Reading, MI truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Reading: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Reading 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 has lower values than Michigan for 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.
Hillsdale County at a glance: 9.1 people killed per 100 truck crashes (Michigan: 2.1).
Overview
Hillsdale County has recorded 222 truck crashes since 2015, with 76 people injured and 19 killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 19 days in fully reported years.
Reading had 11 reported truck crashes since 2015, too few for reliable patterns, so the charts and findings on this page use Hillsdale County numbers.
When crashes happen
The worst month is January with 13.5% of truck crashes; the quietest is March at 6.3%.
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 44.5% of truck crashes, vs 44.4% for Michigan.
By time of day, 10–11 am stands out with 12.6% of truck crashes.
17.2% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 17.7% across Michigan.
Where crashes happen
Since 2015, fatal crashes with a large truck within 10 miles of Reading happened on CR-LESTER Rd (1), Mead Rd (1), Reading Rd (1), SR-49 (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 Reading fleets
- Review driver schedules for January, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
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 Hillsdale County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| CR-LESTER Rd | 1 |
| Mead Rd | 1 |
| Reading Rd | 1 |
| SR-49 | 1 |
| SR-99 | 1 |
| US-12 | 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 |
Reading at a glance
| Population | 1,080 |
| Land area | 1.0 sq mi |
| Density | 1,067 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 49274) | $58,087 |
| Median home value (ZIP 49274) | $169,450 |
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 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 17 a year in the 1990s and 18 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 1.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Reading
How many truck accidents are there in Reading?
Hillsdale County has had 222 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 76 people and killing 19.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Reading?
Truck crashes in Hillsdale County peak in January, with 13.5% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Reading?
11 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Hillsdale County since 2015, 5.0% of all truck crashes.
How does Reading compare with Michigan for truck crashes?
The yearly rate is 41.7 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Hillsdale County, vs 52.4 for Michigan.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Reading?
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.