Leeds, AL truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Leeds: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Leeds 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.
What stands out in Leeds: 2.6× change in fatal truck crashes a year within 10 miles of Leeds (1.2 → 3.2).
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.
Leeds had 48 reported truck crashes since 2015, too few for reliable patterns, so the charts and findings on this page use Jefferson County numbers.
When crashes happen
The worst month is March with 9.2% of truck crashes; the quietest is February at 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%).
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 0.8% of truck crashes, compared with 0.8% in Alabama.
Where crashes happen
Within this area, I-20 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (11). It is followed by I-59 (4), I-459 (2) and US-78 (2).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 185 of the truck crashes here, or 2.9%, compared with 2.3% in Alabama.
The most garbage-truck crashes happen in August (13%).
Per 100 crashes, garbage trucks recorded 2.3 deaths compared with 2.1 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for Leeds fleets
- Build extra time into March routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Where you can, review stops along I-20; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in August; review collection routes for that month.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
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 Jefferson County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-20 | 11 |
| I-59 | 4 |
| I-459 | 2 |
| US-78 | 2 |
| CR-10 | 1 |
| Parkway East | 1 |
| SR-25 | 1 |
| SR-75 | 1 |
| US-11 | 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 |
Leeds at a glance
| Population | 12,573 |
| Land area | 22.8 sq mi |
| Density | 551 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 35094) | $74,625 |
| Median home value (ZIP 35094) | $231,489 |
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. 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 Leeds
How many truck accidents are there in Leeds?
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 Leeds?
I-20 had 11 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Leeds since 2015, more than any other road.
When do most truck crashes happen in Leeds?
The worst month is March: 9.2% of truck crashes in Jefferson County happen then.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Leeds?
Garbage trucks were involved in 185 reported crashes in Jefferson County since 2015 (2.9% of truck crashes).
What is the truck crash rate in Leeds compared with Alabama?
Jefferson County records 81.9 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 80.8 across Alabama.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Leeds?
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.