Putnam, MI truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Putnam: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Putnam and Livingston County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Livingston County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
2.7 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 2.3 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Livingston County compares with Michigan
Livingston County against Michigan and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Livingston County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Livingston County | Michigan | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 54.2 | 52.4 | 49.7 | same |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.3 | 2.1 | 3.4 | 1.1× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.33 | 0.30 | 0.49 | 1.1× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 3.1% | 3.2% | 2.3% | same |
| On snow, slush or ice | 16.7% | 17.7% | 6.2% | same |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 26.6% | 25.5% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 20.3% | 21.9% | 13.8% | 8% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 42.3% | 44.4% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 21.8% | 20.7% | 24.8% | same |
Livingston County has lower values than Michigan for in rain, sleet or snow. It stands out for higher deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash.
The headline for Livingston County: February more garbage-truck crashes happen in February than in any other month (18%).
Overview
Since 2015, 1,281 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Livingston County. They injured 419 people and killed 28.
That averages about one truck crash every 3 days in fully reported years.
Only 16 truck crashes were reported in Putnam since 2015; patterns below come from Livingston County as a whole.
When crashes happen
The worst month is January with 10.1% of truck crashes; the quietest is March at 6.2%.
November through March accounts for 42.3% of truck crashes here, compared with 44.4% in Michigan.
More truck crashes happen at 8–9 am than at any other hour (8.0%).
16.7% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 17.7% across Michigan.
Where crashes happen
Fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Putnam since 2015 were spread across roads: CR-BROGAN Rd (1), CR-GOODBAND Rd (1), CR-GRAND River Ave (1), CR-GREGORY Rd (1) and I-96 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 39 of the truck crashes here, or 3.0%, compared with 3.2% in Michigan.
Their busiest month is February, with 18% of garbage-truck crashes.
Per 100 crashes, garbage trucks recorded 2.7 deaths compared with 2.3 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for Putnam fleets
- Plan January schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Livingston County.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in February; review collection routes for that month.
- 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 Livingston County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| CR-BROGAN Rd | 1 |
| CR-GOODBAND Rd | 1 |
| CR-GRAND River Ave | 1 |
| CR-GREGORY Rd | 1 |
| I-96 | 1 |
| Sr-Grand River Ave | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Livingston County) |
|---|---|
| I-96 | 250 |
| US-23 | 226 |
| Highland | 82 |
| Grand River | 54 |
| N Us 23 | 35 |
| I96 Hwy | 31 |
| S Us 23 | 31 |
| Kensington | 20 |
Putnam at a glance
| Population | 7,760 |
| Land area | 34.1 sq mi |
| Density | 228 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 48169) | $109,329 |
| Median home value (ZIP 48169) | $373,384 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Livingston 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 | 57 | — | 1.8 |
| 2000s | 68 | +20% | 0.9 |
| 2010s | 75 | +10% | 1.6 |
| 2020s | 107 | +43% | 1.2 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 57 a year in the 1990s and 107 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal large-truck crashes: 2.2 a year in 2016–19, 1.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Putnam
How many truck crashes happen in Putnam?
Since 2015, 1,281 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Livingston County (419 injured, 28 killed).
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Putnam?
January has the most truck crashes in Livingston County, 10.1% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Putnam?
Garbage trucks were involved in 39 reported crashes in Livingston County since 2015 (3.0% of truck crashes).
How does Putnam compare with Michigan for truck crashes?
Per 100,000 residents, Livingston County has 54.2 truck crashes a year; Michigan has 52.4.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Putnam?
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.