Gaylesville, AL truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Gaylesville: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Gaylesville and Cherokee County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Cherokee County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
7 of 372 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Cherokee County compares with Alabama
Cherokee County against Alabama and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Cherokee County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Cherokee County | Alabama | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 128.2 | 80.8 | 49.7 | 1.6× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 5.1 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 1.5× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.46 | 0.46 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.2% | 2.3% | 2.3% | 47% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 0.0% | 0.8% | 6.2% | 100% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 23.3% | 22.5% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 8.7% | 12.3% | 13.8% | 30% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 45.7% | 40.8% | 41.9% | 1.1× the state |
| After dark | 25.1% | 23.7% | 24.8% | same |
Cherokee County sits below Alabama on garbage-truck share, on snow, slush or ice and in rain, sleet or snow. It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and winter months (nov–mar).
The headline for Cherokee County: 0.0% of truck crashes happened on snow, slush or ice, vs 0.8% in Alabama.
Overview
Police reported 372 crashes involving commercial trucks in Cherokee County since 2015: 167 people were injured and 18 were killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 11 days.
Only 0 truck crashes were reported in Gaylesville since 2015; patterns below come from Cherokee County as a whole.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in March (11.0% of the year) and are lowest in July (5.1%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 45.7% of truck crashes, against 40.8% across Alabama.
By time of day, 12–1 pm stands out with 8.1% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 0.0% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Alabama: 0.8%).
Where crashes happen
Within this area, SR-9 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (3). Next come SR-68 (2), Cedar Bluff Rd (1) and SR-20 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 7 crashes, 1.9% of the total, against 2.3% across Alabama.
Route planning tips for Gaylesville fleets
- Build extra time into March routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Look at alternatives to SR-9 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
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.
Crash reporting for 2024 is incomplete; those years are shown in grey and not used for rates.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Cherokee County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-9 | 3 |
| SR-68 | 2 |
| Cedar Bluff Rd | 1 |
| SR-20 | 1 |
| SR-35 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Cherokee County) |
|---|---|
| Al-9 | 75 |
| US-411 | 52 |
| Al-35 | 33 |
| Al-68 | 26 |
| Chestnut Bypass | 16 |
| US-278 | 16 |
| Cr-29 | 8 |
| Cedar Bluff Road | 6 |
Gaylesville at a glance
| Population | 177 |
| Land area | 1.4 sq mi |
| Density | 128 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 35959) | $52,356 |
| Median home value (ZIP 35959) | $248,806 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Cherokee 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 | 17 | — | 1.6 |
| 2000s | 24 | +45% | 0.8 |
| 2010s | 30 | +22% | 1.7 |
| 2020s | 33 | +10% | 1.6 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 17 a year in the 1990s and 33 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal large-truck crashes: 1.2 a year in 2016–19, 1.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Gaylesville
How many truck crashes happen in Gaylesville?
Cherokee County has had 372 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 167 people and killing 18.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in Gaylesville?
NHTSA data shows SR-9 with 3 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Gaylesville since 2015, the highest of any road.
When do most truck crashes happen in Gaylesville?
March has the most truck crashes in Cherokee County, 11.0% of the yearly total.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Gaylesville?
7 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Cherokee County since 2015, 1.9% of all truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in Gaylesville compared with Alabama?
The yearly rate is 128.2 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Cherokee County, vs 80.8 for Alabama.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Gaylesville?
Use the free Route Planner: enter your stops to get a risk score, safer alternatives and the low bridges on your route.
Crash reporting to FMCSA was incomplete in 2024; those years are greyed out and left out of rates. 2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.