Rapid River Township, MI truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Rapid River Township: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Rapid River Township 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 |
Compared with Michigan, Kalkaska County is lower 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.
Kalkaska County at a glance: 6.4 deaths per 100 truck crashes, vs 2.1 in 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.
Only 19 truck crashes were reported in Rapid River Township since 2015; patterns below come from Kalkaska County as a whole.
When crashes happen
January has the most truck crashes, 13.2% of the yearly total, while October has the fewest (2.5%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 52.3% of truck crashes, against 44.4% across 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
Within this area, US-131 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (3). After it: Alden Hwy (1), CR-571 (1) and US-31 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 4 of the truck crashes here, or 3.3%, compared with 3.2% in Michigan.
Route planning tips for Rapid River Township fleets
- Review driver schedules for January, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Look at alternatives to US-131 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- 27.5% 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
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 |
| 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 |
Rapid River Township at a glance
| Population | 1,295 |
| Land area | 35.1 sq mi |
| Density | 37 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 49612) | $85,156 |
| Median home value (ZIP 49612) | $276,219 |
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. NHTSA counts 1.0 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 0.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Rapid River Township
How common are truck crashes in Rapid River Township?
Since 2015, 121 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Kalkaska County (44 injured, 7 killed).
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in Rapid River Township?
Since 2015, US-131 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Rapid River: 3.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Rapid River Township?
January has the most truck crashes in Kalkaska County, 13.2% of the yearly total.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Rapid River Township?
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 River Township 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 River Township?
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.