Port Sheldon, MI truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Port Sheldon: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Port Sheldon and Ottawa County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Ottawa County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
1.9 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 1.7 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Ottawa County compares with Michigan
Ottawa County against Michigan and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Ottawa County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Ottawa County | Michigan | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 49.3 | 52.4 | 49.7 | same |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 1.7 | 2.1 | 3.4 | 19% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.26 | 0.30 | 0.49 | 13% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 3.2% | 3.2% | 2.3% | same |
| On snow, slush or ice | 20.6% | 17.7% | 6.2% | 1.2× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 26.9% | 25.5% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 22.0% | 21.9% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 44.9% | 44.4% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 17.0% | 20.7% | 24.8% | 18% below the state |
Ottawa County sits below Michigan on deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and after dark. It runs above Michigan on on snow, slush or ice.
The headline for Ottawa County: January 14.6% of truck crashes happen in January, more than any other month.
Overview
Ottawa County has recorded 1,797 truck crashes since 2015, with 611 people injured and 31 killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 2 days.
Only 12 truck crashes were reported in Port Sheldon since 2015; patterns below come from Ottawa County as a whole.
When crashes happen
The worst month is January with 14.6% of truck crashes; the quietest is March at 6.1%.
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.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 20.6% of truck crashes, compared with 17.7% in Michigan.
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks within 10 miles of Port Sheldon is US-31, with 3 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. Next come CR-120TH Ave (2) and CR-LAKEWOOD Blvd (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 57 crashes, 3.2% of the total, against 3.2% across Michigan.
The most garbage-truck crashes happen in November (14%).
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 1.9, vs 1.7 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for Port Sheldon fleets
- Build extra time into January routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Look at alternatives to US-31 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in November; review collection routes for that month.
- 20.6% 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
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 Ottawa County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-31 | 3 |
| CR-120TH Ave | 2 |
| CR-LAKEWOOD Blvd | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Ottawa County) |
|---|---|
| US-31 | 148 |
| I-196 | 133 |
| I-96 | 115 |
| Chicago | 89 |
| Lake Michigan | 57 |
| I 196 Bl | 46 |
| Riley | 39 |
| Beacon | 39 |
Port Sheldon at a glance
| Population | 5,394 |
| Land area | 22.3 sq mi |
| Density | 242 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 49460) | $101,966 |
| Median home value (ZIP 49460) | $375,241 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Ottawa 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 | 88 | — | 3.0 |
| 2000s | 100 | +14% | 3.5 |
| 2010s | 111 | +11% | 2.0 |
| 2020s | 157 | +42% | 1.8 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 88 a year in the 1990s and 157 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal large-truck crashes: 2.8 a year in 2016–19, 1.8 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Port Sheldon
How many truck crashes happen in Port Sheldon?
Since 2015, 1,797 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Ottawa County (611 injured, 31 killed).
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in Port Sheldon?
US-31 had 3 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Port Sheldon since 2015, more than any other road.
When do most truck crashes happen in Port Sheldon?
The worst month is January: 14.6% of truck crashes in Ottawa County happen then.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Port Sheldon?
57 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Ottawa County since 2015, 3.2% of all truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in Port Sheldon compared with Michigan?
Ottawa County records 49.3 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 52.4 across Michigan.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Port Sheldon?
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.