Hillsdale, MI truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Hillsdale: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Hillsdale and Hillsdale County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Hillsdale County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
11 of 222 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Hillsdale County compares with Michigan
Hillsdale County against Michigan and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Hillsdale County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Hillsdale County | Michigan | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 41.7 | 52.4 | 49.7 | 20% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 9.1 | 2.1 | 3.4 | 4.3× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.35 | 0.30 | 0.49 | 1.2× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 4.8% | 3.2% | 2.3% | 1.5× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 17.2% | 17.7% | 6.2% | same |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 26.3% | 25.5% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 18.7% | 21.9% | 13.8% | 15% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 44.5% | 44.4% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 14.3% | 20.7% | 24.8% | 31% below the state |
Hillsdale County sits below Michigan on crashes per 100k residents / yr, in rain, sleet or snow and after dark. It stands out for higher deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share.
What stands out in Hillsdale County: 9.1 deaths per 100 truck crashes, vs 2.1 in Michigan.
Overview
Since 2015, 222 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Hillsdale County. They injured 76 people and killed 19.
That averages about one truck crash every 19 days in fully reported years.
With 38 truck crashes reported in Hillsdale since 2015, this page uses Hillsdale County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
January has the most truck crashes, 13.5% of the yearly total, while March has the fewest (6.3%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 44.5% of truck crashes, against 44.4% across Michigan.
The busiest hour is 10–11 am, with 12.6% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 17.2% of truck crashes, compared with 17.7% in Michigan.
Where crashes happen
Since 2015, fatal crashes with a large truck within 10 miles of Hillsdale happened on SR-49 (2), US-12 (2), Reading Rd (1) and SR-99 (1); no road leads clearly.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 11 crashes, 5.0% of the total, against 3.2% across Michigan.
Route planning tips for Hillsdale fleets
- Review driver schedules for January, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
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 Hillsdale County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-49 | 2 |
| US-12 | 2 |
| Reading Rd | 1 |
| SR-99 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Hillsdale County) |
|---|---|
| Chicago | 44 |
| Hudson | 14 |
| Carleton | 11 |
| Edon | 11 |
| Meridian | 9 |
| Pioneer | 6 |
| Olds | 6 |
| Litchfield | 6 |
Hillsdale at a glance
| Population | 7,983 |
| Land area | 5.7 sq mi |
| Density | 1,402 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 49242) | $61,029 |
| Median home value (ZIP 49242) | $181,634 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Hillsdale 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 | 17 | — | 1.2 |
| 2000s | 16 | -10% | 1.1 |
| 2010s | 14 | -13% | 0.9 |
| 2020s | 18 | +36% | 1.0 |
In the 1990s about 17 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 18. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal large-truck crashes: 1.5 a year in 2016–19, 1.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Hillsdale
How many truck accidents are there in Hillsdale?
Hillsdale County has had 222 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 76 people and killing 19.
When do most truck crashes happen in Hillsdale?
Truck crashes in Hillsdale County peak in January, with 13.5% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Hillsdale?
Since 2015, Hillsdale County has reported 11 garbage-truck crashes, or 5.0% of its truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in Hillsdale compare with Michigan?
The yearly rate is 41.7 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Hillsdale County, vs 52.4 for Michigan.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Hillsdale?
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.