Clearwater, MI truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Clearwater: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Clearwater and Kalkaska County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Kalkaska County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
4 of 121 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Kalkaska County compares with Michigan
Kalkaska County against Michigan and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Kalkaska County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Kalkaska County | Michigan | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 53.2 | 52.4 | 49.7 | same |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 6.4 | 2.1 | 3.4 | 3.0× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.37 | 0.30 | 0.49 | 1.2× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.8% | 3.2% | 2.3% | 15% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 27.5% | 17.7% | 6.2% | 1.6× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 22.9% | 25.5% | 23.7% | 10% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 31.2% | 21.9% | 13.8% | 1.4× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 52.3% | 44.4% | 41.9% | 1.2× the state |
| After dark | 26.6% | 20.7% | 24.8% | 1.3× the state |
Kalkaska County has lower values than Michigan for garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am). It stands out for higher deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and on snow, slush or ice.
The headline for Kalkaska County: 6.4 deaths for every 100 truck crashes, against 2.1 across Michigan.
Overview
Since 2015, 121 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Kalkaska County. They injured 44 people and killed 7.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 37 days.
Clearwater had 6 reported truck crashes since 2015, too few for reliable patterns, so the charts and findings on this page use Kalkaska County numbers.
When crashes happen
The worst month is January with 13.2% of truck crashes; the quietest is October at 2.5%.
November through March accounts for 52.3% of truck crashes here, compared with 44.4% in Michigan.
The busiest hour is 9–10 am, with 9.1% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 27.5% of truck crashes, compared with 17.7% in Michigan.
Where crashes happen
US-131 leads within 10 miles of Clearwater with 3 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. Next come Alden Hwy (1), CR-605 Williamsburg Rd (1) and US-31 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 4 crashes, 3.3% of the total, against 3.2% across Michigan.
Route planning tips for Clearwater fleets
- Build extra time into January routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Check whether your routes use US-131, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- 27.5% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice, above Michigan; plan winter equipment checks before the season.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
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 Kalkaska County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-131 | 3 |
| Alden Hwy | 1 |
| CR-605 Williamsburg Rd | 1 |
| US-31 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Kalkaska County) |
|---|---|
| US-131 | 36 |
| Cedar | 9 |
| Boardman | 4 |
| Mile | 4 |
| County Road 571 | 3 |
| County Road 612 | 2 |
| Ingersoll | 2 |
| Rapid City | 2 |
Clearwater at a glance
| Population | 2,594 |
| Land area | 31.2 sq mi |
| Density | 83 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 49676) | $75,781 |
| Median home value (ZIP 49676) | $288,762 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Kalkaska 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 | 8 | — | 0.4 |
| 2000s | 8 | +9% | 0.3 |
| 2010s | 7 | -19% | 0.5 |
| 2020s | 12 | +69% | 0.4 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 8 a year in the 1990s and 12 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 1.0 a year in 2016–19 and 0.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Clearwater
How common are truck crashes in Clearwater?
121 truck crashes have been reported in Kalkaska County since 2015, with 7 deaths and 44 injuries.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in Clearwater?
Since 2015, US-131 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Clearwater: 3.
When do most truck crashes happen in Clearwater?
The worst month is January: 13.2% of truck crashes in Kalkaska County happen then.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Clearwater?
Since 2015, Kalkaska County has reported 4 garbage-truck crashes, or 3.3% of its truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in Clearwater compared with Michigan?
Kalkaska County records 53.2 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 52.4 across Michigan.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Clearwater?
Use the free Route Planner: enter your stops to get a risk score, safer alternatives and the low bridges on your route.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.