ZIP 35023 (Bessemer, AL) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 35023: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Jefferson 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 2.1 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Jefferson County compares with Alabama
Jefferson County against Alabama and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Jefferson County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Jefferson County | Alabama | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 81.9 | 80.8 | 49.7 | same |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.1 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 38% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.40 | 0.46 | 0.49 | 13% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.9% | 2.3% | 2.3% | 1.3× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 0.8% | 0.8% | 6.2% | same |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 23.3% | 22.5% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 14.5% | 12.3% | 13.8% | 1.2× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 41.4% | 40.8% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 23.8% | 23.7% | 24.8% | same |
Compared with Alabama, Jefferson County is lower on deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash. Where it is higher: garbage-truck share and in rain, sleet or snow.
The headline for ZIP 35023: I-59 most fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 35023: 5 since 2015.
Overview
Police reported 6,305 crashes involving commercial trucks in Jefferson County since 2015: 2,535 people were injured and 141 were killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about 1 truck crash a day.
When crashes happen
March has the most truck crashes, 9.2% of the yearly total, while February has the fewest (7.3%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 41.4% of truck crashes, vs 40.8% for Alabama.
More truck crashes happen at 2–3 pm than at any other hour (6.8%).
0.8% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 0.8% across Alabama.
Where crashes happen
Within this area, I-59 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (5). Next come SR-5 (2), 32nd St (1) and CR-SMITH Camp Rd (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
185 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 2.9% share (Alabama: 2.3%).
The most garbage-truck crashes happen in August (13%).
They recorded 2.3 deaths per 100 crashes, against 2.1 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for ZIP 35023 fleets
- Plan March schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Jefferson County.
- Check whether your routes use I-59, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- Waste haulers: August is the peak month for garbage-truck crashes in Jefferson County.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
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 Jefferson County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-59 | 5 |
| SR-5 | 2 |
| 32nd St | 1 |
| CR-SMITH Camp Rd | 1 |
| Carolina Ave | 1 |
| I-20 | 1 |
| Mu-Forest Rd | 1 |
| SR-269 | 1 |
| Sr-N Short Creek Rd Sw | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Jefferson County) |
|---|---|
| I-59 | 1,303 |
| I-65 | 1,128 |
| I-459 | 596 |
| I-20 | 495 |
| US-280 | 124 |
| I-22 | 115 |
| US-78 | 74 |
| US-31 | 52 |
ZIP 35023 at a glance
| Population | 25,533 |
| Density | 108 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $69,863 |
| Median home value | $163,611 |
| Home ownership | 85% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Jefferson 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 | 168 | — | 10.0 |
| 2000s | 360 | +114% | 11.5 |
| 2010s | 486 | +35% | 8.7 |
| 2020s | 484 | -0% | 10.6 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 168 a year in the 1990s and 484 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 6.8 a year in 2016–19 and 10.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 35023
How many truck accidents are there in ZIP 35023?
6,305 truck crashes have been reported in Jefferson County since 2015, with 141 deaths and 2,535 injuries.
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in ZIP 35023?
I-59 had 5 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of ZIP 35023 since 2015, more than any other road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in ZIP 35023?
The worst month is March: 9.2% of truck crashes in Jefferson County happen then.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in ZIP 35023?
Garbage trucks were involved in 185 reported crashes in Jefferson County since 2015 (2.9% of truck crashes).
What is the truck crash rate in ZIP 35023 compared with Alabama?
Per 100,000 residents, Jefferson County has 81.9 truck crashes a year; Alabama has 80.8.
How can I plan a safer truck route in ZIP 35023?
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.