Pellston, MI truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Pellston: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Pellston and Emmet County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Emmet County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
13 of 143 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Emmet County compares with Michigan
Emmet County against Michigan and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Emmet County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Emmet County | Michigan | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 36.7 | 52.4 | 49.7 | 30% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 4.4 | 2.1 | 3.4 | 2.1× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.28 | 0.30 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 9.5% | 3.2% | 2.3% | 2.9× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 26.3% | 17.7% | 6.2% | 1.5× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 29.2% | 25.5% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 17.5% | 21.9% | 13.8% | 20% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 40.9% | 44.4% | 41.9% | 8% below the state |
| After dark | 8.8% | 20.7% | 24.8% | 58% below the state |
Compared with Michigan, Emmet County is lower on crashes per 100k residents / yr, in rain, sleet or snow and winter months (nov–mar). It runs above Michigan on deaths per 100 crashes, garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice.
The headline for Emmet County: 1 in 11 crashes involve a garbage truck (13 since 2015), vs 3.2% across Michigan.
Overview
Police reported 143 crashes involving commercial trucks in Emmet County since 2015: 42 people were injured and 6 were killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 29 days.
Pellston had 1 reported truck crash since 2015, too few for reliable patterns, so the charts and findings on this page use Emmet County numbers.
When crashes happen
February has the most truck crashes, 12.6% of the yearly total, while April has the fewest (2.1%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 40.9% of truck crashes, vs 44.4% for Michigan.
The busiest hour is 8–9 am, with 12.6% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 26.3% of truck crashes, compared with 17.7% in Michigan.
Where crashes happen
Roads with fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Pellston since 2015: US-31 (1). No single road stands out.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 13 of the truck crashes here, or 9.1%, compared with 3.2% in Michigan.
Route planning tips for Pellston fleets
- Review driver schedules for February, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Morning starts matter: 29.2% of truck crashes fall between 6 and 10 am, higher than Michigan.
- 26.3% 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
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 Emmet County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-31 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Emmet County) |
|---|---|
| US-31 | 30 |
| US-131 | 13 |
| Charlevoix | 11 |
| Mitchell | 9 |
| Conway | 4 |
| Pickerel Lake | 4 |
| Pleasantview | 4 |
| Spring | 4 |
Pellston at a glance
| Population | 801 |
| Land area | 1.9 sq mi |
| Density | 411 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 49716) | $100,179 |
| Median home value (ZIP 49716) | $309,114 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Emmet 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 | 10 | — | 1.0 |
| 2000s | 11 | +14% | 0.8 |
| 2010s | 8 | -32% | 0.5 |
| 2020s | 15 | +97% | 0.6 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 10 a year in the 1990s and 15 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal large-truck crashes: 0.2 a year in 2016–19, 0.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Pellston
How many truck crashes happen in Pellston?
Since 2015, 143 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Emmet County (42 injured, 6 killed).
Which month has the most truck crashes in Pellston?
The worst month is February: 12.6% of truck crashes in Emmet County happen then.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Pellston?
13 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Emmet County since 2015, 9.1% of all truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in Pellston compared with Michigan?
Emmet County records 36.7 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 52.4 across Michigan.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Pellston?
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.