Mulga, AL truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Mulga: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Mulga 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 runs above Alabama on garbage-truck share and in rain, sleet or snow.
What stands out in Mulga: I-59 deadliest road: 9 fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of Mulga since 2015.
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.
Only 0 truck crashes were reported in Mulga since 2015; patterns below come from Jefferson County as a whole.
When crashes happen
March has the most truck crashes, 9.2% of the yearly total, while February has the fewest (7.3%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 41.4% of truck crashes, against 40.8% across Alabama.
The busiest hour is 2–3 pm, with 6.8% of truck crashes.
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 (9). After it: I-65 (6), I-22 (3) and I-20 (2).
Garbage & waste trucks
185 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 2.9% share (Alabama: 2.3%).
Their busiest month is August, with 13% of garbage-truck crashes.
Per 100 crashes, garbage trucks recorded 2.3 deaths compared with 2.1 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for Mulga fleets
- Plan March schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Jefferson County.
- Where you can, review stops along I-59; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in August; review collection routes for that month.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
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 | 9 |
| I-65 | 6 |
| I-22 | 3 |
| I-20 | 2 |
| SR-5 | 2 |
| 32nd St | 1 |
| Balsam Ave Sw | 1 |
| Bankhead Hwy | 1 |
| Bessemer Rd | 1 |
| Birmingport 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 |
Mulga at a glance
| Population | 768 |
| Land area | 0.9 sq mi |
| Density | 865 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 35224) | $42,639 |
| Median home value (ZIP 35224) | $80,036 |
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 Mulga
How common are truck crashes in Mulga?
Since 2015, 6,305 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Jefferson County (2,535 injured, 141 killed).
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in Mulga?
I-59 had 9 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Mulga since 2015, more than any other road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Mulga?
Truck crashes in Jefferson County peak in March, with 9.2% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Mulga?
Since 2015, Jefferson County has reported 185 garbage-truck crashes, or 2.9% of its truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in Mulga 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 Mulga?
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.