Whitehall, MI truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Whitehall: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Whitehall 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 |
Muskegon County sits below Michigan on crashes per 100k residents / yr, morning rush (6–10 am) and after dark. Where it is higher: deaths per 100 crashes, garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice.
What stands out in Muskegon County: January worst month: 14.7% of truck crashes, vs 8.3% in an average month.
Overview
Muskegon County has recorded 659 truck crashes since 2015, with 195 people injured and 22 killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 7 days in fully reported years.
Only 20 truck crashes were reported in Whitehall since 2015; patterns below come from Muskegon County as a whole.
When crashes happen
January has the most truck crashes, 14.7% of the yearly total, while April has the fewest (5.0%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 44.9% of truck crashes, vs 44.4% for Michigan.
The busiest hour is 10–11 am, with 9.9% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 23.0% of truck crashes, compared with 17.7% in Michigan.
Where crashes happen
SR-120 leads within 10 miles of Whitehall with 2 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. It is followed by CR-HOLTON Whitehall Rd (1), CR-W River Rd (1) and CR-WEBSTER Rd (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
29 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 4.4% share (Michigan: 3.2%).
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 Whitehall fleets
- Build extra time into January routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Look at alternatives to SR-120 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- 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.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
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 Muskegon County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-120 | 2 |
| CR-HOLTON Whitehall Rd | 1 |
| CR-W River Rd | 1 |
| CR-WEBSTER Rd | 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 |
Whitehall at a glance
| Population | 3,130 |
| Land area | 3.2 sq mi |
| Density | 973 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 49461) | $83,363 |
| Median home value (ZIP 49461) | $264,756 |
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 Whitehall
How many truck crashes happen in Whitehall?
Since 2015, 659 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Muskegon County (195 injured, 22 killed).
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Whitehall?
SR-120 had 2 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Whitehall since 2015, more than any other road.
When do most truck crashes happen in Whitehall?
January has the most truck crashes in Muskegon County, 14.7% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Whitehall?
Since 2015, Muskegon County has reported 29 garbage-truck crashes, or 4.4% of its truck crashes.
How does Whitehall compare with Michigan for truck crashes?
The yearly rate is 30.5 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Muskegon County, vs 52.4 for Michigan.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Whitehall?
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.