Steele, AL truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Steele: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Steele and St. Clair County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use St. Clair County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
4.0 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 4.2 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How St. Clair County compares with Alabama
St. Clair County against Alabama and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where St. Clair County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | St. Clair County | Alabama | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 116.4 | 80.8 | 49.7 | 1.4× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 4.2 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 1.2× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.45 | 0.46 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.0% | 2.3% | 2.3% | 11% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 1.5% | 0.8% | 6.2% | 1.9× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 19.4% | 22.5% | 23.7% | 14% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 14.5% | 12.3% | 13.8% | 1.2× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 41.2% | 40.8% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 29.3% | 23.7% | 24.8% | 1.2× the state |
Compared with Alabama, St. Clair County is lower on garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am). It runs above Alabama on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and on snow, slush or ice.
St. Clair County at a glance: 1.5% share of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (Alabama: 0.8%).
Overview
Since 2015, 1,310 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in St. Clair County. They injured 597 people and killed 53.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 3 days.
With 14 truck crashes reported in Steele since 2015, this page uses St. Clair County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
The worst month is October with 10.5% of truck crashes; the quietest is December at 6.4%.
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 41.2% of truck crashes, vs 40.8% for Alabama.
By time of day, 3–4 pm stands out with 7.1% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 1.5% 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 (6). It is followed by SR-77 (4), Us-Sr 53 (2) and CR-24 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 28 crashes, 2.1% of the total, against 2.3% across Alabama.
Garbage-truck crashes peak in January (18% of them).
Per 100 crashes, garbage trucks recorded 4.0 deaths compared with 4.2 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for Steele fleets
- Plan October schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in St. Clair County.
- Look at alternatives to I-59 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- For residential and commercial waste routes, look again at January schedules: garbage-truck crashes peak then.
- With 1.5% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above Alabama), plan winter equipment checks early.
- 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 St. Clair County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-59 | 6 |
| SR-77 | 4 |
| Us-Sr 53 | 2 |
| CR-24 | 1 |
| Mu-Pleasant Valley Rd | 1 |
| SR-25 | 1 |
| Sutton Bridge Rd | 1 |
| US-431 | 1 |
| Us-Sr 74 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (St. Clair County) |
|---|---|
| I-20 | 614 |
| I-59 | 278 |
| US-231 | 97 |
| US-411 | 43 |
| Al-174 | 23 |
| US-78 | 21 |
| Al-144 | 16 |
| Cogswell Ave | 13 |
Steele at a glance
| Population | 1,003 |
| Land area | 6.7 sq mi |
| Density | 149 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 35987) | $78,906 |
| Median home value (ZIP 35987) | $184,862 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in St. Clair 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 | 60 | — | 2.9 |
| 2000s | 86 | +42% | 2.3 |
| 2010s | 90 | +5% | 2.3 |
| 2020s | 116 | +29% | 3.6 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 60 to 116. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 3.0 a year in 2016–19 and 3.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Steele
How common are truck crashes in Steele?
1,310 truck crashes have been reported in St. Clair County since 2015, with 53 deaths and 597 injuries.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Steele?
NHTSA data shows I-59 with 6 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Steele since 2015, the highest of any road.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Steele?
The worst month is October: 10.5% of truck crashes in St. Clair County happen then.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Steele?
Garbage trucks were involved in 28 reported crashes in St. Clair County since 2015 (2.1% of truck crashes).
How does Steele compare with Alabama for truck crashes?
St. Clair County records 116.4 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 80.8 across Alabama.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Steele?
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.