Laird, MI truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Laird: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Laird 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
No fatal large-truck crashes with a road name recorded here since 2015.
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. Where it is higher: 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
Houghton County has recorded 120 truck crashes since 2015, with 25 people injured and 5 killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 37 days.
Laird had 1 reported truck crash since 2015, too few for reliable patterns, so the charts and findings on this page use Houghton County numbers.
When crashes happen
The worst month is January with 18.3% of truck crashes; the quietest is April at 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
No fatal crash involving a large truck has a recorded location within 10 miles of Laird since 2015.
Garbage & waste trucks
FMCSA lists no garbage-truck crashes in Houghton County since 2015.
Route planning tips for Laird 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.
- 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
No fatal crashes involving a large truck with a road name were recorded within 10 miles since 2015.
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 |
Laird at a glance
| Population | 497 |
| Land area | 187.3 sq mi |
| Density | 3 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 49952) | $79,583 |
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 Laird
How many truck accidents are there in Laird?
Since 2015, 120 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Houghton County (25 injured, 5 killed).
Which month has the most truck crashes in Laird?
January has the most truck crashes in Houghton County, 18.3% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Laird?
0 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Houghton County since 2015, 0.0% of all truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in Laird compared with Michigan?
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 Laird?
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.