Jefferson County, AL truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Jefferson County: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes, 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
2.3 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 2.1 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Jefferson County compares with Alabama
Jefferson County against Alabama and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Jefferson County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Jefferson County | Alabama | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 81.9 | 80.8 | 49.7 | same |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.1 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 38% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.40 | 0.46 | 0.49 | 13% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.9% | 2.3% | 2.3% | 1.3× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 0.8% | 0.8% | 6.2% | same |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 23.3% | 22.5% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 14.5% | 12.3% | 13.8% | 1.2× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 41.4% | 40.8% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 23.8% | 23.7% | 24.8% | same |
Jefferson County sits below Alabama on deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash. It stands out for higher garbage-truck share and in rain, sleet or snow.
What stands out in Jefferson County: I-59 deadliest road: 17 fatal truck crashes in Jefferson County since 2015.
Overview
Jefferson County has recorded 6,305 truck crashes since 2015, with 2,535 people injured and 141 killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly 1 truck crash every day.
When crashes happen
The worst month is March with 9.2% of truck crashes; the quietest is February at 7.3%.
November through March accounts for 41.4% of truck crashes here, compared with 40.8% in Alabama.
More truck crashes happen at 2–3 pm than at any other hour (6.8%).
Road surface: 0.8% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Alabama: 0.8%).
Where crashes happen
Within this area, I-59 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (17). Next come I-65 (13), I-459 (9) and I-20 (8).
Garbage & waste trucks
185 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 2.9% share (Alabama: 2.3%).
Garbage-truck crashes peak in August (13% of them).
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 2.3, vs 2.1 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for Jefferson County fleets
- Plan March schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Jefferson County.
- Check whether your routes use I-59, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- Waste haulers: August is the peak month for garbage-truck crashes in Jefferson County.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
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 Jefferson County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Jefferson County) |
|---|---|
| I-59 | 17 |
| I-65 | 13 |
| I-459 | 9 |
| I-20 | 8 |
| SR-79 | 6 |
| I-22 | 3 |
| SR-5 | 3 |
| US-31 | 2 |
| US-78 | 2 |
| University Blvd | 2 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Jefferson County) |
|---|---|
| I-59 | 1,303 |
| I-65 | 1,128 |
| I-459 | 596 |
| I-20 | 495 |
| US-280 | 124 |
| I-22 | 115 |
| US-78 | 74 |
| US-31 | 52 |
Jefferson County at a glance
| Population | 664,744 |
| Land area | 1,111.6 sq mi |
| Density | 598 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $72,801 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Jefferson 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 | 168 | — | 10.0 |
| 2000s | 360 | +114% | 11.5 |
| 2010s | 486 | +35% | 8.7 |
| 2020s | 484 | -0% | 10.6 |
In the 1990s about 168 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 484. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal large-truck crashes: 6.8 a year in 2016–19, 10.6 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in Jefferson County
ZIP codes in Jefferson County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Jefferson County
How common are truck crashes in Jefferson County?
Since 2015, 6,305 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Jefferson County (2,535 injured, 141 killed).
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in Jefferson County?
I-59 had 17 fatal crashes involving a large truck in Jefferson County since 2015, more than any other road.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Jefferson County?
Truck crashes in Jefferson County peak in March, with 9.2% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Jefferson County?
Garbage trucks were involved in 185 reported crashes in Jefferson County since 2015 (2.9% of truck crashes).
How does Jefferson County compare with Alabama for truck crashes?
The yearly rate is 81.9 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Jefferson County, vs 80.8 for Alabama.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Jefferson County?
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.