Coldsprings, MI truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Coldsprings: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Coldsprings 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 sits below Michigan on 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.
What stands out in Kalkaska County: 6.4 deaths for every 100 truck crashes, against 2.1 across Michigan.
Overview
Kalkaska County has recorded 121 truck crashes since 2015, with 44 people injured and 7 killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 37 days.
Coldsprings had 0 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
Truck crashes peak in January (13.2% of the year) and are lowest in October (2.5%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 52.3% of truck crashes, vs 44.4% for 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
The deadliest road for trucks within 10 miles of Coldsprings is US-131, with 3 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. Next come Alden Hwy (1), CR-571 (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 Coldsprings fleets
- Plan January schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Kalkaska County.
- 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.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
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-571 | 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 |
Coldsprings at a glance
| Population | 1,604 |
| Land area | 34.5 sq mi |
| Density | 46 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 49646) | $64,863 |
| Median home value (ZIP 49646) | $181,523 |
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 |
In the 1990s about 8 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 12. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. 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 Coldsprings
How many truck accidents are there in Coldsprings?
Kalkaska County has had 121 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 44 people and killing 7.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in Coldsprings?
Since 2015, US-131 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Coldsprings: 3.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Coldsprings?
January has the most truck crashes in Kalkaska County, 13.2% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Coldsprings?
4 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Kalkaska County since 2015, 3.3% of all truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in Coldsprings compared with Michigan?
The yearly rate is 53.2 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Kalkaska County, vs 52.4 for Michigan.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Coldsprings?
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.