St. Joseph County, MI truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in St. Joseph County: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
16 of 416 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How St. Joseph County compares with Michigan
St. Joseph County against Michigan and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where St. Joseph County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | St. Joseph County | Michigan | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 57.8 | 52.4 | 49.7 | 1.1× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 5.4 | 2.1 | 3.4 | 2.6× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.35 | 0.30 | 0.49 | 1.2× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 4.1% | 3.2% | 2.3% | 1.3× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 16.4% | 17.7% | 6.2% | 7% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 29.6% | 25.5% | 23.7% | 1.2× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 18.0% | 21.9% | 13.8% | 18% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 46.3% | 44.4% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 15.4% | 20.7% | 24.8% | 25% below the state |
Compared with Michigan, St. Joseph County is lower on on snow, slush or ice, in rain, sleet or snow and after dark. It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash.
What stands out in St. Joseph County: 5.4 people killed per 100 truck crashes (Michigan: 2.1).
Overview
Since 2015, 416 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in St. Joseph County. They injured 150 people and killed 26.
That averages about one truck crash every 10 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in December (10.8% of the year) and are lowest in April (6.5%).
November through March accounts for 46.3% of truck crashes here, compared with 44.4% in Michigan.
The busiest hour is 8–9 am, with 10.6% of truck crashes.
16.4% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 17.7% across Michigan.
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks in St. Joseph County is US-131, with 5 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. After it: SR-86 (3), US-12 (2) and US-31 (2).
Garbage & waste trucks
16 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 3.8% share (Michigan: 3.2%).
Route planning tips for St. Joseph County fleets
- Plan December schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in St. Joseph County.
- Look at alternatives to US-131 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- The morning rush (6–10 am) holds 29.6% of truck crashes here, more than Michigan; adjust start times where you can.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
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 St. Joseph County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in St. Joseph County) |
|---|---|
| US-131 | 5 |
| SR-86 | 3 |
| US-12 | 2 |
| US-31 | 2 |
| CR-LUTZ Rd | 1 |
| CR-SILVER St | 1 |
| Nottawa Rd | 1 |
| SR-60 | 1 |
| SR-66 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (St. Joseph County) |
|---|---|
| US-131 | 78 |
| US-12 | 51 |
| N Us 131 | 22 |
| S Us 131 | 15 |
| Main | 15 |
| Michigan | 14 |
| Lutz | 11 |
| Centerville | 11 |
St. Joseph County at a glance
| Population | 61,171 |
| Land area | 500.6 sq mi |
| Density | 122 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $66,603 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in St. Joseph 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 | 17 | — | 2.6 |
| 2000s | 32 | +86% | 1.3 |
| 2010s | 26 | -19% | 1.7 |
| 2020s | 39 | +51% | 1.8 |
In the 1990s about 17 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 39. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 1.8 a year in 2016–19 and 1.8 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in St. Joseph County
ZIP codes in St. Joseph County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about St. Joseph County
How common are truck crashes in St. Joseph County?
416 truck crashes have been reported in St. Joseph County since 2015, with 26 deaths and 150 injuries.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in St. Joseph County?
US-131 had 5 fatal crashes involving a large truck in St. Joseph County since 2015, more than any other road.
Which month has the most truck crashes in St. Joseph County?
December has the most truck crashes in St. Joseph County, 10.8% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in St. Joseph County?
Since 2015, St. Joseph County has reported 16 garbage-truck crashes, or 3.8% of its truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in St. Joseph County compare with Michigan?
St. Joseph County records 57.8 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 52.4 across Michigan.
How can I plan a safer truck route in St. Joseph County?
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.