with 17.7% in Michigan.
Where crashes happen
Within this area, US-131 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (3). After it: SR-66 (2), US-31 (2) and CR-MITCHELL Rd (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 10 crashes, 9.0% of the total, against 3.2% across Michigan.
Route planning tips for Bay fleets
- Review driver schedules for July, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Look at alternatives to US-131 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- 34.0% of truck crashes happen between 6 and 10 am, above Michigan; consider earlier or later starts where possible.
- 36.8% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice, above Michigan; 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 Charlevoix County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-131 | 3 |
| SR-66 | 2 |
| US-31 | 2 |
| CR-MITCHELL Rd | 1 |
| Intertown Rd | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Charlevoix County) |
|---|---|
| US-131 | 20 |
| US-31 | 15 |
| Bridge | 8 |
| Petoskey | 3 |
| Boyne City | 3 |
| Boyne | 3 |
| Burgess | 2 |
| Ellsworth | 2 |
Bay at a glance
| Population | 1,141 |
| Land area | 15.5 sq mi |
| Density | 73 per sq mi |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Charlevoix 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 | 6 | — | 0.2 |
| 2000s | 6 | +13% | 0.1 |
| 2010s | 7 | +13% | 0.4 |
| 2020s | 10 | +41% | 1.0 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 6 to 10. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. NHTSA counts 0.5 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 1.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Bay
How common are truck crashes in Bay?
Charlevoix County has had 111 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 43 people and killing 7.
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in Bay?
Since 2015, US-131 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Bay: 3.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Bay?
Truck crashes in Charlevoix County peak in July, with 14.4% of the year's crashes.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Bay?
Garbage trucks were involved in 10 reported crashes in Charlevoix County since 2015 (9.0% of truck crashes).
What is the truck crash rate in Bay compared with Michigan?
Charlevoix County records 36.9 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 52.4 across Michigan.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Bay?
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.