South Arm, MI truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in South Arm: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in South Arm 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 sits below Michigan on crashes per 100k residents / yr and after dark. Where it is higher: deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share.
Charlevoix County at a glance: 1 in 11 garbage-truck share of crashes is 9.4%, against 3.2% for Michigan.
Overview
Charlevoix County has recorded 111 truck crashes since 2015, with 43 people injured and 7 killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 38 days.
With 2 truck crashes reported in South Arm since 2015, this page uses Charlevoix County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
July has the most truck crashes, 14.4% of the yearly total, while June has the fewest (2.7%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 53.8% of truck crashes, against 44.4% across Michigan.
More truck crashes happen at 8–9 am than at any other hour (14.4%).
Road surface: 36.8% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Michigan: 17.7%).
Where crashes happen
Since 2015, fatal crashes with a large truck within 10 miles of South Arm happened on SR-66 (2); no road leads clearly.
Garbage & waste trucks
10 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 9.0% share (Michigan: 3.2%).
Route planning tips for South Arm fleets
- Plan July schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Charlevoix County.
- The morning rush (6–10 am) holds 34.0% of truck crashes here, more than Michigan; adjust start times where you can.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 36.8% of truck crashes here, more than Michigan; schedule winter checks early.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
About the data
Crash counts come from the FMCSA crash file (police-reported crashes involving trucks over 10,000 lb); fatal-crash locations come from NHTSA FARS. Text on this page states only what these numbers show.
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) |
|---|---|
| SR-66 | 2 |
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 |
South Arm at a glance
| Population | 1,936 |
| Land area | 30.7 sq mi |
| Density | 63 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 49727) | $70,865 |
| Median home value (ZIP 49727) | $221,783 |
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 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 6 a year in the 1990s and 10 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 0.5 a year in 2016–19 and 1.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about South Arm
How many truck accidents are there in South Arm?
Charlevoix County has had 111 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 43 people and killing 7.
Which month has the most truck crashes in South Arm?
The worst month is July: 14.4% of truck crashes in Charlevoix County happen then.
Are garbage truck crashes common in South Arm?
Garbage trucks were involved in 10 reported crashes in Charlevoix County since 2015 (9.0% of truck crashes).
How do truck crashes in South Arm compare with Michigan?
Per 100,000 residents, Charlevoix County has 36.9 truck crashes a year; Michigan has 52.4.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in South Arm?
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.