ZIP 49628 (Elberta, MI) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 49628: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Benzie 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 of 65 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Benzie County compares with Michigan
Benzie County against Michigan and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Benzie County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Benzie County | Michigan | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 29.0 | 52.4 | 49.7 | 45% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 6.8 | 2.1 | 3.4 | 3.2× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.20 | 0.30 | 0.49 | 33% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.7% | 3.2% | 2.3% | 48% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 37.3% | 17.7% | 6.2% | 2.1× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 30.5% | 25.5% | 23.7% | 1.2× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 30.5% | 21.9% | 13.8% | 1.4× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 50.8% | 44.4% | 41.9% | 1.1× the state |
| After dark | 11.9% | 20.7% | 24.8% | 43% below the state |
Benzie County sits below Michigan on crashes per 100k residents / yr, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share. Where it is higher: deaths per 100 crashes, on snow, slush or ice and morning rush (6–10 am).
Benzie County at a glance: 6.8 deaths for every 100 truck crashes, against 2.1 across Michigan.
Overview
Benzie County has recorded 65 truck crashes since 2015, with 15 people injured and 4 killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 68 days.
When crashes happen
The worst month is January with 18.5% of truck crashes; the quietest is March at 1.5%.
November through March accounts for 50.8% of truck crashes here, compared with 44.4% in Michigan.
The busiest hour is 11 am–12 pm, with 21.5% of truck crashes.
37.3% 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 49628 since 2015: CR-HOMESTEAD Rd (1). No single road stands out.
Garbage & waste trucks
1 crash involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 1.5% share (Michigan: 3.2%).
Route planning tips for ZIP 49628 fleets
- Plan January schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Benzie County.
- Morning starts matter: 30.5% of truck crashes fall between 6 and 10 am, higher than Michigan.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 37.3% of truck crashes here, more than Michigan; schedule winter checks early.
- 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 Benzie County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| CR-HOMESTEAD Rd | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Benzie County) |
|---|---|
| Honor | 15 |
| Reynolds | 6 |
| Lake Ann | 4 |
| US-31 | 3 |
| Pioneer | 3 |
| Cadillac | 2 |
| Cinder | 2 |
| Crystal | 2 |
ZIP 49628 at a glance
| Population | 174 |
| Density | 90 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $114,375 |
| Median home value | $269,317 |
| Home ownership | 96% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Benzie 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 | 3 | — | 0.2 |
| 2000s | 4 | +43% | 0.2 |
| 2010s | 4 | -15% | 0.2 |
| 2020s | 6 | +71% | 0.4 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 3 a year in the 1990s and 6 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. NHTSA counts 0.2 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 0.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 49628
How common are truck crashes in ZIP 49628?
Benzie County has had 65 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 15 people and killing 4.
When do most truck crashes happen in ZIP 49628?
January has the most truck crashes in Benzie County, 18.5% of the yearly total.
Are garbage truck crashes common in ZIP 49628?
1 crash involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Benzie County since 2015, 1.5% of all truck crashes.
How does ZIP 49628 compare with Michigan for truck crashes?
Per 100,000 residents, Benzie County has 29.0 truck crashes a year; Michigan has 52.4.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in ZIP 49628?
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.