ZIP 35078 (Harpersville, AL) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 35078: 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 |
Compared with Alabama, Shelby County is lower on 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).
What stands out in ZIP 35078: US-280 deadliest road: 4 fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 35078 since 2015.
Overview
Police reported 1,467 crashes involving commercial trucks in Shelby County since 2015: 576 people were injured and 30 were killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 3 days.
When crashes happen
October has the most truck crashes, 9.5% of the yearly total, while December has the fewest (6.5%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 38.7% of truck crashes, against 40.8% across Alabama.
By time of day, 12–1 pm stands out with 8.0% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 0.6% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Alabama: 0.8%).
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks within 10 miles of ZIP 35078 is US-280, with 4 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. After it: SR-25 (3), SR-76 (1) and Us-Sr 38 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
40 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 2.7% share (Alabama: 2.3%).
Their busiest month is April, with 12% of garbage-truck crashes.
Per 100 crashes, garbage trucks recorded 0.0 deaths compared with 2.1 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for ZIP 35078 fleets
- Plan October schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Shelby County.
- Look at alternatives to US-280 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- Waste haulers: April is the peak month for garbage-truck crashes in Shelby County.
- 24.2% of truck crashes happen between 6 and 10 am, above Alabama; consider earlier or later starts where possible.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
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 Shelby County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-280 | 4 |
| SR-25 | 3 |
| SR-76 | 1 |
| Us-Sr 38 | 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 35078 at a glance
| Population | 2,170 |
| Density | 19 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $75,056 |
| Median home value | $215,849 |
| Home ownership | 83% |
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 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 53 a year in the 1990s and 118 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. NHTSA counts 2.8 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 2.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 35078
How common are truck crashes in ZIP 35078?
Shelby County has had 1,467 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 576 people and killing 30.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in ZIP 35078?
US-280 had 4 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of ZIP 35078 since 2015, more than any other road.
Which month has the most truck crashes in ZIP 35078?
The worst month is October: 9.5% of truck crashes in Shelby County happen then.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in ZIP 35078?
Garbage trucks were involved in 40 reported crashes in Shelby County since 2015 (2.7% of truck crashes).
What is the truck crash rate in ZIP 35078 compared with Alabama?
Per 100,000 residents, Shelby County has 53.6 truck crashes a year; Alabama has 80.8.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in ZIP 35078?
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.