ZIP 49120 (Niles, MI) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 49120: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Berrien 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
5.7 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 1.8 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Berrien County compares with Michigan
Berrien County against Michigan and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Berrien County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Berrien County | Michigan | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 112.9 | 52.4 | 49.7 | 2.2× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 1.8 | 2.1 | 3.4 | 14% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.22 | 0.30 | 0.49 | 27% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.8% | 3.2% | 2.3% | 43% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 38.2% | 17.7% | 6.2% | 2.2× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 23.7% | 25.5% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 38.4% | 21.9% | 13.8% | 1.8× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 56.5% | 44.4% | 41.9% | 1.3× the state |
| After dark | 28.1% | 20.7% | 24.8% | 1.4× the state |
Berrien County has lower values than Michigan for deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share. It runs above Michigan on crashes per 100k residents / yr, on snow, slush or ice and in rain, sleet or snow.
What stands out in Berrien County: 38.2% on snowy, slushy or icy roads, against 17.7% across Michigan.
Overview
Police reported 2,066 crashes involving commercial trucks in Berrien County since 2015: 460 people were injured and 39 were killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 2 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in January (19.6% of the year) and are lowest in March (5.9%).
November through March accounts for 56.5% of truck crashes here, compared with 44.4% in Michigan.
By time of day, 10–11 am stands out with 7.9% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 38.2% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Michigan: 17.7%).
Where crashes happen
Fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 49120 since 2015 were spread across roads: I-80 (5), US-12 (5), SR-51 (2), SR-60 (2) and CR-RANGELINE Rd (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 38 of the truck crashes here, or 1.8%, compared with 3.2% in Michigan.
The most garbage-truck crashes happen in July (21%).
Per 100 crashes, garbage trucks recorded 5.7 deaths compared with 1.8 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for ZIP 49120 fleets
- Build extra time into January routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Waste haulers: July is the peak month for garbage-truck crashes in Berrien County.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 38.2% of truck crashes here, more than Michigan; schedule winter checks early.
- 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 Berrien County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-80 | 5 |
| US-12 | 5 |
| SR-51 | 2 |
| SR-60 | 2 |
| CR-RANGELINE Rd | 1 |
| CR-RED Bud Trl | 1 |
| CR-REDFIELD St | 1 |
| Mu-Auten Rd | 1 |
| SR-23W | 1 |
| SR-933N | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Berrien County) |
|---|---|
| I-94 | 631 |
| Pulaski | 56 |
| Napier | 49 |
| I-196 | 36 |
| N Us 31 | 33 |
| Red Arrow | 32 |
| US-31 | 28 |
| US-12 | 28 |
ZIP 49120 at a glance
| Population | 36,495 |
| Density | 121 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $65,148 |
| Median home value | $180,414 |
| Home ownership | 79% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Berrien 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 | 113 | — | 4.0 |
| 2000s | 119 | +5% | 3.9 |
| 2010s | 132 | +11% | 2.7 |
| 2020s | 172 | +30% | 2.2 |
In the 1990s about 113 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 172. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. NHTSA counts 2.5 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 2.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 49120
How many truck crashes happen in ZIP 49120?
Since 2015, 2,066 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Berrien County (460 injured, 39 killed).
What is the worst month for truck crashes in ZIP 49120?
Truck crashes in Berrien County peak in January, with 19.6% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in ZIP 49120?
38 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Berrien County since 2015, 1.8% of all truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in ZIP 49120 compared with Michigan?
Berrien County records 112.9 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 52.4 across Michigan.
How can I plan a safer truck route in ZIP 49120?
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.