Calera, AL truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Calera: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Calera and Shelby County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Shelby County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
0.0 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 2.1 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Shelby County compares with Alabama
Shelby County against Alabama and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Shelby County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Shelby County | Alabama | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 53.6 | 80.8 | 49.7 | 34% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.1 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 38% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.39 | 0.46 | 0.49 | 15% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.6% | 2.3% | 2.3% | 1.1× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 0.6% | 0.8% | 6.2% | 29% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 24.2% | 22.5% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 11.8% | 12.3% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 38.7% | 40.8% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 18.0% | 23.7% | 24.8% | 24% below the state |
Shelby County has lower values than Alabama for crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash. Where it is higher: garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am).
What stands out in Calera: I-65 4 fatal truck crashes since 2015, more than any other road within 10 miles of Calera.
Overview
Since 2015, 1,467 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Shelby County. They injured 576 people and killed 30.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 3 days.
With 176 truck crashes reported in Calera since 2015, this page uses Shelby County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
The worst month is October with 9.5% of truck crashes; the quietest is December at 6.5%.
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 38.7% of truck crashes, vs 40.8% for Alabama.
By time of day, 12–1 pm stands out with 8.0% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 0.6% of truck crashes, compared with 0.8% in Alabama.
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks within 10 miles of Calera is I-65, with 4 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. Next come Us-Sr 3 (2) and US-31 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
40 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 2.7% share (Alabama: 2.3%).
The most garbage-truck crashes happen in April (12%).
They recorded 0.0 deaths per 100 crashes, against 2.1 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for Calera fleets
- Build extra time into October routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Check whether your routes use I-65, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- Waste haulers: April is the peak month for garbage-truck crashes in Shelby County.
- The morning rush (6–10 am) holds 24.2% of truck crashes here, more than Alabama; adjust start times where you can.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
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 Shelby County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-65 | 4 |
| Us-Sr 3 | 2 |
| US-31 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Shelby County) |
|---|---|
| I-65 | 490 |
| US-280 | 206 |
| US-31 | 101 |
| Al-25 | 93 |
| Pelham Parkway | 43 |
| Al-119 | 30 |
| Al-70 | 18 |
| Cahaba Valley Road | 17 |
Calera at a glance
| Population | 18,530 |
| Land area | 24.3 sq mi |
| Density | 762 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 35040) | $84,554 |
| Median home value (ZIP 35040) | $230,696 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Shelby 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 | 53 | — | 4.0 |
| 2000s | 100 | +90% | 2.9 |
| 2010s | 117 | +17% | 1.9 |
| 2020s | 118 | +1% | 2.0 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 53 to 118. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 2.8 a year in 2016–19 and 2.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Calera
How common are truck crashes in Calera?
1,467 truck crashes have been reported in Shelby County since 2015, with 30 deaths and 576 injuries.
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in Calera?
I-65 had 4 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Calera since 2015, more than any other road.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Calera?
The worst month is October: 9.5% of truck crashes in Shelby County happen then.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Calera?
40 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Shelby County since 2015, 2.7% of all truck crashes.
How does Calera compare with Alabama for truck crashes?
Shelby County records 53.6 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 80.8 across Alabama.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Calera?
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.