ZIP 48659 (Sterling, MI) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 48659: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Arenac 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
2 of 91 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Arenac County compares with Michigan
Arenac County against Michigan and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Arenac County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Arenac County | Michigan | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 53.0 | 52.4 | 49.7 | same |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.4 | 2.1 | 3.4 | 1.6× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.25 | 0.30 | 0.49 | 17% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.1% | 3.2% | 2.3% | 65% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 25.0% | 17.7% | 6.2% | 1.4× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 28.4% | 25.5% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 22.7% | 21.9% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 39.8% | 44.4% | 41.9% | 10% below the state |
| After dark | 21.6% | 20.7% | 24.8% | same |
Compared with Michigan, Arenac County is lower on injuries per crash, garbage-truck share and winter months (nov–mar). It runs above Michigan on deaths per 100 crashes, on snow, slush or ice and morning rush (6–10 am).
Arenac County at a glance: 1 in 88 of truck crashes here involve garbage trucks: 1.1%, vs 3.2% in Michigan.
Overview
Police reported 91 crashes involving commercial trucks in Arenac County since 2015: 22 people were injured and 3 were killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 46 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
December has the most truck crashes, 12.1% of the yearly total, while January has the fewest (4.4%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 39.8% of truck crashes, vs 44.4% for Michigan.
The busiest hour is 7–8 am, with 11.0% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 25.0% of truck crashes, compared with 17.7% in Michigan.
Where crashes happen
Since 2015, fatal crashes with a large truck within 10 miles of ZIP 48659 happened on CR-GREENWOOD Rd (1); no road leads clearly.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 2 of the truck crashes here, or 2.2%, compared with 3.2% in Michigan.
Route planning tips for ZIP 48659 fleets
- Build extra time into December routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- The morning rush (6–10 am) holds 28.4% of truck crashes here, more than Michigan; adjust start times where you can.
- 25.0% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice, above Michigan; plan winter equipment checks before the season.
- 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 Arenac County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| CR-GREENWOOD Rd | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Arenac County) |
|---|---|
| Huron | 16 |
| I-75 | 14 |
| Main | 5 |
| US-23 | 4 |
| Sterling | 3 |
| Saginaw | 3 |
| Brock | 2 |
| Arenac State | 1 |
ZIP 48659 at a glance
| Population | 2,563 |
| Density | 13 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $58,750 |
| Median home value | $135,181 |
| Home ownership | 89% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Arenac 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 | 8 | — | 0.6 |
| 2000s | 7 | -17% | 0.5 |
| 2010s | 7 | -4% | 0.1 |
| 2020s | 8 | +22% | 0.4 |
In the 1990s about 8 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 8. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. NHTSA counts 0.0 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 0.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 48659
How many truck accidents are there in ZIP 48659?
Since 2015, 91 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Arenac County (22 injured, 3 killed).
Which month has the most truck crashes in ZIP 48659?
Truck crashes in Arenac County peak in December, with 12.1% of the year's crashes.
Are garbage truck crashes common in ZIP 48659?
Since 2015, Arenac County has reported 2 garbage-truck crashes, or 2.2% of its truck crashes.
How does ZIP 48659 compare with Michigan for truck crashes?
Arenac County records 53.0 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 52.4 across Michigan.
How can I plan a safer truck route in ZIP 48659?
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.