Powell, AL truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Powell: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Powell and DeKalb County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use DeKalb County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
15 of 569 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How DeKalb County compares with Alabama
DeKalb County against Alabama and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where DeKalb County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | DeKalb County | Alabama | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 66.5 | 80.8 | 49.7 | 18% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 6.4 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 1.9× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.40 | 0.46 | 0.49 | 13% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.6% | 2.3% | 2.3% | 1.2× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 0.9% | 0.8% | 6.2% | 1.2× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 18.7% | 22.5% | 23.7% | 17% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 9.7% | 12.3% | 13.8% | 21% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 35.7% | 40.8% | 41.9% | 12% below the state |
| After dark | 27.7% | 23.7% | 24.8% | 1.2× the state |
DeKalb County sits below Alabama on crashes per 100k residents / yr, injuries per crash and morning rush (6–10 am). It runs above Alabama on deaths per 100 crashes, garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice.
DeKalb County at a glance: 6.4 deaths for every 100 truck crashes, against 3.4 across Alabama.
Overview
Police reported 569 crashes involving commercial trucks in DeKalb County since 2015: 230 people were injured and 36 were killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 8 days.
Only 2 truck crashes were reported in Powell since 2015; patterns below come from DeKalb County as a whole.
When crashes happen
September has the most truck crashes, 13.0% of the yearly total, while January has the fewest (5.8%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 35.7% of truck crashes, against 40.8% across Alabama.
By time of day, 1–2 pm stands out with 7.7% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 0.9% of truck crashes, compared with 0.8% in Alabama.
Where crashes happen
Roads with fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Powell since 2015: SR-35 (2), SR-75 (2), Mccurdy Ave S (1) and SR-40 (1). No single road stands out.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 15 crashes, 2.6% of the total, against 2.3% across Alabama.
Route planning tips for Powell fleets
- Plan September schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in DeKalb County.
- With 0.9% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above Alabama), plan winter equipment checks early.
- 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 DeKalb County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-35 | 2 |
| SR-75 | 2 |
| Mccurdy Ave S | 1 |
| SR-40 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (DeKalb County) |
|---|---|
| I-59 | 202 |
| Al-68 | 52 |
| Al-75 | 41 |
| Al-117 | 37 |
| Al-35 | 26 |
| US-11 | 10 |
| Main Street East | 8 |
| Wallace Av Ne | 8 |
Powell at a glance
| Population | 929 |
| Land area | 4.8 sq mi |
| Density | 193 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 35986) | $68,056 |
| Median home value (ZIP 35986) | $221,562 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in DeKalb 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 | 40 | — | 2.5 |
| 2000s | 47 | +18% | 2.4 |
| 2010s | 46 | -3% | 1.5 |
| 2020s | 51 | +10% | 3.4 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 40 a year in the 1990s and 51 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 2.0 a year in 2016–19 and 3.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Powell
How many truck crashes happen in Powell?
569 truck crashes have been reported in DeKalb County since 2015, with 36 deaths and 230 injuries.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Powell?
The worst month is September: 13.0% of truck crashes in DeKalb County happen then.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Powell?
Garbage trucks were involved in 15 reported crashes in DeKalb County since 2015 (2.6% of truck crashes).
How do truck crashes in Powell compare with Alabama?
The yearly rate is 66.5 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in DeKalb County, vs 80.8 for Alabama.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Powell?
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.