Memphis, TN truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Memphis: 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
3.2 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 4.5 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Memphis compares with Tennessee
Memphis against Tennessee and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Memphis stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Memphis | Tennessee | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 63.0 | 60.1 | 49.7 | same |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 4.5 | 3.9 | 3.4 | 1.2× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.59 | 0.48 | 0.49 | 1.2× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.2% | 1.9% | 2.3% | 1.1× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 1.1% | 2.3% | 6.2% | 53% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 20.9% | 21.8% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 16.0% | 14.9% | 13.8% | 1.1× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 41.3% | 40.5% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 26.3% | 25.9% | 24.8% | same |
Memphis has lower values than Tennessee for on snow, slush or ice. It stands out for higher deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share.
The headline for Memphis: I-40 34 fatal truck crashes since 2015, more than any other road within 15 miles of Memphis.
Overview
Since 2015, 4,463 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Memphis. They injured 2,625 people and killed 199.
In complete reporting years that works out to about 1 truck crash a day.
When crashes happen
October has the most truck crashes, 9.0% of the yearly total, while February has the fewest (7.3%).
November through March accounts for 41.3% of truck crashes here, compared with 40.5% in Tennessee.
By time of day, 12–1 pm stands out with 7.2% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 1.1% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Tennessee: 2.3%).
Where crashes happen
Within this area, I-40 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (34). After it: I-55 (24), US-78 (22) and I-240 (14).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 94 of the truck crashes here, or 2.1%, compared with 1.9% in Tennessee.
Garbage-truck crashes peak in August (12% of them).
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 3.2, vs 4.5 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for Memphis fleets
- Plan October schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Memphis.
- Where you can, review stops along I-40; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- Waste haulers: August is the peak month for garbage-truck crashes in Memphis.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
About the data
Sources: the FMCSA crash file for all reported truck crashes and NHTSA FARS for fatal crashes with a large truck. Every statement here comes straight from those numbers.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Memphis
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 15 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-40 | 34 |
| I-55 | 24 |
| US-78 | 22 |
| I-240 | 14 |
| SR-175 | 14 |
| US-51 | 8 |
| US-61 | 5 |
| US-64 | 5 |
| Winchester Rd | 3 |
| Airways Blvd | 2 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Memphis) |
|---|---|
| I-40 | 545 |
| I-240 | 407 |
| Lamar Ave | 331 |
| I-55 | 267 |
| E Shelby Dr | 223 |
| Winchester Rd | 111 |
| Getwell Rd | 61 |
| Shelby Dr | 56 |
Memphis at a glance
| Population | 610,919 |
| Land area | 289.8 sq mi |
| Density | 2,108 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 38114) | $34,206 |
| Median home value (ZIP 38114) | $83,122 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Memphis 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 | 11 | — | 13.2 |
| 2000s | 203 | +1747% | 10.0 |
| 2010s | 444 | +118% | 11.1 |
| 2020s | 348 | -21% | 19.0 |
In the 1990s about 11 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 348. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal large-truck crashes: 15.8 a year in 2016–19, 19.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Memphis
How common are truck crashes in Memphis?
Memphis has had 4,463 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 2,625 people and killing 199.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Memphis?
NHTSA data shows I-40 with 34 fatal large-truck crashes within 15 miles of Memphis since 2015, the highest of any road.
When do most truck crashes happen in Memphis?
October has the most truck crashes in Memphis, 9.0% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Memphis?
Garbage trucks were involved in 94 reported crashes in Memphis since 2015 (2.1% of truck crashes).
How does Memphis compare with Tennessee for truck crashes?
The yearly rate is 63.0 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Memphis, vs 60.1 for Tennessee.
How do I plan a garbage 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.