ZIP 35043 (Chelsea, AL) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 35043: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Shelby 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
0.0 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 2.1 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Shelby County compares with Alabama
Shelby County against Alabama and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Shelby County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Shelby County | Alabama | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 53.6 | 80.8 | 49.7 | 34% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.1 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 38% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.39 | 0.46 | 0.49 | 15% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.6% | 2.3% | 2.3% | 1.1× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 0.6% | 0.8% | 6.2% | 29% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 24.2% | 22.5% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 11.8% | 12.3% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 38.7% | 40.8% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 18.0% | 23.7% | 24.8% | 24% below the state |
Shelby County has lower values than Alabama for crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash. It stands out for higher garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am).
The headline for Shelby County: 2.1 people killed per 100 truck crashes (Alabama: 3.4).
Overview
Shelby County has recorded 1,467 truck crashes since 2015, with 576 people injured and 30 killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 3 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
October has the most truck crashes, 9.5% of the yearly total, while December has the fewest (6.5%).
November through March accounts for 38.7% of truck crashes here, compared with 40.8% in Alabama.
More truck crashes happen at 12–1 pm than at any other hour (8.0%).
Road surface: 0.6% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Alabama: 0.8%).
Where crashes happen
Since 2015, fatal crashes with a large truck within 10 miles of ZIP 35043 happened on I-65 (4), Us-Sr 38 (4), I-459 (3), US-280 (3) and CR-11 (2); no road leads clearly.
Garbage & waste trucks
40 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 2.7% share (Alabama: 2.3%).
Garbage-truck crashes peak in April (12% of them).
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 0.0, vs 2.1 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for ZIP 35043 fleets
- Build extra time into October routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- For residential and commercial waste routes, look again at April schedules: garbage-truck crashes peak then.
- Morning starts matter: 24.2% of truck crashes fall between 6 and 10 am, higher than Alabama.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
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 Shelby County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-65 | 4 |
| Us-Sr 38 | 4 |
| I-459 | 3 |
| US-280 | 3 |
| CR-11 | 2 |
| CR-DUNNAVANT Valley Rd | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Shelby County) |
|---|---|
| I-65 | 490 |
| US-280 | 206 |
| US-31 | 101 |
| Al-25 | 93 |
| Pelham Parkway | 43 |
| Al-119 | 30 |
| Al-70 | 18 |
| Cahaba Valley Road | 17 |
ZIP 35043 at a glance
| Population | 15,837 |
| Density | 132 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $121,356 |
| Median home value | $366,018 |
| Home ownership | 90% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Shelby 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 | 53 | — | 4.0 |
| 2000s | 100 | +90% | 2.9 |
| 2010s | 117 | +17% | 1.9 |
| 2020s | 118 | +1% | 2.0 |
In the 1990s about 53 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 118. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 2.8 a year in 2016–19 and 2.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 35043
How common are truck crashes in ZIP 35043?
Shelby County has had 1,467 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 576 people and killing 30.
Which month has the most truck crashes in ZIP 35043?
October has the most truck crashes in Shelby County, 9.5% of the yearly total.
Are garbage truck crashes common in ZIP 35043?
40 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Shelby County since 2015, 2.7% of all truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in ZIP 35043 compare with Alabama?
Per 100,000 residents, Shelby County has 53.6 truck crashes a year; Alabama has 80.8.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in ZIP 35043?
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.