ZIP 49048 (Kalamazoo, MI) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 49048: 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.
Kalamazoo County at a glance: 27.4% on snowy, slushy or icy roads, against 17.7% across 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
January has the most truck crashes, 13.9% of the yearly total, while April has the fewest (5.9%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 51.1% of truck crashes, against 44.4% across Michigan.
More truck crashes happen at 9–10 am than at any other hour (8.4%).
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 27.4% of truck crashes, compared with 17.7% in Michigan.
Where crashes happen
I-94 leads within 10 miles of ZIP 49048 with 7 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. It is followed by US-131 (2), CR-9TH St (1) and CR-G Ave (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 28 crashes, 1.5% of the total, against 3.2% across Michigan.
The most garbage-truck crashes happen in August (18%).
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 0.0, vs 2.3 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for ZIP 49048 fleets
- Build extra time into January routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Look at alternatives to I-94 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- 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.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
About the data
Crash counts come from the FMCSA crash file (police-reported crashes involving trucks over 10,000 lb); fatal-crash locations come from NHTSA FARS. Text on this page states only what these numbers show.
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-9TH St | 1 |
| CR-G Ave | 1 |
| CR-MN Ave | 1 |
| CR-PORTAGE Rd | 1 |
| E B Ave | 1 |
| Maple Hill Dr | 1 |
| N 35th St | 1 |
| Park St | 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 49048 at a glance
| Population | 22,791 |
| Density | 250 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $60,454 |
| Median home value | $178,335 |
| Home ownership | 62% |
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 |
In the 1990s about 101 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 167. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. NHTSA counts 1.2 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 2.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 49048
How many truck crashes happen in ZIP 49048?
Kalamazoo County has had 1,842 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 841 people and killing 43.
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in ZIP 49048?
NHTSA data shows I-94 with 7 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 49048 since 2015, the highest of any road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in ZIP 49048?
Truck crashes in Kalamazoo County peak in January, with 13.9% of the year's crashes.
Are garbage truck crashes common in ZIP 49048?
Garbage trucks were involved in 28 reported crashes in Kalamazoo County since 2015 (1.5% of truck crashes).
What is the truck crash rate in ZIP 49048 compared with Michigan?
The yearly rate is 59.1 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Kalamazoo County, vs 52.4 for Michigan.
How can I plan a safer truck route in ZIP 49048?
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.