Alpine, MI truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Alpine: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Alpine and Kent County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Kent County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
1.0 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 1.5 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Kent County compares with Michigan
Kent County against Michigan and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Kent County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Kent County | Michigan | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 58.4 | 52.4 | 49.7 | 1.1× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 1.5 | 2.1 | 3.4 | 29% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.22 | 0.30 | 0.49 | 27% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.3% | 3.2% | 2.3% | 28% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 15.9% | 17.7% | 6.2% | 10% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 28.1% | 25.5% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 22.8% | 21.9% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 42.2% | 44.4% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 18.4% | 20.7% | 24.8% | 11% below the state |
Kent County has lower values than Michigan for deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share. Where it is higher: crashes per 100k residents / yr and morning rush (6–10 am).
Kent County at a glance: January is the peak month for garbage-truck crashes: 14% of them.
Overview
Kent County has recorded 4,686 truck crashes since 2015, with 1,048 people injured and 69 killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about 1 truck crash a day.
With 60 truck crashes reported in Alpine since 2015, this page uses Kent County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
January has the most truck crashes, 12.6% of the yearly total, while April has the fewest (6.3%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 42.2% of truck crashes, against 44.4% across Michigan.
By time of day, 8–9 am stands out with 8.5% of truck crashes.
15.9% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 17.7% across Michigan.
Where crashes happen
Roads with fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Alpine since 2015: SR-11 (2), SR-37 (2), US-131 (2), CR-CIRCLE Dr (1) and CR-FRUIT Ridge Ave Nw (1). No single road stands out.
Garbage & waste trucks
116 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 2.5% share (Michigan: 3.2%).
Their busiest month is January, with 14% of garbage-truck crashes.
Per 100 crashes, garbage trucks recorded 1.0 deaths compared with 1.5 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for Alpine fleets
- Build extra time into January routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in January; review collection routes for that month.
- 28.1% of truck crashes happen between 6 and 10 am, above Michigan; consider earlier or later starts where possible.
- 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 Kent County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-11 | 2 |
| SR-37 | 2 |
| US-131 | 2 |
| CR-CIRCLE Dr | 1 |
| CR-FRUIT Ridge Ave Nw | 1 |
| Michigan St Ne | 1 |
| Pearl St Nw | 1 |
| SR-19 | 1 |
| SR-44 | 1 |
| SR-45 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Kent County) |
|---|---|
| US-131 | 414 |
| I-96 | 221 |
| N Us 131 | 205 |
| 28Th | 201 |
| S Us 131 | 200 |
| Mile | 163 |
| 44Th | 113 |
| I-196 | 110 |
Alpine at a glance
| Population | 14,103 |
| Land area | 36.0 sq mi |
| Density | 391 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 49544) | $74,390 |
| Median home value (ZIP 49544) | $264,308 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Kent 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 | 230 | — | 6.9 |
| 2000s | 253 | +10% | 5.5 |
| 2010s | 259 | +2% | 4.9 |
| 2020s | 428 | +65% | 5.0 |
In the 1990s about 230 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 428. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal large-truck crashes: 6.2 a year in 2016–19, 5.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Alpine
How many truck accidents are there in Alpine?
Since 2015, 4,686 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Kent County (1,048 injured, 69 killed).
Which month has the most truck crashes in Alpine?
Truck crashes in Kent County peak in January, with 12.6% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Alpine?
116 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Kent County since 2015, 2.5% of all truck crashes.
How does Alpine compare with Michigan for truck crashes?
The yearly rate is 58.4 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Kent County, vs 52.4 for Michigan.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Alpine?
Paste your stops into the free CurbWaste Route Planner: it scores your route against fatal-crash locations, suggests safer alternatives and flags low bridges.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.