ZIP 49504 (Grand Rapids, MI) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 49504: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Kent 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
1.0 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 1.5 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Kent County compares with Michigan
Kent County against Michigan and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Kent County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Kent County | Michigan | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 58.4 | 52.4 | 49.7 | 1.1× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 1.5 | 2.1 | 3.4 | 29% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.22 | 0.30 | 0.49 | 27% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.3% | 3.2% | 2.3% | 28% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 15.9% | 17.7% | 6.2% | 10% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 28.1% | 25.5% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 22.8% | 21.9% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 42.2% | 44.4% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 18.4% | 20.7% | 24.8% | 11% below the state |
Compared with Michigan, Kent County is lower on deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share. Where it is higher: crashes per 100k residents / yr and morning rush (6–10 am).
The headline for Kent County: January garbage-truck crashes peak in January (14% of the year's total).
Overview
Police reported 4,686 crashes involving commercial trucks in Kent County since 2015: 1,048 people were injured and 69 were killed.
That averages about 1 truck crash a day in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
The worst month is January with 12.6% of truck crashes; the quietest is April at 6.3%.
November through March accounts for 42.2% of truck crashes here, compared with 44.4% in Michigan.
By time of day, 8–9 am stands out with 8.5% of truck crashes.
15.9% 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 49504 since 2015: SR-11 (3), US-131 (3), SR-44 (2), SR-6 (2) and 44th Street (1). No single road stands out.
Garbage & waste trucks
116 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 2.5% share (Michigan: 3.2%).
Garbage-truck crashes peak in January (14% of them).
They recorded 1.0 deaths per 100 crashes, against 1.5 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for ZIP 49504 fleets
- Review driver schedules for January, the month with the most truck crashes.
- For residential and commercial waste routes, look again at January schedules: garbage-truck crashes peak then.
- The morning rush (6–10 am) holds 28.1% of truck crashes here, more than Michigan; adjust start times where you can.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
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 Kent County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-11 | 3 |
| US-131 | 3 |
| SR-44 | 2 |
| SR-6 | 2 |
| 44th Street | 1 |
| CR-44TH St | 1 |
| CR-CIRCLE Dr | 1 |
| Division Ave | 1 |
| Michigan St Ne | 1 |
| Pearl St Nw | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Kent County) |
|---|---|
| US-131 | 414 |
| I-96 | 221 |
| N Us 131 | 205 |
| 28Th | 201 |
| S Us 131 | 200 |
| Mile | 163 |
| 44Th | 113 |
| I-196 | 110 |
ZIP 49504 at a glance
| Population | 40,036 |
| Density | 1,399 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $70,119 |
| Median home value | $244,434 |
| Home ownership | 57% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Kent 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 | 230 | — | 6.9 |
| 2000s | 253 | +10% | 5.5 |
| 2010s | 259 | +2% | 4.9 |
| 2020s | 428 | +65% | 5.0 |
In the 1990s about 230 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 428. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. NHTSA counts 6.2 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 5.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 49504
How common are truck crashes in ZIP 49504?
4,686 truck crashes have been reported in Kent County since 2015, with 69 deaths and 1,048 injuries.
When do most truck crashes happen in ZIP 49504?
Truck crashes in Kent County peak in January, with 12.6% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in ZIP 49504?
Since 2015, Kent County has reported 116 garbage-truck crashes, or 2.5% of its truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in ZIP 49504 compared with Michigan?
Kent County records 58.4 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 52.4 across Michigan.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in ZIP 49504?
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.