Portage Township, Houghton County, MI truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Portage Township, Houghton County: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Portage 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 |
Houghton County sits below Michigan 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).
Houghton County at a glance: 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.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 37 days.
Only 16 truck crashes were reported in Portage Township, Houghton County 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%).
November through March accounts for 56.0% of truck crashes here, compared with 44.4% in 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
Fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Portage since 2015 were spread across roads: CR-TAPIOLA Rd (2) and US-41 (2).
Garbage & waste trucks
No crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Houghton County since 2015.
Route planning tips for Portage Township, Houghton County fleets
- Plan January schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Houghton County.
- The morning rush (6–10 am) holds 27.5% of truck crashes here, more than Michigan; adjust start times where you can.
- With 43.1% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above Michigan), plan winter equipment checks early.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
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 Houghton County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| CR-TAPIOLA Rd | 2 |
| US-41 | 2 |
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 |
Portage Township, Houghton County at a glance
| Population | 3,250 |
| Land area | 112.0 sq mi |
| Density | 29 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 49916) | $74,625 |
| Median home value (ZIP 49916) | $189,769 |
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. Fatal large-truck crashes: 0.8 a year in 2016–19, 0.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Portage Township, Houghton County
How many truck accidents are there in Portage Township, Houghton County?
120 truck crashes have been reported in Houghton County since 2015, with 5 deaths and 25 injuries.
When do most truck crashes happen in Portage Township, Houghton County?
Truck crashes in Houghton County peak in January, with 18.3% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Portage Township, Houghton County?
0 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Houghton County since 2015, 0.0% of all truck crashes.
How does Portage Township, Houghton County compare with Michigan for truck crashes?
Per 100,000 residents, Houghton County has 26.0 truck crashes a year; Michigan has 52.4.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Portage 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.