Howard City, MI truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Howard City: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Howard City 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 has lower values than Michigan for crashes per 100k residents / yr. It runs above Michigan on deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share.
What stands out in Montcalm County: 1 in 21 crashes involve a garbage truck (15 since 2015), vs 3.2% across Michigan.
Overview
Since 2015, 344 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Montcalm County. They injured 123 people and killed 12.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 13 days.
With 0 truck crashes reported in Howard City since 2015, this page uses Montcalm County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
January has the most truck crashes, 12.2% of the yearly total, while July has the fewest (5.5%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 48.6% of truck crashes, vs 44.4% for Michigan.
By time of day, 8–9 am stands out with 8.4% of truck crashes.
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 Howard City since 2015: US-131 (2), CR-S Cypress Ave (1) and SR-46 (1). 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 Howard City fleets
- Review driver schedules for January, the month with the most truck crashes.
- The morning rush (6–10 am) holds 27.8% of truck crashes here, more than Michigan; adjust start times where you can.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 23.7% of truck crashes here, more than Michigan; schedule winter checks early.
- 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) |
|---|---|
| US-131 | 2 |
| CR-S Cypress Ave | 1 |
| SR-46 | 1 |
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 |
Howard City at a glance
| Population | 1,924 |
| Land area | 2.4 sq mi |
| Density | 797 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 49329) | $74,235 |
| Median home value (ZIP 49329) | $207,847 |
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 |
In the 1990s about 20 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 30. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal large-truck crashes: 1.2 a year in 2016–19, 1.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Howard City
How many truck crashes happen in Howard City?
344 truck crashes have been reported in Montcalm County since 2015, with 12 deaths and 123 injuries.
When do most truck crashes happen in Howard City?
The worst month is January: 12.2% of truck crashes in Montcalm County happen then.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Howard City?
Garbage trucks were involved in 15 reported crashes in Montcalm County since 2015 (4.4% of truck crashes).
How do truck crashes in Howard City compare with Michigan?
The yearly rate is 41.6 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Montcalm County, vs 52.4 for Michigan.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Howard City?
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.