Rochester, MI truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Rochester: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Rochester and Oakland County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Oakland County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
1.2 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 0.9 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Oakland County compares with Michigan
Oakland County against Michigan and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Oakland County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Oakland County | Michigan | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 40.3 | 52.4 | 49.7 | 23% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 0.9 | 2.1 | 3.4 | 57% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.29 | 0.30 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 4.4% | 3.2% | 2.3% | 1.4× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 10.6% | 17.7% | 6.2% | 40% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 27.6% | 25.5% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 15.7% | 21.9% | 13.8% | 28% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 39.3% | 44.4% | 41.9% | 11% below the state |
| After dark | 17.1% | 20.7% | 24.8% | 17% below the state |
Oakland County has lower values than Michigan for crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and on snow, slush or ice. Where it is higher: garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am).
What stands out in Oakland County: 0.9 people killed per 100 truck crashes (Michigan: 2.1).
Overview
Oakland County has recorded 6,145 truck crashes since 2015, with 1,773 people injured and 59 killed.
That averages about 1 truck crash a day in fully reported years.
With 20 truck crashes reported in Rochester since 2015, this page uses Oakland County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
The worst month is July with 9.6% of truck crashes; the quietest is April at 6.9%.
November through March accounts for 39.3% of truck crashes here, compared with 44.4% in Michigan.
More truck crashes happen at 9–10 am than at any other hour (8.5%).
Road surface: 10.6% 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 Rochester since 2015: I-75 (2), Mound Rd (2), SR-53 (2), 18 Mile Rd (1) and 32 Mile Rd W St Clair St (1). No single road stands out.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 267 crashes, 4.3% of the total, against 3.2% across Michigan.
Garbage-truck crashes peak in January (11% of them).
Per 100 crashes, garbage trucks recorded 1.2 deaths compared with 0.9 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for Rochester fleets
- Plan July schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Oakland County.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in January; review collection routes for that month.
- The morning rush (6–10 am) holds 27.6% of truck crashes here, more than Michigan; adjust start times where you can.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
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 Oakland County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-75 | 2 |
| Mound Rd | 2 |
| SR-53 | 2 |
| 18 Mile Rd | 1 |
| 32 Mile Rd W St Clair St | 1 |
| CR-19 Mile Rd | 1 |
| CR-23 Mile Rd | 1 |
| CR-LONG Lake Rd | 1 |
| CR-ROMEO Plank Rd | 1 |
| CR-RYAN | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Oakland County) |
|---|---|
| I-75 | 539 |
| I-696 | 350 |
| Mile | 320 |
| Telegraph | 316 |
| I-96 | 232 |
| Lapeer | 176 |
| Woodward | 136 |
| Highland | 122 |
Rochester at a glance
| Population | 12,978 |
| Land area | 3.8 sq mi |
| Density | 3,388 per sq mi |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Oakland 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 | 385 | — | 7.5 |
| 2000s | 408 | +6% | 6.5 |
| 2010s | 355 | -13% | 4.0 |
| 2020s | 558 | +57% | 3.8 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 385 a year in the 1990s and 558 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 3.8 a year in 2016–19 and 3.8 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Rochester
How many truck accidents are there in Rochester?
Oakland County has had 6,145 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 1,773 people and killing 59.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Rochester?
The worst month is July: 9.6% of truck crashes in Oakland County happen then.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Rochester?
267 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Oakland County since 2015, 4.3% of all truck crashes.
How does Rochester compare with Michigan for truck crashes?
Per 100,000 residents, Oakland County has 40.3 truck crashes a year; Michigan has 52.4.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Rochester?
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.