Sheffield, AL truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Sheffield: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Sheffield 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. Where it is higher: deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and winter months (nov–mar).
Sheffield at a glance: SR-20 most fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of Sheffield: 6 since 2015.
Overview
Police reported 518 crashes involving commercial trucks in Colbert County since 2015: 281 people were injured and 28 were killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 8 days.
Only 26 truck crashes were reported in Sheffield since 2015; patterns below come from Colbert County as a whole.
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.
The busiest hour is 2–3 pm, with 8.5% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 0.6% of truck crashes, compared with 0.8% in Alabama.
Where crashes happen
Within this area, SR-20 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (6). Next come SR-184 (3), SR-2 (2) and US-72 (2).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 7 crashes, 1.4% of the total, against 2.3% across Alabama.
Route planning tips for Sheffield fleets
- Review driver schedules for October, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Where you can, review stops along SR-20; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- 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 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 |
| US-72 | 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 |
Sheffield at a glance
| Population | 9,335 |
| Land area | 7.0 sq mi |
| Density | 1,336 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 35660) | $40,065 |
| Median home value (ZIP 35660) | $129,077 |
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. NHTSA counts 1.0 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 3.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Sheffield
How common are truck crashes in Sheffield?
518 truck crashes have been reported in Colbert County since 2015, with 28 deaths and 281 injuries.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Sheffield?
SR-20 had 6 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Sheffield since 2015, more than any other road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Sheffield?
October has the most truck crashes in Colbert County, 11.8% of the yearly total.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Sheffield?
Since 2015, Colbert County has reported 7 garbage-truck crashes, or 1.4% of its truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in Sheffield compare with Alabama?
Per 100,000 residents, Colbert County has 75.5 truck crashes a year; Alabama has 80.8.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Sheffield?
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.