ZIP 30038 (Lithonia, GA) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 30038: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in DeKalb County, 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
2.3 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 1.6 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How DeKalb County compares with Georgia
DeKalb County against Georgia and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where DeKalb County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | DeKalb County | Georgia | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 82.0 | 62.4 | 49.7 | 1.3× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 1.6 | 3.3 | 3.4 | 52% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.47 | 0.50 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.9% | 2.6% | 2.3% | 28% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 0.3% | 0.5% | 6.2% | 43% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 19.3% | 22.6% | 23.7% | 15% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 11.8% | 11.4% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 40.6% | 40.9% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 29.3% | 24.5% | 24.8% | 1.2× the state |
Compared with Georgia, DeKalb County is lower on deaths per 100 crashes, garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice. It runs above Georgia on crashes per 100k residents / yr and after dark.
What stands out in ZIP 30038: 2.1× yearly fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 30038: 3.5 in 2016–19, 7.2 in 2020–24.
Overview
DeKalb County has recorded 7,519 truck crashes since 2015, with 3,492 people injured and 116 killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly 2 truck crashes every day.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in August (9.2% of the year) and are lowest in December (7.6%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 40.6% of truck crashes, against 40.9% across Georgia.
By time of day, 2–3 pm stands out with 6.9% of truck crashes.
0.3% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 0.5% across Georgia.
Where crashes happen
I-20 leads within 10 miles of ZIP 30038 with 16 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. After it: I-285 (9), SR-155 (3) and 4644 South Park Blvd (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 143 of the truck crashes here, or 1.9%, compared with 2.6% in Georgia.
Their busiest month is July, with 13% of garbage-truck crashes.
Per 100 crashes, garbage trucks recorded 2.3 deaths compared with 1.6 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for ZIP 30038 fleets
- Plan August schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in DeKalb County.
- Look at alternatives to I-20 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- For residential and commercial waste routes, look again at July schedules: garbage-truck crashes peak then.
- 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 DeKalb County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-20 | 16 |
| I-285 | 9 |
| SR-155 | 3 |
| 4644 South Park Blvd | 1 |
| CR-007300/INDUSTRIAL Blvd Nw | 1 |
| CR-007500/OLD Covington Hwy Sw | 1 |
| CR-044200 | 1 |
| CR-085100/NORTHERN Ave | 1 |
| CR-145 River Rd | 1 |
| CR-2989 Lithonia Ind Blvd | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (DeKalb County) |
|---|---|
| I-285 | 266 |
| I-20 | 37 |
| I 285 Or At I 285 Ir | 36 |
| I 285 N At I 20 | 29 |
| I 285 Ir At I 285 Or | 23 |
| I-285 Or | 23 |
| I-20 West | 22 |
| I 20 W At I 20 | 22 |
ZIP 30038 at a glance
| Population | 43,776 |
| Density | 587 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $73,694 |
| Median home value | $246,922 |
| Home ownership | 65% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in DeKalb 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 | 366 | — | 6.1 |
| 2000s | 413 | +13% | 5.6 |
| 2010s | 449 | +9% | 5.4 |
| 2020s | 710 | +58% | 10.6 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 366 to 710. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal large-truck crashes: 5.8 a year in 2016–19, 10.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 30038
How many truck accidents are there in ZIP 30038?
7,519 truck crashes have been reported in DeKalb County since 2015, with 116 deaths and 3,492 injuries.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in ZIP 30038?
NHTSA data shows I-20 with 16 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 30038 since 2015, the highest of any road.
When do most truck crashes happen in ZIP 30038?
Truck crashes in DeKalb County peak in August, with 9.2% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in ZIP 30038?
Since 2015, DeKalb County has reported 143 garbage-truck crashes, or 1.9% of its truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in ZIP 30038 compare with Georgia?
DeKalb County records 82.0 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 62.4 across Georgia.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in ZIP 30038?
Paste your stops into the free CurbWaste Route Planner: it scores your route against fatal-crash locations, suggests safer alternatives and flags low bridges.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.