Houghton County, MI truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Houghton County: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
0 of 120 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Houghton County compares with Michigan
Houghton County against Michigan and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Houghton County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Houghton County | Michigan | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 26.0 | 52.4 | 49.7 | 50% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 4.6 | 2.1 | 3.4 | 2.2× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.21 | 0.30 | 0.49 | 30% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.0% | 3.2% | 2.3% | 100% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 43.1% | 17.7% | 6.2% | 2.4× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 27.5% | 25.5% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 27.5% | 21.9% | 13.8% | 1.3× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 56.0% | 44.4% | 41.9% | 1.3× the state |
| After dark | 17.4% | 20.7% | 24.8% | 16% below the state |
Compared with Michigan, Houghton County is lower on crashes per 100k residents / yr, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share. It runs above Michigan on deaths per 100 crashes, on snow, slush or ice and morning rush (6–10 am).
What stands out in Houghton County: 43.1% share of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (Michigan: 17.7%).
Overview
Since 2015, 120 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Houghton County. They injured 25 people and killed 5.
That averages about one truck crash every 37 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in January (18.3% of the year) and are lowest in April (4.2%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 56.0% of truck crashes, vs 44.4% for Michigan.
By time of day, 9–10 am stands out with 14.2% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 43.1% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Michigan: 17.7%).
Where crashes happen
Roads with fatal crashes involving a large truck in Houghton County since 2015: CR-TAPIOLA Rd (2), US-41 (2), SR-26 (1) and SR-28 (1). No single road stands out.
Garbage & waste trucks
FMCSA lists no garbage-truck crashes in Houghton County since 2015.
Route planning tips for Houghton County fleets
- Review driver schedules for January, the month with the most truck crashes.
- The morning rush (6–10 am) holds 27.5% of truck crashes here, more than Michigan; adjust start times where you can.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 43.1% 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 Houghton County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Houghton County) |
|---|---|
| CR-TAPIOLA Rd | 2 |
| US-41 | 2 |
| SR-26 | 1 |
| SR-28 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Houghton County) |
|---|---|
| US-41 | 25 |
| Memorial | 8 |
| Hancock | 4 |
| Sharon | 3 |
| Otter Lake Tapiola | 3 |
| Montezuma | 2 |
| Paradise | 2 |
| Razorback | 2 |
Houghton County at a glance
| Population | 38,041 |
| Land area | 1,009.1 sq mi |
| Density | 38 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $59,902 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Houghton 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 | 7 | — | 0.4 |
| 2000s | 8 | +22% | 0.4 |
| 2010s | 7 | -12% | 0.6 |
| 2020s | 11 | +50% | 0.4 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 7 to 11. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. NHTSA counts 0.8 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 0.4 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in Houghton County
ZIP codes in Houghton County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Houghton County
How common are truck crashes in Houghton County?
Since 2015, 120 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Houghton County (25 injured, 5 killed).
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Houghton County?
Truck crashes in Houghton County peak in January, with 18.3% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Houghton County?
Since 2015, Houghton County has reported 0 garbage-truck crashes, or 0.0% of its truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in Houghton County compared with Michigan?
Houghton County records 26.0 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 52.4 across Michigan.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Houghton County?
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.