East Grand Rapids, MI truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in East Grand Rapids: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in East Grand Rapids 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 sits below Michigan on deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share. It runs above Michigan on 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
Police reported 4,686 crashes involving commercial trucks in Kent County since 2015: 1,048 people were injured and 69 were killed.
That averages about 1 truck crash a day in fully reported years.
Only 9 truck crashes were reported in East Grand Rapids since 2015; patterns below come from Kent County as a whole.
When crashes happen
The worst month is January with 12.6% of truck crashes; the quietest is April at 6.3%.
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 42.2% of truck crashes, vs 44.4% for Michigan.
By time of day, 8–9 am stands out with 8.5% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 15.9% of truck crashes, compared with 17.7% in Michigan.
Where crashes happen
Roads with fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of East Grand Rapids since 2015: SR-11 (3), SR-6 (3), US-131 (3), I-96 (2) and SR-44 (2). No single road stands out.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 116 crashes, 2.5% of the total, against 3.2% across Michigan.
Garbage-truck crashes peak in January (14% of them).
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 1.0, vs 1.5 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for East Grand Rapids fleets
- Plan January schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Kent County.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in January; review collection routes for that month.
- The morning rush (6–10 am) holds 28.1% of truck crashes here, more than Michigan; adjust start times where you can.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
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 | 3 |
| SR-6 | 3 |
| US-131 | 3 |
| I-96 | 2 |
| SR-44 | 2 |
| 44th Street | 1 |
| Barden Dr Se | 1 |
| CR-36TH St | 1 |
| CR-68TH St | 1 |
| CR-CASCADE Rd | 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 |
East Grand Rapids at a glance
| Population | 11,616 |
| Land area | 2.9 sq mi |
| Density | 3,967 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 49506) | $118,131 |
| Median home value (ZIP 49506) | $375,202 |
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 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 230 a year in the 1990s and 428 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal large-truck crashes: 6.2 a year in 2016–19, 5.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about East Grand Rapids
How many truck accidents are there in East Grand Rapids?
Since 2015, 4,686 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Kent County (1,048 injured, 69 killed).
What is the worst month for truck crashes in East Grand Rapids?
The worst month is January: 12.6% of truck crashes in Kent County happen then.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in East Grand Rapids?
116 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Kent County since 2015, 2.5% of all truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in East Grand Rapids compare with Michigan?
Kent County records 58.4 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 52.4 across Michigan.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in East Grand Rapids?
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.