Florence, MI truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Florence: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Florence and St. Joseph County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use St. Joseph County numbers.
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.
St. Joseph County at a glance: 5.4 deaths for every 100 truck crashes, against 2.1 across Michigan.
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.
With 11 truck crashes reported in Florence since 2015, this page uses St. Joseph County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
December has the most truck crashes, 10.8% of the yearly total, while April has the fewest (6.5%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 46.3% of truck crashes, vs 44.4% for Michigan.
The busiest hour is 8–9 am, with 10.6% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 16.4% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Michigan: 17.7%).
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks within 10 miles of Florence is I-80, with 5 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. After it: US-131 (4), 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 Florence fleets
- Review driver schedules for December, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Look at alternatives to I-80 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- 29.6% of truck crashes happen between 6 and 10 am, above Michigan; consider earlier or later starts where possible.
- 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 St. Joseph County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-80 | 5 |
| US-131 | 4 |
| US-12 | 2 |
| US-31 | 2 |
| CR-LUTZ Rd | 1 |
| SR-60 | 1 |
| SR-66 | 1 |
| SR-86 | 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 |
Florence at a glance
| Population | 1,143 |
| Land area | 33.2 sq mi |
| Density | 34 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 49042) | $72,910 |
| Median home value (ZIP 49042) | $147,006 |
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 large-truck crashes: 1.8 a year in 2016–19, 1.8 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Florence
How many truck accidents are there in Florence?
416 truck crashes have been reported in St. Joseph County since 2015, with 26 deaths and 150 injuries.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Florence?
NHTSA data shows I-80 with 5 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Florence since 2015, the highest of any road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Florence?
Truck crashes in St. Joseph County peak in December, with 10.8% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Florence?
16 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in St. Joseph County since 2015, 3.8% of all truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in Florence compare with Michigan?
Per 100,000 residents, St. Joseph County has 57.8 truck crashes a year; Michigan has 52.4.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Florence?
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.