ZIP 49646 (Kalkaska, MI) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 49646: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Kalkaska 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
4 of 121 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Kalkaska County compares with Michigan
Kalkaska County against Michigan and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Kalkaska County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Kalkaska County | Michigan | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 53.2 | 52.4 | 49.7 | same |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 6.4 | 2.1 | 3.4 | 3.0× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.37 | 0.30 | 0.49 | 1.2× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.8% | 3.2% | 2.3% | 15% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 27.5% | 17.7% | 6.2% | 1.6× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 22.9% | 25.5% | 23.7% | 10% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 31.2% | 21.9% | 13.8% | 1.4× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 52.3% | 44.4% | 41.9% | 1.2× the state |
| After dark | 26.6% | 20.7% | 24.8% | 1.3× the state |
Kalkaska County has lower values than Michigan for garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am). It runs above Michigan on deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and on snow, slush or ice.
The headline for Kalkaska County: 6.4 deaths for every 100 truck crashes, against 2.1 across Michigan.
Overview
Kalkaska County has recorded 121 truck crashes since 2015, with 44 people injured and 7 killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 37 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
The worst month is January with 13.2% of truck crashes; the quietest is October at 2.5%.
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 52.3% of truck crashes, vs 44.4% for Michigan.
The busiest hour is 9–10 am, with 9.1% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 27.5% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Michigan: 17.7%).
Where crashes happen
US-131 leads within 10 miles of ZIP 49646 with 3 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. Next come CR-571 (1), SR-72 (1) and US-31 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 4 crashes, 3.3% of the total, against 3.2% across Michigan.
Route planning tips for ZIP 49646 fleets
- Build extra time into January routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Check whether your routes use US-131, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 27.5% 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 Kalkaska County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-131 | 3 |
| CR-571 | 1 |
| SR-72 | 1 |
| US-31 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Kalkaska County) |
|---|---|
| US-131 | 36 |
| Cedar | 9 |
| Boardman | 4 |
| Mile | 4 |
| County Road 571 | 3 |
| County Road 612 | 2 |
| Ingersoll | 2 |
| Rapid City | 2 |
ZIP 49646 at a glance
| Population | 8,852 |
| Density | 16 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $64,863 |
| Median home value | $181,523 |
| Home ownership | 84% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Kalkaska 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 | — | 0.4 |
| 2000s | 8 | +9% | 0.3 |
| 2010s | 7 | -19% | 0.5 |
| 2020s | 12 | +69% | 0.4 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 8 to 12. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 1.0 a year in 2016–19 and 0.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 49646
How many truck crashes happen in ZIP 49646?
Since 2015, 121 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Kalkaska County (44 injured, 7 killed).
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in ZIP 49646?
Since 2015, US-131 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 49646: 3.
When do most truck crashes happen in ZIP 49646?
January has the most truck crashes in Kalkaska County, 13.2% of the yearly total.
Are garbage truck crashes common in ZIP 49646?
Since 2015, Kalkaska County has reported 4 garbage-truck crashes, or 3.3% of its truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in ZIP 49646 compare with Michigan?
The yearly rate is 53.2 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Kalkaska County, vs 52.4 for Michigan.
How can I plan a safer truck route in ZIP 49646?
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.