Detroit, MI truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Detroit: 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
1.5 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 1.3 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Detroit compares with Michigan
Detroit against Michigan and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Detroit stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Detroit | Michigan | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 79.4 | 52.4 | 49.7 | 1.5× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 1.3 | 2.1 | 3.4 | 38% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.31 | 0.30 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.3% | 3.2% | 2.3% | 28% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 7.2% | 17.7% | 6.2% | 59% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 21.9% | 25.5% | 23.7% | 14% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 19.7% | 21.9% | 13.8% | 10% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 40.3% | 44.4% | 41.9% | 9% below the state |
| After dark | 22.1% | 20.7% | 24.8% | same |
Detroit has lower values than Michigan for deaths per 100 crashes, garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice. It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr.
Detroit at a glance: I-94 deadliest road: 15 fatal truck crashes within 15 miles of Detroit since 2015.
Overview
Police reported 6,021 crashes involving commercial trucks in Detroit since 2015: 1,890 people were injured and 82 were killed.
That averages about 1 truck crash a day in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
The worst month is August with 9.3% of truck crashes; the quietest is December at 7.2%.
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 40.3% of truck crashes, vs 44.4% for Michigan.
By time of day, 1–2 pm stands out with 7.7% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 7.2% of truck crashes, compared with 17.7% in Michigan.
Where crashes happen
Within this area, I-94 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (15). After it: I-75 (14), SR-102 (6) and SR-3 (6).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 137 crashes, 2.3% of the total, against 3.2% across Michigan.
Garbage-truck crashes peak in November (11% of them).
Per 100 crashes, garbage trucks recorded 1.5 deaths compared with 1.3 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for Detroit fleets
- Plan August schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Detroit.
- Where you can, review stops along I-94; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- For residential and commercial waste routes, look again at November schedules: garbage-truck crashes peak then.
- 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 Detroit
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 15 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-94 | 15 |
| I-75 | 14 |
| SR-102 | 6 |
| SR-3 | 6 |
| US-24 | 6 |
| Van Born Rd | 6 |
| I-696 | 4 |
| SR-10 | 4 |
| Mound Rd | 3 |
| US-12 | 3 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Detroit) |
|---|---|
| I-75 | 792 |
| I-94 | 544 |
| Mile | 175 |
| I-96 | 173 |
| Davison | 108 |
| Fort | 83 |
| Livernois | 71 |
| Gratiot | 70 |
Detroit at a glance
| Population | 645,705 |
| Land area | 138.7 sq mi |
| Density | 4,654 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 48206) | $45,046 |
| Median home value (ZIP 48206) | $136,795 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Detroit 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 | 418 | — | 19.8 |
| 2000s | 408 | -2% | 12.7 |
| 2010s | 339 | -17% | 11.4 |
| 2020s | 553 | +63% | 13.6 |
In the 1990s about 418 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 553. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. NHTSA counts 11.5 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 13.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Detroit
How common are truck crashes in Detroit?
Since 2015, 6,021 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Detroit (1,890 injured, 82 killed).
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in Detroit?
Since 2015, I-94 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 15 miles of Detroit: 15.
When do most truck crashes happen in Detroit?
Truck crashes in Detroit peak in August, with 9.3% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Detroit?
Garbage trucks were involved in 137 reported crashes in Detroit since 2015 (2.3% of truck crashes).
How does Detroit compare with Michigan for truck crashes?
The yearly rate is 79.4 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Detroit, vs 52.4 for Michigan.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Detroit?
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.