Kalamazoo County, MI truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Kalamazoo County: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
0.0 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 2.3 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Kalamazoo County compares with Michigan
Kalamazoo County against Michigan and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Kalamazoo County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Kalamazoo County | Michigan | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 59.1 | 52.4 | 49.7 | 1.1× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.3 | 2.1 | 3.4 | 1.1× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.47 | 0.30 | 0.49 | 1.6× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.6% | 3.2% | 2.3% | 51% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 27.4% | 17.7% | 6.2% | 1.6× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 24.5% | 25.5% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 30.1% | 21.9% | 13.8% | 1.4× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 51.1% | 44.4% | 41.9% | 1.2× the state |
| After dark | 25.1% | 20.7% | 24.8% | 1.2× the state |
Kalamazoo County has lower values than Michigan for garbage-truck share. Where it is higher: crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash.
What stands out in Kalamazoo County: 27.4% of truck crashes happened on snow, slush or ice, vs 17.7% in Michigan.
Overview
Since 2015, 1,842 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Kalamazoo County. They injured 841 people and killed 43.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 2 days.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in January (13.9% of the year) and are lowest in April (5.9%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 51.1% of truck crashes, against 44.4% across Michigan.
The busiest hour is 9–10 am, with 8.4% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 27.4% of truck crashes, compared with 17.7% in Michigan.
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks in Kalamazoo County is I-94, with 7 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. It is followed by US-131 (2), CR-9TH St (1) and CR-G Ave (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 28 of the truck crashes here, or 1.5%, compared with 3.2% in Michigan.
The most garbage-truck crashes happen in August (18%).
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 0.0, vs 2.3 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for Kalamazoo County fleets
- Plan January schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Kalamazoo County.
- Check whether your routes use I-94, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- Waste haulers: August is the peak month for garbage-truck crashes in Kalamazoo County.
- 27.4% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice, above Michigan; plan winter equipment checks before the season.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
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 Kalamazoo County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Kalamazoo County) |
|---|---|
| I-94 | 7 |
| US-131 | 2 |
| CR-9TH St | 1 |
| CR-G Ave | 1 |
| CR-MN Ave | 1 |
| CR-PORTAGE Rd | 1 |
| E B Ave | 1 |
| Maple Hill Dr | 1 |
| N 35th St | 1 |
| Park St | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Kalamazoo County) |
|---|---|
| I-94 | 333 |
| Sprinkle | 93 |
| US-131 | 78 |
| N Us 131 | 58 |
| S Us 131 | 47 |
| Michigan | 41 |
| Stadium | 39 |
| Westnedge | 38 |
Kalamazoo County at a glance
| Population | 264,780 |
| Land area | 562.0 sq mi |
| Density | 471 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $73,360 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Kalamazoo 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 | 101 | — | 3.3 |
| 2000s | 110 | +9% | 1.8 |
| 2010s | 104 | -5% | 2.4 |
| 2020s | 167 | +60% | 2.6 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 101 a year in the 1990s and 167 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 1.2 a year in 2016–19 and 2.6 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in Kalamazoo County
ZIP codes in Kalamazoo County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Kalamazoo County
How many truck crashes happen in Kalamazoo County?
1,842 truck crashes have been reported in Kalamazoo County since 2015, with 43 deaths and 841 injuries.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Kalamazoo County?
I-94 had 7 fatal crashes involving a large truck in Kalamazoo County since 2015, more than any other road.
When do most truck crashes happen in Kalamazoo County?
The worst month is January: 13.9% of truck crashes in Kalamazoo County happen then.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Kalamazoo County?
28 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Kalamazoo County since 2015, 1.5% of all truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in Kalamazoo County compare with Michigan?
Kalamazoo County records 59.1 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 52.4 across Michigan.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Kalamazoo County?
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.