Portland, MI truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Portland: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Portland and Ionia County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Ionia County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
9 of 683 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Ionia County compares with Michigan
Ionia County against Michigan and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Ionia County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Ionia County | Michigan | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 84.1 | 52.4 | 49.7 | 1.6× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.3 | 2.1 | 3.4 | 1.6× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.24 | 0.30 | 0.49 | 20% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.3% | 3.2% | 2.3% | 59% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 28.1% | 17.7% | 6.2% | 1.6× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 24.0% | 25.5% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 25.4% | 21.9% | 13.8% | 1.2× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 48.1% | 44.4% | 41.9% | 1.1× the state |
| After dark | 25.8% | 20.7% | 24.8% | 1.2× the state |
Ionia County has lower values than Michigan for injuries per crash and garbage-truck share. It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and on snow, slush or ice.
Ionia County at a glance: 1 in 76 crashes involve a garbage truck (9 since 2015), vs 3.2% across Michigan.
Overview
Since 2015, 683 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Ionia County. They injured 174 people and killed 21.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 7 days.
Only 89 truck crashes were reported in Portland since 2015; patterns below come from Ionia County as a whole.
When crashes happen
The worst month is January with 13.6% of truck crashes; the quietest is May at 5.7%.
The five winter months (November to March) hold 48.1% of truck crashes, against 44.4% across Michigan.
By time of day, 10–11 am stands out with 8.3% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 28.1% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Michigan: 17.7%).
Where crashes happen
Within this area, I-96 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (4). After it: CR-GRAND River Ave (1) and SR-66 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
9 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 1.3% share (Michigan: 3.2%).
Route planning tips for Portland fleets
- Plan January schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Ionia County.
- Where you can, review stops along I-96; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 28.1% 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
Sources: the FMCSA crash file for all reported truck crashes and NHTSA FARS for fatal crashes with a large truck. Every statement here comes straight from those numbers.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Ionia County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-96 | 4 |
| CR-GRAND River Ave | 1 |
| SR-66 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Ionia County) |
|---|---|
| I-96 | 233 |
| State | 48 |
| Grand River | 18 |
| Bluewater | 14 |
| Dexter | 13 |
| Belding | 10 |
| David | 9 |
| Lincoln | 9 |
Portland at a glance
| Population | 3,770 |
| Land area | 2.6 sq mi |
| Density | 1,434 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 48875) | $94,216 |
| Median home value (ZIP 48875) | $220,507 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Ionia 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 | 22 | — | 0.8 |
| 2000s | 31 | +39% | 1.1 |
| 2010s | 34 | +12% | 0.6 |
| 2020s | 64 | +84% | 1.4 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 22 a year in the 1990s and 64 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 0.8 a year in 2016–19 and 1.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Portland
How common are truck crashes in Portland?
Ionia County has had 683 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 174 people and killing 21.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Portland?
I-96 had 4 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Portland since 2015, more than any other road.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Portland?
Truck crashes in Ionia County peak in January, with 13.6% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Portland?
9 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Ionia County since 2015, 1.3% of all truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in Portland compare with Michigan?
Per 100,000 residents, Ionia County has 84.1 truck crashes a year; Michigan has 52.4.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Portland?
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.