Grand Traverse County, MI truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Grand Traverse County: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
0.0 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 3.7 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Grand Traverse County compares with Michigan
Grand Traverse County against Michigan and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Grand Traverse County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Grand Traverse County | Michigan | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 45.7 | 52.4 | 49.7 | 13% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.7 | 2.1 | 3.4 | 1.8× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.29 | 0.30 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 5.1% | 3.2% | 2.3% | 1.6× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 25.9% | 17.7% | 6.2% | 1.5× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 23.9% | 25.5% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 23.9% | 21.9% | 13.8% | 1.1× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 44.2% | 44.4% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 14.2% | 20.7% | 24.8% | 31% below the state |
Grand Traverse County sits below Michigan on crashes per 100k residents / yr and after dark. It stands out for higher deaths per 100 crashes, garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice.
Grand Traverse County at a glance: 1 in 19 garbage-truck share of crashes is 5.1%, against 3.2% for Michigan.
Overview
Police reported 518 crashes involving commercial trucks in Grand Traverse County since 2015: 153 people were injured and 18 were killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 8 days.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in February (10.0% of the year) and are lowest in March (5.8%).
November through March accounts for 44.2% of truck crashes here, compared with 44.4% in Michigan.
By time of day, 10–11 am stands out with 9.7% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 25.9% of truck crashes, compared with 17.7% in Michigan.
Where crashes happen
Fatal large-truck crashes in Grand Traverse County since 2015 were spread across roads: US-131 (3), US-31 (3), CR-605 Williamsburg Rd (1), CR-633 Silver Lake Rd (1) and CR-BEITNER Rd (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 25 of the truck crashes here, or 4.8%, compared with 3.2% in Michigan.
Garbage-truck crashes peak in August (20% of them).
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 0.0, vs 3.7 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for Grand Traverse County fleets
- Review driver schedules for February, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in August; review collection routes for that month.
- 25.9% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice, above Michigan; plan winter equipment checks before the season.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
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 Grand Traverse County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Grand Traverse County) |
|---|---|
| US-131 | 3 |
| US-31 | 3 |
| CR-605 Williamsburg Rd | 1 |
| CR-633 Silver Lake Rd | 1 |
| CR-BEITNER Rd | 1 |
| CR-SOUTH Long Lake Rd | 1 |
| CR-SUMMIT City Rd | 1 |
| CR-ZIMMER Rd | 1 |
| SR-72 | 1 |
| US-41 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Grand Traverse County) |
|---|---|
| US-31 | 108 |
| Garfield | 45 |
| South Airport | 28 |
| Division | 14 |
| Mile | 14 |
| US-131 | 12 |
| Beitner | 12 |
| Grandview | 10 |
Grand Traverse County at a glance
| Population | 96,625 |
| Land area | 464.3 sq mi |
| Density | 208 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $82,034 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Grand Traverse 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 | 25 | — | 1.3 |
| 2000s | 32 | +28% | 1.7 |
| 2010s | 30 | -6% | 1.3 |
| 2020s | 49 | +64% | 1.2 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 25 to 49. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. NHTSA counts 1.5 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 1.2 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in Grand Traverse County
ZIP codes in Grand Traverse County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Grand Traverse County
How common are truck crashes in Grand Traverse County?
Since 2015, 518 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Grand Traverse County (153 injured, 18 killed).
When do most truck crashes happen in Grand Traverse County?
February has the most truck crashes in Grand Traverse County, 10.0% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Grand Traverse County?
25 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Grand Traverse County since 2015, 4.8% of all truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in Grand Traverse County compare with Michigan?
Per 100,000 residents, Grand Traverse County has 45.7 truck crashes a year; Michigan has 52.4.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Grand Traverse County?
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.