Interlochen, MI truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Interlochen: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Interlochen and Grand Traverse County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Grand Traverse County numbers.
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 |
Compared with Michigan, Grand Traverse County is lower 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.
The headline for Grand Traverse County: 1 in 19 of truck crashes here involve garbage trucks: 5.1%, vs 3.2% in Michigan.
Overview
Grand Traverse County has recorded 518 truck crashes since 2015, with 153 people injured and 18 killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 8 days.
With 0 truck crashes reported in Interlochen since 2015, this page uses Grand Traverse County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
The worst month is February with 10.0% of truck crashes; the quietest is March at 5.8%.
The five winter months (November to March) hold 44.2% of truck crashes, against 44.4% across Michigan.
The busiest hour is 10–11 am, with 9.7% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 25.9% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Michigan: 17.7%).
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks within 10 miles of Interlochen is US-31, with 3 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. Next come CR-633 Silver Lake Rd (1), CR-BEITNER Rd (1) and CR-SOUTH Long Lake Rd (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 25 of the truck crashes here, or 4.8%, compared with 3.2% in Michigan.
The most garbage-truck crashes happen in August (20%).
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 0.0, vs 3.7 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for Interlochen fleets
- Plan February schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Grand Traverse County.
- Check whether your routes use US-31, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- Waste haulers: August is the peak month for garbage-truck crashes in Grand Traverse County.
- With 25.9% 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
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 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-31 | 3 |
| CR-633 Silver Lake Rd | 1 |
| CR-BEITNER Rd | 1 |
| CR-SOUTH Long Lake 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 |
Interlochen at a glance
| Land area | 1.2 sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 49637) | $75,000 |
| Median home value (ZIP 49637) | $267,723 |
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. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 1.5 a year in 2016–19 and 1.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Interlochen
How many truck accidents are there in Interlochen?
518 truck crashes have been reported in Grand Traverse County since 2015, with 18 deaths and 153 injuries.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Interlochen?
Since 2015, US-31 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Interlochen: 3.
When do most truck crashes happen in Interlochen?
Truck crashes in Grand Traverse County peak in February, with 10.0% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Interlochen?
25 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Grand Traverse County since 2015, 4.8% of all truck crashes.
How does Interlochen compare with Michigan for truck crashes?
The yearly rate is 45.7 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Grand Traverse County, vs 52.4 for Michigan.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Interlochen?
Paste your stops into the free CurbWaste Route Planner: it scores your route against fatal-crash locations, suggests safer alternatives and flags low bridges.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.