ZIP 49009 (Kalamazoo, MI) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 49009: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Kalamazoo 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 2.3 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Kalamazoo County compares with Michigan
Kalamazoo County against Michigan and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Kalamazoo County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Kalamazoo County | Michigan | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 59.1 | 52.4 | 49.7 | 1.1× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.3 | 2.1 | 3.4 | 1.1× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.47 | 0.30 | 0.49 | 1.6× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.6% | 3.2% | 2.3% | 51% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 27.4% | 17.7% | 6.2% | 1.6× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 24.5% | 25.5% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 30.1% | 21.9% | 13.8% | 1.4× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 51.1% | 44.4% | 41.9% | 1.2× the state |
| After dark | 25.1% | 20.7% | 24.8% | 1.2× the state |
Kalamazoo County sits below Michigan on garbage-truck share. It runs above Michigan on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash.
The headline for Kalamazoo County: 27.4% of truck crashes happened on snow, slush or ice, vs 17.7% in Michigan.
Overview
Since 2015, 1,842 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Kalamazoo County. They injured 841 people and killed 43.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 2 days.
When crashes happen
The worst month is January with 13.9% of truck crashes; the quietest is April at 5.9%.
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 51.1% of truck crashes, vs 44.4% for Michigan.
The busiest hour is 9–10 am, with 8.4% of truck crashes.
27.4% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 17.7% across Michigan.
Where crashes happen
Within this area, I-94 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (7). After it: US-131 (2), CR-10TH St (1) and CR-9TH St (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 28 of the truck crashes here, or 1.5%, compared with 3.2% in Michigan.
Their busiest month is August, with 18% of garbage-truck crashes.
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 0.0, vs 2.3 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for ZIP 49009 fleets
- Plan January schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Kalamazoo County.
- Check whether your routes use I-94, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in August; review collection routes for that month.
- 27.4% 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
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 Kalamazoo County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-94 | 7 |
| US-131 | 2 |
| CR-10TH St | 1 |
| CR-9TH St | 1 |
| E B Ave | 1 |
| Maple Hill Dr | 1 |
| Park St | 1 |
| S Sprinkle Rd | 1 |
| Sr-I94/Us-131 Bl Stadium Dr | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Kalamazoo County) |
|---|---|
| I-94 | 333 |
| Sprinkle | 93 |
| US-131 | 78 |
| N Us 131 | 58 |
| S Us 131 | 47 |
| Michigan | 41 |
| Stadium | 39 |
| Westnedge | 38 |
ZIP 49009 at a glance
| Population | 47,971 |
| Density | 181 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $80,930 |
| Median home value | $337,227 |
| Home ownership | 64% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Kalamazoo 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 | 101 | — | 3.3 |
| 2000s | 110 | +9% | 1.8 |
| 2010s | 104 | -5% | 2.4 |
| 2020s | 167 | +60% | 2.6 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 101 to 167. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal large-truck crashes: 1.2 a year in 2016–19, 2.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 49009
How common are truck crashes in ZIP 49009?
1,842 truck crashes have been reported in Kalamazoo County since 2015, with 43 deaths and 841 injuries.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in ZIP 49009?
Since 2015, I-94 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 49009: 7.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in ZIP 49009?
The worst month is January: 13.9% of truck crashes in Kalamazoo County happen then.
Are garbage truck crashes common in ZIP 49009?
Garbage trucks were involved in 28 reported crashes in Kalamazoo County since 2015 (1.5% of truck crashes).
How does ZIP 49009 compare with Michigan for truck crashes?
The yearly rate is 59.1 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Kalamazoo County, vs 52.4 for Michigan.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in ZIP 49009?
Paste your stops into the free CurbWaste Route Planner: it scores your route against fatal-crash locations, suggests safer alternatives and flags low bridges.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.