Russell County, AL truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Russell County: 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
16 of 761 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Russell County compares with Alabama
Russell County against Alabama and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Russell County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Russell County | Alabama | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 112.2 | 80.8 | 49.7 | 1.4× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.7 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 1.1× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.57 | 0.46 | 0.49 | 1.2× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.2% | 2.3% | 2.3% | same |
| On snow, slush or ice | 0.5% | 0.8% | 6.2% | 31% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 21.9% | 22.5% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 10.1% | 12.3% | 13.8% | 18% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 38.7% | 40.8% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 18.2% | 23.7% | 24.8% | 23% below the state |
Russell County sits below Alabama on on snow, slush or ice, in rain, sleet or snow and after dark. It runs above Alabama on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash.
What stands out in Russell County: Us-Sr 8 most fatal truck crashes in Russell County: 4 since 2015.
Overview
Since 2015, 761 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Russell County. They injured 429 people and killed 28.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 6 days.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in August (10.1% of the year) and are lowest in December (6.3%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 38.7% of truck crashes, against 40.8% across Alabama.
By time of day, 1–2 pm stands out with 9.5% of truck crashes.
0.5% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 0.8% across Alabama.
Where crashes happen
Within this area, Us-Sr 8 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (4). It is followed by SR-165 (3), US-80 (3) and SR-26 (2).
Garbage & waste trucks
16 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 2.1% share (Alabama: 2.3%).
Route planning tips for Russell County fleets
- Plan August schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Russell County.
- Look at alternatives to Us-Sr 8 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
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 Russell County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Russell County) |
|---|---|
| Us-Sr 8 | 4 |
| SR-165 | 3 |
| US-80 | 3 |
| SR-26 | 2 |
| US-431 | 2 |
| CR-4 | 1 |
| CR-RUTHERFORD Rd | 1 |
| US-280 | 1 |
| Us-Sr 1 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Russell County) |
|---|---|
| US-431 | 141 |
| US-80 | 89 |
| US-280 | 68 |
| Us Highway 280/431 | 54 |
| Al-165 | 51 |
| Us-280/431 | 32 |
| Al-169 | 17 |
| 4Th Avenue | 12 |
Russell County at a glance
| Population | 58,837 |
| Land area | 641.2 sq mi |
| Density | 92 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $53,253 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Russell 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 | 37 | — | 3.2 |
| 2000s | 67 | +81% | 2.2 |
| 2010s | 60 | -11% | 2.1 |
| 2020s | 61 | +2% | 2.0 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 37 a year in the 1990s and 61 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal large-truck crashes: 1.8 a year in 2016–19, 2.0 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in Russell County
ZIP codes in Russell County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Russell County
How many truck accidents are there in Russell County?
Russell County has had 761 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 429 people and killing 28.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in Russell County?
Since 2015, Us-Sr 8 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes in Russell County: 4.
When do most truck crashes happen in Russell County?
The worst month is August: 10.1% of truck crashes in Russell County happen then.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Russell County?
Garbage trucks were involved in 16 reported crashes in Russell County since 2015 (2.1% of truck crashes).
How does Russell County compare with Alabama for truck crashes?
Russell County records 112.2 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 80.8 across Alabama.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Russell County?
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.