Waterloo, MI truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Waterloo: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Waterloo and Jackson County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Jackson County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
3.4 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 2.5 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Jackson County compares with Michigan
Jackson County against Michigan and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Jackson County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Jackson County | Michigan | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 66.9 | 52.4 | 49.7 | 1.3× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.5 | 2.1 | 3.4 | 1.2× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.30 | 0.30 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.5% | 3.2% | 2.3% | 24% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 16.0% | 17.7% | 6.2% | 9% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 25.0% | 25.5% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 22.2% | 21.9% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 42.9% | 44.4% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 22.8% | 20.7% | 24.8% | 1.1× the state |
Compared with Michigan, Jackson County is lower on garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice. Where it is higher: crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and after dark.
The headline for Waterloo: I-94 most fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of Waterloo: 4 since 2015.
Overview
Since 2015, 1,250 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Jackson County. They injured 374 people and killed 30.
That averages about one truck crash every 3 days in fully reported years.
With 9 truck crashes reported in Waterloo since 2015, this page uses Jackson County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in January (12.7% of the year) and are lowest in April (5.0%).
November through March accounts for 42.9% of truck crashes here, compared with 44.4% in Michigan.
By time of day, 9–10 am stands out with 8.2% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 16.0% of truck crashes, compared with 17.7% in Michigan.
Where crashes happen
Within this area, I-94 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (4). Next come CR-BROGAN Rd (1), CR-GOODBAND Rd (1) and CR-OLD Us-12 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 32 crashes, 2.6% of the total, against 3.2% across Michigan.
The most garbage-truck crashes happen in January (19%).
They recorded 3.4 deaths per 100 crashes, against 2.5 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for Waterloo fleets
- Build extra time into January routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Where you can, review stops along I-94; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in January; review collection routes for that month.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
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 Jackson County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-94 | 4 |
| CR-BROGAN Rd | 1 |
| CR-GOODBAND Rd | 1 |
| CR-OLD Us-12 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Jackson County) |
|---|---|
| I-94 | 330 |
| Michigan | 38 |
| Meridian | 35 |
| US-127 | 25 |
| Cooper | 24 |
| Spring Arbor | 23 |
| S Us 127 | 23 |
| N Us 127 | 17 |
Waterloo at a glance
| Population | 3,000 |
| Land area | 47.6 sq mi |
| Density | 63 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 49259) | $66,500 |
| Median home value (ZIP 49259) | $207,899 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Jackson 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 | 79 | — | 3.7 |
| 2000s | 77 | -2% | 2.7 |
| 2010s | 72 | -6% | 2.1 |
| 2020s | 116 | +60% | 2.0 |
In the 1990s about 79 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 116. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 2.5 a year in 2016–19 and 2.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Waterloo
How many truck accidents are there in Waterloo?
1,250 truck crashes have been reported in Jackson County since 2015, with 30 deaths and 374 injuries.
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in Waterloo?
Since 2015, I-94 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Waterloo: 4.
When do most truck crashes happen in Waterloo?
January has the most truck crashes in Jackson County, 12.7% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Waterloo?
Since 2015, Jackson County has reported 32 garbage-truck crashes, or 2.6% of its truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in Waterloo compared with Michigan?
The yearly rate is 66.9 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Jackson County, vs 52.4 for Michigan.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Waterloo?
Paste your stops into the free CurbWaste Route Planner: it scores your route against fatal-crash locations, suggests safer alternatives and flags low bridges.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.