Ludington, MI truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Ludington: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Ludington and Mason County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Mason County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
3 of 133 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Mason County compares with Michigan
Mason County against Michigan and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Mason County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Mason County | Michigan | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 38.1 | 52.4 | 49.7 | 27% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.3 | 2.1 | 3.4 | 1.6× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.34 | 0.30 | 0.49 | 1.1× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.6% | 3.2% | 2.3% | 49% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 31.1% | 17.7% | 6.2% | 1.8× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 24.6% | 25.5% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 32.0% | 21.9% | 13.8% | 1.5× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 51.6% | 44.4% | 41.9% | 1.2× the state |
| After dark | 10.7% | 20.7% | 24.8% | 48% below the state |
Mason County has lower values than Michigan for crashes per 100k residents / yr, garbage-truck share and after dark. Where it is higher: deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and on snow, slush or ice.
What stands out in Mason County: January worst month: 20.3% of truck crashes, vs 8.3% in an average month.
Overview
Mason County has recorded 133 truck crashes since 2015, with 46 people injured and 4 killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 33 days.
With 8 truck crashes reported in Ludington since 2015, this page uses Mason County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in January (20.3% of the year) and are lowest in July (3.0%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 51.6% of truck crashes, vs 44.4% for Michigan.
The busiest hour is 11 am–12 pm, with 12.8% of truck crashes.
31.1% 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 Ludington since 2015 were spread across roads: US-10 (2) and US-31 (2).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 3 crashes, 2.3% of the total, against 3.2% across Michigan.
Route planning tips for Ludington fleets
- Plan January schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Mason County.
- 31.1% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice, above Michigan; plan winter equipment checks before the season.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
About the data
Crash counts come from the FMCSA crash file (police-reported crashes involving trucks over 10,000 lb); fatal-crash locations come from NHTSA FARS. Text on this page states only what these numbers show.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Mason County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-10 | 2 |
| US-31 | 2 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Mason County) |
|---|---|
| US-31 | 42 |
| US-10 | 29 |
| Pere Marquette | 11 |
| S Us 31 | 6 |
| N Us 31 | 5 |
| Fountain | 3 |
| Lakeshore | 2 |
| 6Th | 1 |
Ludington at a glance
| Population | 7,577 |
| Land area | 3.4 sq mi |
| Density | 2,255 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 49431) | $66,336 |
| Median home value (ZIP 49431) | $237,288 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Mason 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 | — | 0.5 |
| 2000s | 12 | +50% | 0.8 |
| 2010s | 10 | -20% | 0.5 |
| 2020s | 11 | +18% | 0.4 |
In the 1990s about 8 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 11. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 0.8 a year in 2016–19 and 0.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Ludington
How many truck crashes happen in Ludington?
Since 2015, 133 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Mason County (46 injured, 4 killed).
When do most truck crashes happen in Ludington?
The worst month is January: 20.3% of truck crashes in Mason County happen then.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Ludington?
Since 2015, Mason County has reported 3 garbage-truck crashes, or 2.3% of its truck crashes.
How does Ludington compare with Michigan for truck crashes?
Per 100,000 residents, Mason County has 38.1 truck crashes a year; Michigan has 52.4.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Ludington?
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.