ZIP 49546 (Grand Rapids, MI) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 49546: 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 more garbage-truck crashes happen in January than in any other month (14%).
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%.
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 42.2% of truck crashes, vs 44.4% for Michigan.
By time of day, 8–9 am stands out 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 49546 since 2015: I-96 (3), US-131 (3), CR-ALDEN Nash Ave (2), SR-44 (2) and SR-6 (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 49546 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.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
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) |
|---|---|
| I-96 | 3 |
| US-131 | 3 |
| CR-ALDEN Nash Ave | 2 |
| SR-44 | 2 |
| SR-6 | 2 |
| 44th Street | 1 |
| Barden Dr Se | 1 |
| CR-36TH St | 1 |
| CR-68TH St | 1 |
| CR-CASCADE Rd | 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 49546 at a glance
| Population | 34,721 |
| Density | 750 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $99,343 |
| Median home value | $416,500 |
| Home ownership | 69% |
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 crashes involving a large truck averaged 6.2 a year in 2016–19 and 5.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 49546
How many truck accidents are there in ZIP 49546?
Since 2015, 4,686 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Kent County (1,048 injured, 69 killed).
Which month has the most truck crashes in ZIP 49546?
The worst month is January: 12.6% of truck crashes in Kent County happen then.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in ZIP 49546?
Since 2015, Kent County has reported 116 garbage-truck crashes, or 2.5% of its truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in ZIP 49546 compare with Michigan?
Per 100,000 residents, Kent County has 58.4 truck crashes a year; Michigan has 52.4.
How can I plan a safer truck route in ZIP 49546?
The free Route Planner takes your stops and returns a route risk score, safer alternatives and low-bridge warnings.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.