Houghton, MI truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Houghton: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Houghton 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 |
Houghton County sits below Michigan on crashes per 100k residents / yr, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share. Where it is higher: deaths per 100 crashes, on snow, slush or ice and morning rush (6–10 am).
The headline for Houghton County: 43.1% of truck crashes happened on snow, slush or ice, vs 17.7% in Michigan.
Overview
Houghton County has recorded 120 truck crashes since 2015, with 25 people injured and 5 killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 37 days.
Only 24 truck crashes were reported in Houghton since 2015; patterns below come from Houghton County as a whole.
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.
The busiest hour is 9–10 am, with 14.2% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 43.1% of truck crashes, compared with 17.7% in Michigan.
Where crashes happen
Since 2015, fatal crashes with a large truck within 10 miles of Houghton happened on US-41 (2) and SR-26 (1); no road leads clearly.
Garbage & waste trucks
Since 2015, no garbage-truck crashes were reported for Houghton County.
Route planning tips for Houghton fleets
- Plan January schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Houghton County.
- 27.5% of truck crashes happen between 6 and 10 am, above Michigan; consider earlier or later starts where possible.
- 43.1% 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
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 |
Houghton at a glance
| Population | 8,543 |
| Land area | 4.4 sq mi |
| Density | 1,949 per sq mi |
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 |
In the 1990s about 7 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 11. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal large-truck crashes: 0.8 a year in 2016–19, 0.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Houghton
How common are truck crashes in Houghton?
Houghton County has had 120 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 25 people and killing 5.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Houghton?
January has the most truck crashes in Houghton County, 18.3% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Houghton?
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 compared with Michigan?
Houghton County records 26.0 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 52.4 across Michigan.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Houghton?
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.