ZIP 49686 (Traverse City, MI) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 49686: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Grand Traverse 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
0.0 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 3.7 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Grand Traverse County compares with Michigan
Grand Traverse County against Michigan and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Grand Traverse County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Grand Traverse County | Michigan | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 45.7 | 52.4 | 49.7 | 13% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.7 | 2.1 | 3.4 | 1.8× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.29 | 0.30 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 5.1% | 3.2% | 2.3% | 1.6× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 25.9% | 17.7% | 6.2% | 1.5× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 23.9% | 25.5% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 23.9% | 21.9% | 13.8% | 1.1× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 44.2% | 44.4% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 14.2% | 20.7% | 24.8% | 31% below the state |
Grand Traverse County has lower values than Michigan for crashes per 100k residents / yr and after dark. It stands out for higher deaths per 100 crashes, garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice.
Grand Traverse County at a glance: 1 in 19 of truck crashes here involve garbage trucks: 5.1%, vs 3.2% in Michigan.
Overview
Since 2015, 518 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Grand Traverse County. They injured 153 people and killed 18.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 8 days.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in February (10.0% of the year) and are lowest in March (5.8%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 44.2% of truck crashes, vs 44.4% for Michigan.
By time of day, 10–11 am stands out with 9.7% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 25.9% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Michigan: 17.7%).
Where crashes happen
Fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 49686 since 2015 were spread across roads: CR-633 Silver Lake Rd (1), SR-22 (1), SR-72 (1) and US-31 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 25 crashes, 4.8% of the total, against 3.2% across Michigan.
The most garbage-truck crashes happen in August (20%).
They recorded 0.0 deaths per 100 crashes, against 3.7 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for ZIP 49686 fleets
- Build extra time into February routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Waste haulers: August is the peak month for garbage-truck crashes in Grand Traverse County.
- With 25.9% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above Michigan), plan winter equipment checks early.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
About the data
Crash counts come from the FMCSA crash file (police-reported crashes involving trucks over 10,000 lb); fatal-crash locations come from NHTSA FARS. Text on this page states only what these numbers show.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Grand Traverse County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| CR-633 Silver Lake Rd | 1 |
| SR-22 | 1 |
| SR-72 | 1 |
| US-31 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Grand Traverse County) |
|---|---|
| US-31 | 108 |
| Garfield | 45 |
| South Airport | 28 |
| Division | 14 |
| Mile | 14 |
| US-131 | 12 |
| Beitner | 12 |
| Grandview | 10 |
ZIP 49686 at a glance
| Population | 25,492 |
| Density | 208 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $71,609 |
| Median home value | $344,768 |
| Home ownership | 72% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Grand Traverse 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 | 25 | — | 1.3 |
| 2000s | 32 | +28% | 1.7 |
| 2010s | 30 | -6% | 1.3 |
| 2020s | 49 | +64% | 1.2 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 25 a year in the 1990s and 49 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal large-truck crashes: 1.5 a year in 2016–19, 1.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 49686
How common are truck crashes in ZIP 49686?
Since 2015, 518 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Grand Traverse County (153 injured, 18 killed).
When do most truck crashes happen in ZIP 49686?
The worst month is February: 10.0% of truck crashes in Grand Traverse County happen then.
Are garbage truck crashes common in ZIP 49686?
25 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Grand Traverse County since 2015, 4.8% of all truck crashes.
How does ZIP 49686 compare with Michigan for truck crashes?
Per 100,000 residents, Grand Traverse County has 45.7 truck crashes a year; Michigan has 52.4.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in ZIP 49686?
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.