Bessemer, AL truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Bessemer: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Bessemer and Jefferson County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Jefferson County numbers.
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 |
Compared with Alabama, Jefferson County is lower on deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash. It stands out for higher garbage-truck share and in rain, sleet or snow.
Bessemer at a glance: 2.6× yearly fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of Bessemer: 1.2 in 2016–19, 3.2 in 2020–24.
Overview
Jefferson County has recorded 6,305 truck crashes since 2015, with 2,535 people injured and 141 killed.
That averages about 1 truck crash a day in fully reported years.
Only 170 truck crashes were reported in Bessemer since 2015; patterns below come from Jefferson County as a whole.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in March (9.2% of the year) and are lowest in February (7.3%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 41.4% of truck crashes, against 40.8% across 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
The deadliest road for trucks within 10 miles of Bessemer is I-59, with 7 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. After it: I-459 (5), I-20 (2) and SR-5 (2).
Garbage & waste trucks
185 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 2.9% share (Alabama: 2.3%).
The most garbage-truck crashes happen in August (13%).
They recorded 2.3 deaths per 100 crashes, against 2.1 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for Bessemer fleets
- Review driver schedules for March, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Check whether your routes use I-59, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- For residential and commercial waste routes, look again at August schedules: garbage-truck crashes peak then.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
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.
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 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-59 | 7 |
| I-459 | 5 |
| I-20 | 2 |
| SR-5 | 2 |
| 32nd St | 1 |
| Balsam Ave Sw | 1 |
| Bessemer Rd | 1 |
| CR-OLD Tuscaloosa Hwy | 1 |
| Carolina Ave | 1 |
| Mu-Forest Rd | 1 |
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 |
Bessemer at a glance
| Population | 25,079 |
| Land area | 40.6 sq mi |
| Density | 617 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 35020) | $35,362 |
| Median home value (ZIP 35020) | $86,135 |
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 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 168 to 484. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. NHTSA counts 6.8 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 10.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Bessemer
How common are truck crashes in Bessemer?
6,305 truck crashes have been reported in Jefferson County since 2015, with 141 deaths and 2,535 injuries.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Bessemer?
Since 2015, I-59 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Bessemer: 7.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Bessemer?
March has the most truck crashes in Jefferson County, 9.2% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Bessemer?
Garbage trucks were involved in 185 reported crashes in Jefferson County since 2015 (2.9% of truck crashes).
How do truck crashes in Bessemer compare with Alabama?
The yearly rate is 81.9 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Jefferson County, vs 80.8 for Alabama.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Bessemer?
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.