Chatom, AL truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Chatom: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Chatom and Washington County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Washington County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
3 of 224 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
No fatal large-truck crashes with a road name recorded here since 2015.
How Washington County compares with Alabama
Washington County against Alabama and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Washington County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Washington County | Alabama | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 125.3 | 80.8 | 49.7 | 1.6× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.9 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 1.1× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.55 | 0.46 | 0.49 | 1.2× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.5% | 2.3% | 2.3% | 36% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 1.5% | 0.8% | 6.2% | 1.8× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 24.1% | 22.5% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 9.7% | 12.3% | 13.8% | 21% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 45.4% | 40.8% | 41.9% | 1.1× the state |
| After dark | 23.7% | 23.7% | 24.8% | same |
Washington County sits below Alabama on garbage-truck share and in rain, sleet or snow. Where it is higher: crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash.
The headline for Washington County: 1.5% on snowy, slushy or icy roads, against 0.8% across Alabama.
Overview
Since 2015, 224 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Washington County. They injured 124 people and killed 8.
That averages about one truck crash every 19 days in fully reported years.
With 20 truck crashes reported in Chatom since 2015, this page uses Washington County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
February has the most truck crashes, 10.7% of the yearly total, while April has the fewest (4.5%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 45.4% of truck crashes, against 40.8% across Alabama.
The busiest hour is 11 am–12 pm, with 10.7% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 1.5% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Alabama: 0.8%).
Where crashes happen
No fatal crash involving a large truck has a recorded location within 10 miles of Chatom since 2015.
Garbage & waste trucks
3 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 1.3% share (Alabama: 2.3%).
Route planning tips for Chatom fleets
- Plan February schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Washington County.
- The morning rush (6–10 am) holds 24.1% of truck crashes here, more than Alabama; adjust start times where you can.
- With 1.5% 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
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 Washington County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
No fatal crashes involving a large truck with a road name were recorded within 10 miles since 2015.
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Washington County) |
|---|---|
| US-43 | 79 |
| US-45 | 33 |
| Al-56 | 25 |
| Al-17 | 20 |
| Cr-34 | 10 |
| Paul Bayou Rd. | 6 |
| Paul Bayou Road | 4 |
| Healing Springs Ave | 3 |
Chatom at a glance
| Population | 1,056 |
| Land area | 10.7 sq mi |
| Density | 98 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 36518) | $87,768 |
| Median home value (ZIP 36518) | $182,447 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Washington 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 | 10 | — | 1.2 |
| 2000s | 12 | +20% | 0.6 |
| 2010s | 16 | +26% | 0.6 |
| 2020s | 18 | +16% | 0.8 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 10 a year in the 1990s and 18 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 0.5 a year in 2016–19 and 0.8 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Chatom
How many truck crashes happen in Chatom?
Since 2015, 224 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Washington County (124 injured, 8 killed).
When do most truck crashes happen in Chatom?
The worst month is February: 10.7% of truck crashes in Washington County happen then.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Chatom?
Garbage trucks were involved in 3 reported crashes in Washington County since 2015 (1.3% of truck crashes).
How does Chatom compare with Alabama for truck crashes?
Per 100,000 residents, Washington County has 125.3 truck crashes a year; Alabama has 80.8.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Chatom?
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.