Decatur, AL truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Decatur: 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
4.8 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 1.5 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Decatur compares with Alabama
Decatur against Alabama and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Decatur stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Decatur | Alabama | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 82.0 | 80.8 | 49.7 | same |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 1.5 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 56% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.33 | 0.46 | 0.49 | 28% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 4.0% | 2.3% | 2.3% | 1.8× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 0.8% | 0.8% | 6.2% | same |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 25.6% | 22.5% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 9.6% | 12.3% | 13.8% | 22% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 35.9% | 40.8% | 41.9% | 12% below the state |
| After dark | 15.1% | 23.7% | 24.8% | 36% below the state |
Decatur sits below Alabama on deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and in rain, sleet or snow. It runs above Alabama on garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am).
What stands out in Decatur: 1 in 25 garbage-truck share of crashes is 4.0%, against 2.3% for Alabama.
Overview
Decatur has recorded 554 truck crashes since 2015, with 179 people injured and 9 killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 8 days.
When crashes happen
August has the most truck crashes, 9.9% of the yearly total, while February has the fewest (5.6%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 35.9% of truck crashes, against 40.8% across Alabama.
By time of day, 11 am–12 pm stands out with 10.1% 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
Roads with fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Decatur since 2015: I-65 (6), SR-67 (6), SR-20 (2), SR-24 (2) and SR-36 (2). No single road stands out.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 22 of the truck crashes here, or 4.0%, compared with 2.3% in Alabama.
Their busiest month is May, with 27% of garbage-truck crashes.
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 4.8, vs 1.5 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for Decatur fleets
- Plan August schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Decatur.
- For residential and commercial waste routes, look again at May schedules: garbage-truck crashes peak then.
- Morning starts matter: 25.6% of truck crashes fall between 6 and 10 am, higher than Alabama.
- 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 Decatur
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-65 | 6 |
| SR-67 | 6 |
| SR-20 | 2 |
| SR-24 | 2 |
| SR-36 | 2 |
| I-565 | 1 |
| US-31 | 1 |
| Us-Sr 3 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Decatur) |
|---|---|
| Al-20 | 124 |
| Al-67 | 84 |
| US-31 | 66 |
| SR-20 | 24 |
| SR-67 | 19 |
| I-65 | 19 |
| Al Hwy 20 | 18 |
| SR-31 | 14 |
Decatur at a glance
| Population | 57,974 |
| Land area | 54.6 sq mi |
| Density | 1,062 per sq mi |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Decatur 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 | 1 | — | 3.4 |
| 2000s | 0 | -83% | 3.5 |
| 2010s | 24 | +23700% | 1.7 |
| 2020s | 53 | +121% | 2.8 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 1 a year in the 1990s and 53 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 2.0 a year in 2016–19 and 2.8 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Decatur
How common are truck crashes in Decatur?
554 truck crashes have been reported in Decatur since 2015, with 9 deaths and 179 injuries.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Decatur?
Truck crashes in Decatur peak in August, with 9.9% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Decatur?
22 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Decatur since 2015, 4.0% of all truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in Decatur compare with Alabama?
The yearly rate is 82.0 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Decatur, vs 80.8 for Alabama.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Decatur?
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.