Hartford, MI truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Hartford: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Hartford and Van Buren County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Van Buren County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
15 of 1,053 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Van Buren County compares with Michigan
Van Buren County against Michigan and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Van Buren County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Van Buren County | Michigan | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 115.4 | 52.4 | 49.7 | 2.2× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.6 | 2.1 | 3.4 | 1.7× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.32 | 0.30 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.5% | 3.2% | 2.3% | 55% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 45.9% | 17.7% | 6.2% | 2.6× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 24.8% | 25.5% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 38.7% | 21.9% | 13.8% | 1.8× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 61.1% | 44.4% | 41.9% | 1.4× the state |
| After dark | 24.5% | 20.7% | 24.8% | 1.2× the state |
Compared with Michigan, Van Buren County is lower on garbage-truck share. It runs above Michigan on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and on snow, slush or ice.
What stands out in Van Buren County: 45.9% share of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (Michigan: 17.7%).
Overview
Since 2015, 1,053 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Van Buren County. They injured 345 people and killed 36.
That averages about one truck crash every 4 days in fully reported years.
Hartford had 196 reported truck crashes since 2015, too few for reliable patterns, so the charts and findings on this page use Van Buren County numbers.
When crashes happen
The worst month is January with 23.6% of truck crashes; the quietest is April at 3.5%.
November through March accounts for 61.1% of truck crashes here, compared with 44.4% in Michigan.
The busiest hour is 9–10 am, with 9.8% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 45.9% of truck crashes, compared with 17.7% in Michigan.
Where crashes happen
I-94 leads within 10 miles of Hartford with 3 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. Next come CR-687 64Th St (1), CR-COUNTY Line Rd (1) and CR-RED Arrow Hwy (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 15 of the truck crashes here, or 1.4%, compared with 3.2% in Michigan.
Route planning tips for Hartford fleets
- Plan January schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Van Buren County.
- Where you can, review stops along I-94; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- 45.9% 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
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 Van Buren County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-94 | 3 |
| CR-687 64Th St | 1 |
| CR-COUNTY Line Rd | 1 |
| CR-RED Arrow Hwy | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Van Buren County) |
|---|---|
| I-94 | 384 |
| I-196 | 52 |
| Red Arrow | 23 |
| Arlington | 8 |
| 46Th | 6 |
| County Road 687 | 6 |
| Main | 6 |
| Phoenix | 6 |
Hartford at a glance
| Population | 2,465 |
| Land area | 1.4 sq mi |
| Density | 1,814 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 49057) | $51,345 |
| Median home value (ZIP 49057) | $127,290 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Van Buren 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 | 52 | — | 1.7 |
| 2000s | 55 | +5% | 2.1 |
| 2010s | 79 | +44% | 1.6 |
| 2020s | 78 | -1% | 1.6 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 52 a year in the 1990s and 78 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. NHTSA counts 2.0 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 1.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Hartford
How common are truck crashes in Hartford?
Since 2015, 1,053 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Van Buren County (345 injured, 36 killed).
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in Hartford?
I-94 had 3 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Hartford since 2015, more than any other road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Hartford?
January has the most truck crashes in Van Buren County, 23.6% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Hartford?
15 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Van Buren County since 2015, 1.4% of all truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in Hartford compared with Michigan?
The yearly rate is 115.4 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Van Buren County, vs 52.4 for Michigan.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Hartford?
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.