West Branch, MI truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in West Branch: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in West Branch and Ogemaw County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Ogemaw County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
1 of 99 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Ogemaw County compares with Michigan
Ogemaw County against Michigan and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Ogemaw County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Ogemaw County | Michigan | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 38.6 | 52.4 | 49.7 | 26% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 5.6 | 2.1 | 3.4 | 2.7× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.24 | 0.30 | 0.49 | 20% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.1% | 3.2% | 2.3% | 65% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 19.1% | 17.7% | 6.2% | 1.1× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 20.2% | 25.5% | 23.7% | 21% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 16.9% | 21.9% | 13.8% | 23% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 39.3% | 44.4% | 41.9% | 11% below the state |
| After dark | 18.0% | 20.7% | 24.8% | 13% below the state |
Ogemaw County sits below Michigan on crashes per 100k residents / yr, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share. It stands out for higher deaths per 100 crashes and on snow, slush or ice.
Ogemaw County at a glance: 5.6 deaths per 100 truck crashes, vs 2.1 in Michigan.
Overview
Ogemaw County has recorded 99 truck crashes since 2015, with 27 people injured and 5 killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 45 days in fully reported years.
Only 33 truck crashes were reported in West Branch since 2015; patterns below come from Ogemaw County as a whole.
When crashes happen
February has the most truck crashes, 15.2% of the yearly total, while December has the fewest (3.0%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 39.3% of truck crashes, against 44.4% across Michigan.
More truck crashes happen at 2–3 pm than at any other hour (14.1%).
Road surface: 19.1% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Michigan: 17.7%).
Where crashes happen
Fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of West Branch since 2015 were spread across roads: SR-55 (2), SR-30 (1) and SR-33 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 1 crash, 1.0% of the total, against 3.2% across Michigan.
Route planning tips for West Branch fleets
- Review driver schedules for February, the month with the most truck crashes.
- 19.1% 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 Ogemaw County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-55 | 2 |
| SR-30 | 1 |
| SR-33 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Ogemaw County) |
|---|---|
| I-75 | 7 |
| Houghton | 6 |
| Greenwood | 5 |
| State | 4 |
| Fairview | 3 |
| Cook | 3 |
| Heath | 2 |
| Rose City | 2 |
West Branch at a glance
| Population | 2,355 |
| Land area | 1.5 sq mi |
| Density | 1,530 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 48661) | $61,377 |
| Median home value (ZIP 48661) | $178,704 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Ogemaw 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 | 7 | — | 0.3 |
| 2000s | 6 | -5% | 0.3 |
| 2010s | 6 | -8% | 0.2 |
| 2020s | 8 | +38% | 0.6 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 7 a year in the 1990s and 8 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal large-truck crashes: 0.0 a year in 2016–19, 0.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about West Branch
How common are truck crashes in West Branch?
Ogemaw County has had 99 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 27 people and killing 5.
When do most truck crashes happen in West Branch?
February has the most truck crashes in Ogemaw County, 15.2% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in West Branch?
Garbage trucks were involved in 1 reported crash in Ogemaw County since 2015 (1.0% of truck crashes).
What is the truck crash rate in West Branch compared with Michigan?
Per 100,000 residents, Ogemaw County has 38.6 truck crashes a year; Michigan has 52.4.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in West Branch?
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.