ZIP 49431 (Ludington, MI) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 49431: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Mason 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
3 of 133 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Mason County compares with Michigan
Mason County against Michigan and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Mason County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Mason County | Michigan | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 38.1 | 52.4 | 49.7 | 27% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.3 | 2.1 | 3.4 | 1.6× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.34 | 0.30 | 0.49 | 1.1× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.6% | 3.2% | 2.3% | 49% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 31.1% | 17.7% | 6.2% | 1.8× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 24.6% | 25.5% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 32.0% | 21.9% | 13.8% | 1.5× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 51.6% | 44.4% | 41.9% | 1.2× the state |
| After dark | 10.7% | 20.7% | 24.8% | 48% below the state |
Mason County has lower values than Michigan for crashes per 100k residents / yr, garbage-truck share and after dark. Where it is higher: deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and on snow, slush or ice.
The headline for Mason County: January 20.3% of truck crashes happen in January, more than any other month.
Overview
Since 2015, 133 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Mason County. They injured 46 people and killed 4.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 33 days.
When crashes happen
The worst month is January with 20.3% of truck crashes; the quietest is July at 3.0%.
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 51.6% of truck crashes, vs 44.4% for Michigan.
By time of day, 11 am–12 pm stands out with 12.8% of truck crashes.
31.1% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 17.7% across Michigan.
Where crashes happen
Roads with fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of ZIP 49431 since 2015: US-10 (2) and US-31 (2). No single road stands out.
Garbage & waste trucks
3 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 2.3% share (Michigan: 3.2%).
Route planning tips for ZIP 49431 fleets
- Plan January schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Mason County.
- 31.1% 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
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 Mason County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-10 | 2 |
| US-31 | 2 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Mason County) |
|---|---|
| US-31 | 42 |
| US-10 | 29 |
| Pere Marquette | 11 |
| S Us 31 | 6 |
| N Us 31 | 5 |
| Fountain | 3 |
| Lakeshore | 2 |
| 6Th | 1 |
ZIP 49431 at a glance
| Population | 17,184 |
| Density | 69 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $66,336 |
| Median home value | $237,288 |
| Home ownership | 72% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Mason 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 | — | 0.5 |
| 2000s | 12 | +50% | 0.8 |
| 2010s | 10 | -20% | 0.5 |
| 2020s | 11 | +18% | 0.4 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 8 a year in the 1990s and 11 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 0.8 a year in 2016–19 and 0.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 49431
How many truck crashes happen in ZIP 49431?
Mason County has had 133 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 46 people and killing 4.
When do most truck crashes happen in ZIP 49431?
The worst month is January: 20.3% of truck crashes in Mason County happen then.
Are garbage truck crashes common in ZIP 49431?
Since 2015, Mason County has reported 3 garbage-truck crashes, or 2.3% of its truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in ZIP 49431 compared with Michigan?
Mason County records 38.1 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 52.4 across Michigan.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in ZIP 49431?
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.