Portage, MI truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Portage: 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
5 of 346 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Portage compares with Michigan
Portage against Michigan and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Portage stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Portage | Michigan | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 59.3 | 52.4 | 49.7 | 1.1× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 0.9 | 2.1 | 3.4 | 57% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.23 | 0.30 | 0.49 | 23% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.5% | 3.2% | 2.3% | 52% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 31.6% | 17.7% | 6.2% | 1.8× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 22.7% | 25.5% | 23.7% | 11% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 35.9% | 21.9% | 13.8% | 1.6× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 54.3% | 44.4% | 41.9% | 1.2× the state |
| After dark | 29.1% | 20.7% | 24.8% | 1.4× the state |
Portage sits below Michigan on deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share. Where it is higher: crashes per 100k residents / yr, on snow, slush or ice and in rain, sleet or snow.
The headline for Portage: 31.6% share of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (Michigan: 17.7%).
Overview
Portage has recorded 346 truck crashes since 2015, with 79 people injured and 4 killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 12 days.
When crashes happen
The worst month is January with 15.0% of truck crashes; the quietest is July at 4.6%.
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 54.3% of truck crashes, vs 44.4% for Michigan.
By time of day, 3–4 pm stands out with 8.7% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 31.6% of truck crashes, compared with 17.7% in Michigan.
Where crashes happen
I-94 leads within 10 miles of Portage with 5 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. It is followed by US-131 (2), CR-9TH St (1) and CR-MN Ave (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 5 crashes, 1.4% of the total, against 3.2% across Michigan.
Route planning tips for Portage 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.
- With 31.6% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above Michigan), plan winter equipment checks early.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
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 Portage
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-94 | 5 |
| US-131 | 2 |
| CR-9TH St | 1 |
| CR-MN Ave | 1 |
| CR-PORTAGE Rd | 1 |
| Maple Hill Dr | 1 |
| Park St | 1 |
| S Sprinkle Rd | 1 |
| Sr-I94/Us-131 Bl Stadium Dr | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Portage) |
|---|---|
| I-94 | 98 |
| Centre | 20 |
| Westnedge | 18 |
| Sprinkle | 16 |
| Portage | 12 |
| Shaver | 11 |
| Oakland | 7 |
| Romence | 7 |
Portage at a glance
| Population | 49,975 |
| Land area | 32.2 sq mi |
| Density | 1,551 per sq mi |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Portage 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 | 18 | — | 3.3 |
| 2000s | 23 | +34% | 1.8 |
| 2010s | 20 | -16% | 2.4 |
| 2020s | 32 | +65% | 2.6 |
In the 1990s about 18 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 32. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. NHTSA counts 1.2 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 2.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Portage
How many truck accidents are there in Portage?
Since 2015, 346 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Portage (79 injured, 4 killed).
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Portage?
NHTSA data shows I-94 with 5 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Portage since 2015, the highest of any road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Portage?
The worst month is January: 15.0% of truck crashes in Portage happen then.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Portage?
5 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Portage since 2015, 1.4% of all truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in Portage compare with Michigan?
Portage records 59.3 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 52.4 across Michigan.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Portage?
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.