Franklin Township, Houghton County, MI truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Franklin Township, Houghton County: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Franklin Township, Houghton County and Houghton County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Houghton County numbers.
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 stands out for higher deaths per 100 crashes, on snow, slush or ice and morning rush (6–10 am).
Houghton County at a glance: 43.1% share of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (Michigan: 17.7%).
Overview
Police reported 120 crashes involving commercial trucks in Houghton County since 2015: 25 people were injured and 5 were killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 37 days.
Only 13 truck crashes were reported in Franklin Township, Houghton County since 2015; patterns below come from Houghton County as a whole.
When crashes happen
The worst month is January with 18.3% of truck crashes; the quietest is April at 4.2%.
The five winter months (November to March) hold 56.0% of truck crashes, against 44.4% across Michigan.
By time of day, 9–10 am stands out with 14.2% of truck crashes.
43.1% 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 Franklin happened on US-41 (2) and SR-26 (1); no road leads clearly.
Garbage & waste trucks
No crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Houghton County since 2015.
Route planning tips for Franklin Township, Houghton County fleets
- Review driver schedules for January, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Morning starts matter: 27.5% of truck crashes fall between 6 and 10 am, higher than Michigan.
- With 43.1% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above Michigan), plan winter equipment checks early.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
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 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-41 | 2 |
| SR-26 | 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 |
Franklin Township, Houghton County at a glance
| Population | 1,541 |
| Land area | 19.9 sq mi |
| Density | 78 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 49930) | $72,314 |
| Median home value (ZIP 49930) | $206,034 |
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 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 7 a year in the 1990s and 11 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal large-truck crashes: 0.8 a year in 2016–19, 0.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Franklin Township, Houghton County
How common are truck crashes in Franklin Township, Houghton County?
Houghton County has had 120 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 25 people and killing 5.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Franklin Township, 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 Franklin Township, Houghton County?
Garbage trucks were involved in 0 reported crashes in Houghton County since 2015 (0.0% of truck crashes).
How does Franklin Township, Houghton County compare with Michigan for truck crashes?
Houghton County records 26.0 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 52.4 across Michigan.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Franklin Township, 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.