Dalton, MI truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Dalton: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Dalton and Muskegon County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Muskegon County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
4.0 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 3.7 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Muskegon County compares with Michigan
Muskegon County against Michigan and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Muskegon County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Muskegon County | Michigan | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 30.5 | 52.4 | 49.7 | 42% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.7 | 2.1 | 3.4 | 1.8× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.30 | 0.30 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 4.2% | 3.2% | 2.3% | 1.3× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 23.0% | 17.7% | 6.2% | 1.3× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 23.5% | 25.5% | 23.7% | 8% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 24.4% | 21.9% | 13.8% | 1.1× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 44.9% | 44.4% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 16.8% | 20.7% | 24.8% | 19% below the state |
Compared with Michigan, Muskegon County is lower on crashes per 100k residents / yr, morning rush (6–10 am) and after dark. It runs above Michigan on deaths per 100 crashes, garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice.
The headline for Muskegon County: January the month with the most truck crashes: 14.7% of the year's total.
Overview
Muskegon County has recorded 659 truck crashes since 2015, with 195 people injured and 22 killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 7 days.
Dalton had 41 reported truck crashes since 2015, too few for reliable patterns, so the charts and findings on this page use Muskegon County numbers.
When crashes happen
January has the most truck crashes, 14.7% of the yearly total, while April has the fewest (5.0%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 44.9% of truck crashes, against 44.4% across Michigan.
By time of day, 10–11 am stands out with 9.9% of truck crashes.
23.0% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 17.7% across Michigan.
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks within 10 miles of Dalton is SR-120, with 3 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. After it: Sherman Blvd (2), US-31 (2) and CR-HOLTON Whitehall Rd (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 29 crashes, 4.4% of the total, against 3.2% across Michigan.
The most garbage-truck crashes happen in December (21%).
They recorded 4.0 deaths per 100 crashes, against 3.7 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for Dalton fleets
- Build extra time into January routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Where you can, review stops along SR-120; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in December; review collection routes for that month.
- 23.0% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice, above Michigan; plan winter equipment checks before the season.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
About the data
Sources: the FMCSA crash file for all reported truck crashes and NHTSA FARS for fatal crashes with a large truck. Every statement here comes straight from those numbers.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Muskegon County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-120 | 3 |
| Sherman Blvd | 2 |
| US-31 | 2 |
| CR-HOLTON Whitehall Rd | 1 |
| CR-W River Rd | 1 |
| SR-46 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Muskegon County) |
|---|---|
| Apple | 59 |
| US-31 | 58 |
| S Us 31 | 54 |
| N Us 31 | 35 |
| Sherman | 32 |
| Holton | 32 |
| Maple Island | 22 |
| Laketon | 21 |
Dalton at a glance
| Population | 9,596 |
| Land area | 35.3 sq mi |
| Density | 272 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 49457) | $78,225 |
| Median home value (ZIP 49457) | $221,594 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Muskegon 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 | 34 | — | 1.5 |
| 2000s | 44 | +31% | 1.1 |
| 2010s | 38 | -13% | 1.1 |
| 2020s | 58 | +51% | 1.8 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 34 a year in the 1990s and 58 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal large-truck crashes: 1.8 a year in 2016–19, 1.8 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Dalton
How many truck crashes happen in Dalton?
Since 2015, 659 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Muskegon County (195 injured, 22 killed).
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in Dalton?
SR-120 had 3 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Dalton since 2015, more than any other road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Dalton?
Truck crashes in Muskegon County peak in January, with 14.7% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Dalton?
Garbage trucks were involved in 29 reported crashes in Muskegon County since 2015 (4.4% of truck crashes).
How do truck crashes in Dalton compare with Michigan?
The yearly rate is 30.5 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Muskegon County, vs 52.4 for Michigan.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Dalton?
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.