Charlotte, MI truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Charlotte: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Charlotte and Eaton County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Eaton County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
12 of 811 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Eaton County compares with Michigan
Eaton County against Michigan and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Eaton County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Eaton County | Michigan | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 63.6 | 52.4 | 49.7 | 1.2× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.3 | 2.1 | 3.4 | 1.1× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.31 | 0.30 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.0% | 3.2% | 2.3% | 68% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 26.2% | 17.7% | 6.2% | 1.5× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 26.9% | 25.5% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 25.2% | 21.9% | 13.8% | 1.1× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 51.0% | 44.4% | 41.9% | 1.1× the state |
| After dark | 28.3% | 20.7% | 24.8% | 1.4× the state |
Eaton County sits below Michigan on garbage-truck share. It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and on snow, slush or ice.
What stands out in Eaton County: 1 in 96 garbage-truck share of crashes is 1.0%, against 3.2% for Michigan.
Overview
Eaton County has recorded 811 truck crashes since 2015, with 262 people injured and 18 killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 5 days.
With 31 truck crashes reported in Charlotte since 2015, this page uses Eaton County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
The worst month is February with 12.3% of truck crashes; the quietest is April at 5.8%.
The five winter months (November to March) hold 51.0% of truck crashes, against 44.4% across Michigan.
More truck crashes happen at 9–10 am than at any other hour (8.8%).
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 26.2% of truck crashes, compared with 17.7% in Michigan.
Where crashes happen
Since 2015, fatal crashes with a large truck within 10 miles of Charlotte happened on I-69 (2), SR-50 (2), CR-PACKARD Hwy (1), Cochran Rd (1) and SR-79 (1); no road leads clearly.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 12 crashes, 1.5% of the total, against 3.2% across Michigan.
Route planning tips for Charlotte fleets
- Plan February schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Eaton County.
- With 26.2% 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
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 Eaton County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-69 | 2 |
| SR-50 | 2 |
| CR-PACKARD Hwy | 1 |
| Cochran Rd | 1 |
| SR-79 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Eaton County) |
|---|---|
| I-69 | 121 |
| Lansing | 49 |
| I-96 | 48 |
| Creyts | 43 |
| Clinton | 36 |
| Saginaw | 32 |
| Canal | 20 |
| Michigan | 18 |
Charlotte at a glance
| Population | 9,301 |
| Land area | 6.5 sq mi |
| Density | 1,442 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 48813) | $80,429 |
| Median home value (ZIP 48813) | $188,785 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Eaton 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 | 38 | — | 1.6 |
| 2000s | 45 | +18% | 2.5 |
| 2010s | 50 | +10% | 0.7 |
| 2020s | 73 | +47% | 2.6 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 38 to 73. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal large-truck crashes: 0.8 a year in 2016–19, 2.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Charlotte
How many truck crashes happen in Charlotte?
Since 2015, 811 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Eaton County (262 injured, 18 killed).
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Charlotte?
Truck crashes in Eaton County peak in February, with 12.3% of the year's crashes.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Charlotte?
12 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Eaton County since 2015, 1.5% of all truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in Charlotte compare with Michigan?
Per 100,000 residents, Eaton County has 63.6 truck crashes a year; Michigan has 52.4.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Charlotte?
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.