Long Lake, MI truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Long Lake: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Long Lake 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 |
Grand Traverse County sits below Michigan on crashes per 100k residents / yr and after dark. It runs above Michigan on deaths per 100 crashes, garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice.
What stands out in Grand Traverse County: 1 in 19 crashes involve a garbage truck (25 since 2015), vs 3.2% across 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.
With 12 truck crashes reported in Long Lake 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%.
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.
Road surface: 25.9% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Michigan: 17.7%).
Where crashes happen
Within this area, US-31 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (3). After it: SR-72 (2), CR-633 Silver Lake Rd (1) and CR-BEITNER Rd (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 25 crashes, 4.8% of the total, against 3.2% across Michigan.
The most garbage-truck crashes happen in August (20%).
Per 100 crashes, garbage trucks recorded 0.0 deaths compared with 3.7 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for Long Lake fleets
- Plan February schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Grand Traverse County.
- Look at alternatives to US-31 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in August; review collection routes for that month.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 25.9% 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 Grand Traverse County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-31 | 3 |
| SR-72 | 2 |
| CR-633 Silver Lake Rd | 1 |
| CR-BEITNER Rd | 1 |
| CR-SOUTH Long Lake Rd | 1 |
| CR-ZIMMER Rd | 1 |
| SR-22 | 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 |
Long Lake at a glance
| Population | 10,068 |
| Land area | 29.9 sq mi |
| Density | 337 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 49685) | $84,590 |
| Median home value (ZIP 49685) | $356,012 |
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 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 25 a year in the 1990s and 49 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal large-truck crashes: 1.5 a year in 2016–19, 1.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Long Lake
How many truck accidents are there in Long Lake?
Since 2015, 518 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Grand Traverse County (153 injured, 18 killed).
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Long Lake?
NHTSA data shows US-31 with 3 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Long Lake since 2015, the highest of any road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Long Lake?
The worst month is February: 10.0% of truck crashes in Grand Traverse County happen then.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Long Lake?
25 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Grand Traverse County since 2015, 4.8% of all truck crashes.
How does Long Lake compare with Michigan for truck crashes?
Grand Traverse County records 45.7 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 52.4 across Michigan.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Long Lake?
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.