Big Rapids, MI truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Big Rapids: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Big Rapids and Mecosta County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Mecosta County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
4 of 213 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Mecosta County compares with Michigan
Mecosta County against Michigan and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Mecosta County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Mecosta County | Michigan | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 42.7 | 52.4 | 49.7 | 19% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.0 | 2.1 | 3.4 | same |
| Injuries per crash | 0.21 | 0.30 | 0.49 | 30% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.5% | 3.2% | 2.3% | 53% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 28.9% | 17.7% | 6.2% | 1.6× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 26.9% | 25.5% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 24.4% | 21.9% | 13.8% | 1.1× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 52.8% | 44.4% | 41.9% | 1.2× the state |
| After dark | 25.9% | 20.7% | 24.8% | 1.3× the state |
Mecosta County sits below Michigan on crashes per 100k residents / yr, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share. Where it is higher: on snow, slush or ice, in rain, sleet or snow and winter months (nov–mar).
Mecosta County at a glance: January 16.0% of truck crashes happen in January, more than any other month.
Overview
Police reported 213 crashes involving commercial trucks in Mecosta County since 2015: 44 people were injured and 4 were killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 20 days.
With 62 truck crashes reported in Big Rapids since 2015, this page uses Mecosta County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
The worst month is January with 16.0% of truck crashes; the quietest is June at 3.8%.
November through March accounts for 52.8% of truck crashes here, compared with 44.4% in Michigan.
The busiest hour is 9–10 am, with 8.9% of truck crashes.
28.9% 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 Big Rapids since 2015 were spread across roads: US-131 (2).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 4 of the truck crashes here, or 1.9%, compared with 3.2% in Michigan.
Route planning tips for Big Rapids fleets
- Plan January schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Mecosta County.
- 28.9% 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
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 Mecosta County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-131 | 2 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Mecosta County) |
|---|---|
| US-131 | 52 |
| Northland | 24 |
| Mile | 20 |
| S Us 131 | 15 |
| N Us 131 | 14 |
| 30Th | 13 |
| State | 7 |
| Perry | 5 |
Big Rapids at a glance
| Population | 8,565 |
| Land area | 4.4 sq mi |
| Density | 1,927 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 49307) | $60,358 |
| Median home value (ZIP 49307) | $187,116 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Mecosta 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 | 10 | — | 0.9 |
| 2000s | 12 | +22% | 0.6 |
| 2010s | 12 | -3% | 0.1 |
| 2020s | 19 | +60% | 0.4 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 10 to 19. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal large-truck crashes: 0.2 a year in 2016–19, 0.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Big Rapids
How many truck crashes happen in Big Rapids?
213 truck crashes have been reported in Mecosta County since 2015, with 4 deaths and 44 injuries.
When do most truck crashes happen in Big Rapids?
The worst month is January: 16.0% of truck crashes in Mecosta County happen then.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Big Rapids?
Garbage trucks were involved in 4 reported crashes in Mecosta County since 2015 (1.9% of truck crashes).
How do truck crashes in Big Rapids compare with Michigan?
Mecosta County records 42.7 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 52.4 across Michigan.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Big Rapids?
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.