Fairfield, AL truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Fairfield: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Fairfield 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 |
Jefferson County has lower values than Alabama for deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash. It stands out for higher garbage-truck share and in rain, sleet or snow.
The headline for Fairfield: 2.0× fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of Fairfield per year, 2020–24 vs 2016–19 (6.0 vs 3.0).
Overview
Police reported 6,305 crashes involving commercial trucks in Jefferson County since 2015: 2,535 people were injured and 141 were killed.
That averages about 1 truck crash a day in fully reported years.
With 27 truck crashes reported in Fairfield since 2015, this page uses Jefferson County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
March has the most truck crashes, 9.2% of the yearly total, while February has the fewest (7.3%).
November through March accounts for 41.4% of truck crashes here, compared with 40.8% in Alabama.
The busiest hour is 2–3 pm, with 6.8% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 0.8% of truck crashes, compared with 0.8% in Alabama.
Where crashes happen
I-59 leads within 10 miles of Fairfield with 11 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. After it: I-65 (7), I-459 (4) and I-20 (3).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 185 crashes, 2.9% of the total, against 2.3% across Alabama.
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 Fairfield fleets
- Review driver schedules for March, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Look at alternatives to I-59 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- Waste haulers: August is the peak month for garbage-truck crashes in Jefferson County.
- 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 | 11 |
| I-65 | 7 |
| I-459 | 4 |
| I-20 | 3 |
| SR-5 | 3 |
| I-22 | 2 |
| University Blvd | 2 |
| 1st Ave N | 1 |
| 24th St N | 1 |
| 32nd St | 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 |
Fairfield at a glance
| Population | 9,524 |
| Land area | 3.5 sq mi |
| Density | 2,749 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 35064) | $48,692 |
| Median home value (ZIP 35064) | $129,879 |
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 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 168 a year in the 1990s and 484 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. 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 Fairfield
How common are truck crashes in Fairfield?
Jefferson County has had 6,305 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 2,535 people and killing 141.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in Fairfield?
I-59 had 11 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Fairfield since 2015, more than any other road.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Fairfield?
March has the most truck crashes in Jefferson County, 9.2% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Fairfield?
Since 2015, Jefferson County has reported 185 garbage-truck crashes, or 2.9% of its truck crashes.
How does Fairfield compare with Alabama for truck crashes?
Per 100,000 residents, Jefferson County has 81.9 truck crashes a year; Alabama has 80.8.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Fairfield?
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.