ZIP 49696 (Traverse City, MI) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 49696: 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 |
Compared with Michigan, Grand Traverse County is lower on 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
Police reported 518 crashes involving commercial trucks in Grand Traverse County since 2015: 153 people were injured and 18 were killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 8 days.
When crashes happen
The worst month is February with 10.0% of truck crashes; the quietest is March at 5.8%.
November through March accounts for 44.2% of truck crashes here, compared with 44.4% in Michigan.
By time of day, 10–11 am stands out with 9.7% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 25.9% of truck crashes, compared with 17.7% in Michigan.
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks within 10 miles of ZIP 49696 is US-131, with 3 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. Next come CR-605 Williamsburg Rd (1), CR-633 Silver Lake Rd (1) and CR-BEITNER Rd (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 25 of the truck crashes here, or 4.8%, compared with 3.2% in Michigan.
Garbage-truck crashes peak in August (20% of them).
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 0.0, vs 3.7 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for ZIP 49696 fleets
- Plan February schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Grand Traverse County.
- Check whether your routes use US-131, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- 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.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
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) |
|---|---|
| US-131 | 3 |
| CR-605 Williamsburg Rd | 1 |
| CR-633 Silver Lake Rd | 1 |
| CR-BEITNER Rd | 1 |
| CR-SUMMIT City Rd | 1 |
| CR-ZIMMER Rd | 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 49696 at a glance
| Population | 10,477 |
| Density | 59 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $94,803 |
| Median home value | $305,926 |
| Home ownership | 92% |
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. NHTSA counts 1.5 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 1.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 49696
How common are truck crashes in ZIP 49696?
Since 2015, 518 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Grand Traverse County (153 injured, 18 killed).
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in ZIP 49696?
NHTSA data shows US-131 with 3 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 49696 since 2015, the highest of any road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in ZIP 49696?
February has the most truck crashes in Grand Traverse County, 10.0% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in ZIP 49696?
Since 2015, Grand Traverse County has reported 25 garbage-truck crashes, or 4.8% of its truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in ZIP 49696 compare with Michigan?
The yearly rate is 45.7 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Grand Traverse County, vs 52.4 for Michigan.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in ZIP 49696?
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.