ZIP 46637 (South Bend, IN) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 46637: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in St. Joseph County, 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
0.0 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 2.8 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How St. Joseph County compares with Indiana
St. Joseph County against Indiana 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 | Indiana | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 52.4 | 80.8 | 49.7 | 35% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.8 | 2.9 | 3.4 | same |
| Injuries per crash | 0.34 | 0.36 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.5% | 2.4% | 2.3% | 1.1× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 22.3% | 10.6% | 6.2% | 2.1× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 25.6% | 22.4% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 21.1% | 17.4% | 13.8% | 1.2× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 48.8% | 42.7% | 41.9% | 1.1× the state |
| After dark | 30.5% | 32.0% | 24.8% | same |
Compared with Indiana, St. Joseph County is lower on crashes per 100k residents / yr. It stands out for higher garbage-truck share, on snow, slush or ice and morning rush (6–10 am).
The headline for St. Joseph County: 22.3% share of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (Indiana: 10.6%).
Overview
Police reported 1,696 crashes involving commercial trucks in St. Joseph County since 2015: 658 people were injured and 44 were killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 3 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in January (15.3% of the year) and are lowest in May (6.1%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 48.8% of truck crashes, against 42.7% across Indiana.
The busiest hour is 11 am–12 pm, with 8.8% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 22.3% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Indiana: 10.6%).
Where crashes happen
Within this area, I-80 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (8). After it: US-12 (5), SR-2 (4) and SR-51 (2).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 44 crashes, 2.6% of the total, against 2.4% across Indiana.
Their busiest month is June, with 11% of garbage-truck crashes.
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 0.0, vs 2.8 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for ZIP 46637 fleets
- Build extra time into January routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Check whether your routes use I-80, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- For residential and commercial waste routes, look again at June schedules: garbage-truck crashes peak then.
- The morning rush (6–10 am) holds 25.6% of truck crashes here, more than Indiana; adjust start times where you can.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 22.3% of truck crashes here, more than Indiana; schedule winter checks early.
- 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 St. Joseph County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-80 | 8 |
| US-12 | 5 |
| SR-2 | 4 |
| SR-51 | 2 |
| US-20 | 2 |
| US-20W | 2 |
| CR-RED Bud Trl | 1 |
| CR-REDFIELD St | 1 |
| Day Rd | 1 |
| Mayflower | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (St. Joseph County) |
|---|---|
| I-80 | 318 |
| US-20 | 122 |
| SR-2 | 75 |
| US-31 | 41 |
| SR-23 | 37 |
| SR-331 | 31 |
| St Joseph Valley Pkwy | 29 |
| SR-933 | 26 |
ZIP 46637 at a glance
| Population | 16,200 |
| Density | 626 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $71,462 |
| Median home value | $206,784 |
| Home ownership | 68% |
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 | 58 | — | 3.1 |
| 2000s | 124 | +114% | 2.6 |
| 2010s | 139 | +12% | 3.1 |
| 2020s | 127 | -8% | 3.0 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 58 a year in the 1990s and 127 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 4.2 a year in 2016–19 and 3.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 46637
How many truck accidents are there in ZIP 46637?
St. Joseph County has had 1,696 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 658 people and killing 44.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in ZIP 46637?
Since 2015, I-80 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 46637: 8.
When do most truck crashes happen in ZIP 46637?
Truck crashes in St. Joseph County peak in January, with 15.3% of the year's crashes.
Are garbage truck crashes common in ZIP 46637?
Garbage trucks were involved in 44 reported crashes in St. Joseph County since 2015 (2.6% of truck crashes).
How does ZIP 46637 compare with Indiana for truck crashes?
St. Joseph County records 52.4 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 80.8 across Indiana.
How can I plan a safer truck route in ZIP 46637?
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.