Rapid City, MI truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Rapid City: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Rapid City 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). Where it is higher: deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and on snow, slush or ice.
What stands out in Kalkaska County: 6.4 people killed per 100 truck crashes (Michigan: 2.1).
Overview
Kalkaska County has recorded 121 truck crashes since 2015, with 44 people injured and 7 killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 37 days.
With 0 truck crashes reported in Rapid City since 2015, this page uses Kalkaska County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in January (13.2% of the year) and are lowest in October (2.5%).
November through March accounts for 52.3% of truck crashes here, compared with 44.4% in Michigan.
By time of day, 9–10 am stands out with 9.1% of truck crashes.
27.5% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 17.7% across Michigan.
Where crashes happen
US-131 leads within 10 miles of Rapid City with 3 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. After it: Alden Hwy (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 Rapid City 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.
- With 27.5% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above Michigan), plan winter equipment checks early.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
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 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 |
| 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 |
Rapid City at a glance
| Land area | 5.4 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 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 8 to 12. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. 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 Rapid City
How many truck crashes happen in Rapid City?
Since 2015, 121 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Kalkaska County (44 injured, 7 killed).
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in Rapid City?
US-131 had 3 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Rapid City since 2015, more than any other road.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Rapid City?
January has the most truck crashes in Kalkaska County, 13.2% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Rapid City?
Garbage trucks were involved in 4 reported crashes in Kalkaska County since 2015 (3.3% of truck crashes).
What is the truck crash rate in Rapid City compared with Michigan?
Kalkaska County records 53.2 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 52.4 across Michigan.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Rapid City?
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.