Tallmadge, MI truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Tallmadge: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Tallmadge 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 |
Compared with Michigan, Ottawa County is lower on deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and after dark. It stands out for higher on snow, slush or ice.
Ottawa County at a glance: January worst month: 14.6% of truck crashes, vs 8.3% in an average month.
Overview
Since 2015, 1,797 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Ottawa County. They injured 611 people and killed 31.
That averages about one truck crash every 2 days in fully reported years.
Tallmadge had 31 reported truck crashes since 2015, too few for reliable patterns, so the charts and findings on this page use Ottawa County numbers.
When crashes happen
January has the most truck crashes, 14.6% of the yearly total, while March has the fewest (6.1%).
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.
Road surface: 20.6% 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 Tallmadge since 2015: SR-11 (3), US-131 (3), SR-45 (2), 72nd Ave (1) and CR-22ND Ave (1). No single road stands out.
Garbage & waste trucks
57 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 3.2% share (Michigan: 3.2%).
Garbage-truck crashes peak in November (14% of them).
They recorded 1.9 deaths per 100 crashes, against 1.7 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for Tallmadge fleets
- Plan January schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Ottawa County.
- For residential and commercial waste routes, look again at November schedules: garbage-truck crashes peak then.
- 20.6% 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
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 Ottawa County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-11 | 3 |
| US-131 | 3 |
| SR-45 | 2 |
| 72nd Ave | 1 |
| CR-22ND Ave | 1 |
| CR-44TH St | 1 |
| CR-48TH Ave | 1 |
| CR-68TH St | 1 |
| I-196 | 1 |
| I-96 | 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 |
Tallmadge at a glance
| Population | 9,165 |
| Land area | 32.2 sq mi |
| Density | 285 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 49435) | $103,432 |
| Median home value (ZIP 49435) | $382,347 |
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 Tallmadge
How many truck crashes happen in Tallmadge?
1,797 truck crashes have been reported in Ottawa County since 2015, with 31 deaths and 611 injuries.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Tallmadge?
January has the most truck crashes in Ottawa County, 14.6% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Tallmadge?
Since 2015, Ottawa County has reported 57 garbage-truck crashes, or 3.2% of its truck crashes.
How does Tallmadge compare with Michigan for truck crashes?
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 Tallmadge?
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.