Memphis, AL truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Memphis: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Memphis and Pickens County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Pickens County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
2 of 187 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Pickens County compares with Alabama
Pickens County against Alabama and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Pickens County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Pickens County | Alabama | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 87.9 | 80.8 | 49.7 | 1.1× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 6.1 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 1.8× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.56 | 0.46 | 0.49 | 1.2× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.1% | 2.3% | 2.3% | 50% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 1.7% | 0.8% | 6.2% | 2.1× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 28.5% | 22.5% | 23.7% | 1.3× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 12.3% | 12.3% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 45.8% | 40.8% | 41.9% | 1.1× the state |
| After dark | 17.3% | 23.7% | 24.8% | 27% below the state |
Compared with Alabama, Pickens County is lower on garbage-truck share and after dark. It runs above Alabama on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash.
Pickens County at a glance: 1.7% of truck crashes happened on snow, slush or ice, vs 0.8% in Alabama.
Overview
Since 2015, 187 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Pickens County. They injured 104 people and killed 12.
That averages about one truck crash every 22 days in fully reported years.
Only 0 truck crashes were reported in Memphis since 2015; patterns below come from Pickens County as a whole.
When crashes happen
December has the most truck crashes, 11.8% of the yearly total, while October has the fewest (3.2%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 45.8% of truck crashes, vs 40.8% for Alabama.
By time of day, 12–1 pm stands out with 9.6% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 1.7% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Alabama: 0.8%).
Where crashes happen
Roads with fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Memphis since 2015: SR-14 (1). No single road stands out.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 2 crashes, 1.1% of the total, against 2.3% across Alabama.
Route planning tips for Memphis fleets
- Plan December schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Pickens County.
- The morning rush (6–10 am) holds 28.5% of truck crashes here, more than Alabama; adjust start times where you can.
- With 1.7% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above Alabama), plan winter equipment checks early.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
About the data
Crash counts come from the FMCSA crash file (police-reported crashes involving trucks over 10,000 lb); fatal-crash locations come from NHTSA FARS. Text on this page states only what these numbers show.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Pickens County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-14 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Pickens County) |
|---|---|
| US-82 | 73 |
| Al-17 | 30 |
| Al-86 | 20 |
| Al-14 | 9 |
| Al-159 | 4 |
| Al-6 | 4 |
| SR-82 | 3 |
| SR-17 | 3 |
Memphis at a glance
| Population | 24 |
| Land area | 0.4 sq mi |
| Density | 62 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 35442) | $44,503 |
| Median home value (ZIP 35442) | $144,632 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Pickens 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 | 16 | — | 2.0 |
| 2000s | 19 | +21% | 1.0 |
| 2010s | 17 | -11% | 0.9 |
| 2020s | 15 | -14% | 0.4 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 16 a year in the 1990s and 15 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. NHTSA counts 1.0 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 0.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Memphis
How many truck accidents are there in Memphis?
Since 2015, 187 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Pickens County (104 injured, 12 killed).
Which month has the most truck crashes in Memphis?
Truck crashes in Pickens County peak in December, with 11.8% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Memphis?
2 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Pickens County since 2015, 1.1% of all truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in Memphis compared with Alabama?
Per 100,000 residents, Pickens County has 87.9 truck crashes a year; Alabama has 80.8.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Memphis?
The free Route Planner takes your stops and returns a route risk score, safer alternatives and low-bridge warnings.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.