Cato, MI truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Cato: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Cato and Montcalm County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Montcalm County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
15 of 344 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Montcalm County compares with Michigan
Montcalm County against Michigan and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Montcalm County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Montcalm County | Michigan | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 41.6 | 52.4 | 49.7 | 21% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.5 | 2.1 | 3.4 | 1.7× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.35 | 0.30 | 0.49 | 1.2× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 4.7% | 3.2% | 2.3% | 1.5× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 23.7% | 17.7% | 6.2% | 1.3× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 27.8% | 25.5% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 22.4% | 21.9% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 48.6% | 44.4% | 41.9% | 1.1× the state |
| After dark | 19.2% | 20.7% | 24.8% | same |
Montcalm County sits below Michigan on crashes per 100k residents / yr. Where it is higher: deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share.
What stands out in Montcalm County: 1 in 21 of truck crashes here involve garbage trucks: 4.7%, vs 3.2% in Michigan.
Overview
Montcalm County has recorded 344 truck crashes since 2015, with 123 people injured and 12 killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 13 days.
With 19 truck crashes reported in Cato since 2015, this page uses Montcalm County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in January (12.2% of the year) and are lowest in July (5.5%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 48.6% of truck crashes, against 44.4% across Michigan.
More truck crashes happen at 8–9 am than at any other hour (8.4%).
Road surface: 23.7% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Michigan: 17.7%).
Where crashes happen
Roads with fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Cato since 2015: SR-46 (2). No single road stands out.
Garbage & waste trucks
15 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 4.4% share (Michigan: 3.2%).
Route planning tips for Cato fleets
- Build extra time into January routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- 27.8% of truck crashes happen between 6 and 10 am, above Michigan; consider earlier or later starts where possible.
- 23.7% 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
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 Montcalm County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-46 | 2 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Montcalm County) |
|---|---|
| Howard City Edmore | 43 |
| US-131 | 26 |
| Greenville | 22 |
| Carson City | 20 |
| Washington | 16 |
| Stanton | 15 |
| N Us 131 | 14 |
| Sheridan | 13 |
Cato at a glance
| Population | 3,013 |
| Land area | 35.2 sq mi |
| Density | 86 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 48850) | $68,047 |
| Median home value (ZIP 48850) | $177,620 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Montcalm 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 | 20 | — | 1.4 |
| 2000s | 24 | +25% | 1.4 |
| 2010s | 21 | -13% | 0.8 |
| 2020s | 30 | +42% | 1.4 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 20 a year in the 1990s and 30 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. NHTSA counts 1.2 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 1.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Cato
How many truck accidents are there in Cato?
Since 2015, 344 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Montcalm County (123 injured, 12 killed).
When do most truck crashes happen in Cato?
January has the most truck crashes in Montcalm County, 12.2% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Cato?
Garbage trucks were involved in 15 reported crashes in Montcalm County since 2015 (4.4% of truck crashes).
How does Cato compare with Michigan for truck crashes?
The yearly rate is 41.6 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Montcalm County, vs 52.4 for Michigan.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Cato?
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.