Union Township, Grand Traverse County, MI truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Union Township, Grand Traverse County: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Union Township, Grand Traverse County 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 has lower values than Michigan for 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.
The headline for Grand Traverse County: 1 in 19 of truck crashes here involve garbage trucks: 5.1%, vs 3.2% in Michigan.
Overview
Police reported 518 crashes involving commercial trucks in Grand Traverse County since 2015: 153 people were injured and 18 were killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 8 days in fully reported years.
Union Township, Grand Traverse County had 6 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
Truck crashes peak in February (10.0% of the year) and are lowest in March (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
US-131 leads within 10 miles of Union with 3 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. Next come CR-605 Williamsburg Rd (1), CR-SUMMIT City Rd (1) and SR-72 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 25 crashes, 4.8% of the total, against 3.2% across 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 Union Township, Grand Traverse County fleets
- Review driver schedules for February, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Where you can, review stops along US-131; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- 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.
- 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-131 | 3 |
| CR-605 Williamsburg Rd | 1 |
| CR-SUMMIT City Rd | 1 |
| SR-72 | 1 |
| US-31 | 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 |
Union Township, Grand Traverse County at a glance
| Population | 477 |
| Land area | 35.8 sq mi |
| Density | 13 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 49696) | $94,803 |
| Median home value (ZIP 49696) | $305,926 |
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 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 Union Township, Grand Traverse County
How common are truck crashes in Union Township, Grand Traverse County?
Grand Traverse County has had 518 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 153 people and killing 18.
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in Union Township, Grand Traverse County?
Since 2015, US-131 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Union: 3.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Union Township, Grand Traverse County?
February has the most truck crashes in Grand Traverse County, 10.0% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Union Township, 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.
What is the truck crash rate in Union Township, Grand Traverse County compared with Michigan?
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 Union Township, Grand Traverse County?
Use the free Route Planner: enter your stops to get a risk score, safer alternatives and the low bridges on your route.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.