Muscle Shoals, AL truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Muscle Shoals: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Muscle Shoals and Colbert County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Colbert County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
7 of 518 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Colbert County compares with Alabama
Colbert County against Alabama and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Colbert County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Colbert County | Alabama | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 75.5 | 80.8 | 49.7 | same |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 5.3 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 1.6× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.55 | 0.46 | 0.49 | 1.2× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.4% | 2.3% | 2.3% | 37% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 0.6% | 0.8% | 6.2% | 24% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 22.9% | 22.5% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 11.9% | 12.3% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 44.3% | 40.8% | 41.9% | 1.1× the state |
| After dark | 22.9% | 23.7% | 24.8% | same |
Compared with Alabama, Colbert County is lower on garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice. It stands out for higher deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and winter months (nov–mar).
The headline for Muscle Shoals: SR-20 deadliest road: 6 fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of Muscle Shoals since 2015.
Overview
Colbert County has recorded 518 truck crashes since 2015, with 281 people injured and 28 killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 8 days.
Muscle Shoals had 68 reported truck crashes since 2015, too few for reliable patterns, so the charts and findings on this page use Colbert County numbers.
When crashes happen
October has the most truck crashes, 11.8% of the yearly total, while July has the fewest (4.6%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 44.3% of truck crashes, against 40.8% across Alabama.
By time of day, 2–3 pm stands out with 8.5% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 0.6% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Alabama: 0.8%).
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks within 10 miles of Muscle Shoals is SR-20, with 6 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. Next come SR-184 (3), SR-2 (2) and CR-323 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
7 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 1.4% share (Alabama: 2.3%).
Route planning tips for Muscle Shoals fleets
- Plan October schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Colbert County.
- Where you can, review stops along SR-20; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- 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 Colbert County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-20 | 6 |
| SR-184 | 3 |
| SR-2 | 2 |
| CR-323 | 1 |
| CR-GOLDEN Rd | 1 |
| Mu-6th St | 1 |
| SR-133 | 1 |
| SR-157 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Colbert County) |
|---|---|
| US-72 | 128 |
| Al-20 | 56 |
| SR-72 | 36 |
| Al-157 | 31 |
| US-43 | 28 |
| Wilson Dam Road | 12 |
| Al-184 | 11 |
| Al-133 | 10 |
Muscle Shoals at a glance
| Population | 17,409 |
| Land area | 16.9 sq mi |
| Density | 1,032 per sq mi |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Colbert 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 | 39 | — | 2.8 |
| 2000s | 43 | +10% | 2.0 |
| 2010s | 43 | -1% | 1.3 |
| 2020s | 42 | -1% | 3.0 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 39 a year in the 1990s and 42 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal large-truck crashes: 1.0 a year in 2016–19, 3.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Muscle Shoals
How common are truck crashes in Muscle Shoals?
Colbert County has had 518 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 281 people and killing 28.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Muscle Shoals?
NHTSA data shows SR-20 with 6 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Muscle Shoals since 2015, the highest of any road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Muscle Shoals?
October has the most truck crashes in Colbert County, 11.8% of the yearly total.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Muscle Shoals?
Since 2015, Colbert County has reported 7 garbage-truck crashes, or 1.4% of its truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in Muscle Shoals compared with Alabama?
Colbert County records 75.5 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 80.8 across Alabama.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Muscle Shoals?
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.