Paradise, MI truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Paradise: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Paradise 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.
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.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 8 days.
Paradise had 33 reported truck crashes since 2015, too few for reliable patterns, so the charts and findings on this page use Grand Traverse County numbers.
When crashes happen
February has the most truck crashes, 10.0% of the yearly total, while March has the fewest (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.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 25.9% of truck crashes, compared with 17.7% in Michigan.
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks within 10 miles of Paradise is US-131, with 4 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. After it: CR-BEITNER Rd (1), CR-SUMMIT City Rd (1) and SR-131 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 25 crashes, 4.8% of the total, against 3.2% across Michigan.
Their busiest month is August, with 20% of garbage-truck crashes.
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 0.0, vs 3.7 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for Paradise fleets
- Plan February schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Grand Traverse County.
- Look at alternatives to US-131 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.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
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 Grand Traverse County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-131 | 4 |
| CR-BEITNER Rd | 1 |
| CR-SUMMIT City Rd | 1 |
| SR-131 | 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 |
Paradise at a glance
| Population | 5,069 |
| Land area | 52.9 sq mi |
| Density | 96 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 49649) | $74,656 |
| Median home value (ZIP 49649) | $267,438 |
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 Paradise
How many truck crashes happen in Paradise?
Since 2015, 518 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Grand Traverse County (153 injured, 18 killed).
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in Paradise?
NHTSA data shows US-131 with 4 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Paradise since 2015, the highest of any road.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Paradise?
February has the most truck crashes in Grand Traverse County, 10.0% of the yearly total.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Paradise?
Since 2015, Grand Traverse County has reported 25 garbage-truck crashes, or 4.8% of its truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in Paradise compared with Michigan?
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 Paradise?
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.