ZIP 49507 (Grand Rapids, MI) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 49507: 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 |
Kent 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 and morning rush (6–10 am).
The headline for Kent County: January is the peak month for garbage-truck crashes: 14% of them.
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
Truck crashes peak in January (12.6% of the year) and are lowest in April (6.3%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 42.2% of truck crashes, vs 44.4% for Michigan.
The busiest hour is 8–9 am, with 8.5% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 15.9% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Michigan: 17.7%).
Where crashes happen
Roads with fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of ZIP 49507 since 2015: SR-6 (4), US-131 (4), SR-11 (3), I-96 (2) and SR-44 (2). No single road stands out.
Garbage & waste trucks
116 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 2.5% share (Michigan: 3.2%).
Their busiest month is January, with 14% of garbage-truck crashes.
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 1.0, vs 1.5 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for ZIP 49507 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.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
About the data
This report uses the FMCSA crash file (reported crashes of trucks over 10,000 lb) and NHTSA FARS (fatal crashes). It reports the numbers without guessing at reasons.
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-6 | 4 |
| US-131 | 4 |
| SR-11 | 3 |
| I-96 | 2 |
| SR-44 | 2 |
| 44th Street | 1 |
| Barden Dr Se | 1 |
| CR-36TH St | 1 |
| CR-44TH St | 1 |
| CR-68TH St | 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 49507 at a glance
| Population | 38,487 |
| Density | 2,682 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $61,461 |
| Median home value | $200,524 |
| Home ownership | 62% |
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 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 230 a year in the 1990s and 428 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal large-truck crashes: 6.2 a year in 2016–19, 5.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 49507
How common are truck crashes in ZIP 49507?
Kent County has had 4,686 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 1,048 people and killing 69.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in ZIP 49507?
Truck crashes in Kent County peak in January, with 12.6% of the year's crashes.
Are garbage truck crashes common in ZIP 49507?
Since 2015, Kent County has reported 116 garbage-truck crashes, or 2.5% of its truck crashes.
How does ZIP 49507 compare with Michigan for truck crashes?
Kent County records 58.4 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 52.4 across Michigan.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in ZIP 49507?
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.