ZIP 35080 (Helena, AL) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 35080: 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 sits below Alabama on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash. Where it is higher: garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am).
The headline for ZIP 35080: I-459 3 fatal truck crashes since 2015, more than any other road within 10 miles of ZIP 35080.
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
The worst month is October with 9.5% of truck crashes; the quietest is December at 6.5%.
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 38.7% of truck crashes, vs 40.8% for Alabama.
The busiest hour is 12–1 pm, 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
Within this area, I-459 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (3). Next come I-65 (2), CR-11 (1) and CR-OLD Tuscaloosa Hwy (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 40 of the truck crashes here, or 2.7%, compared with 2.3% in Alabama.
Garbage-truck crashes peak in April (12% of them).
Per 100 crashes, garbage trucks recorded 0.0 deaths compared with 2.1 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for ZIP 35080 fleets
- Build extra time into October routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Look at alternatives to I-459 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.
- The morning rush (6–10 am) holds 24.2% of truck crashes here, more than Alabama; adjust start times where you can.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
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-459 | 3 |
| I-65 | 2 |
| CR-11 | 1 |
| CR-OLD Tuscaloosa Hwy | 1 |
| I-20 | 1 |
| I-59 | 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 35080 at a glance
| Population | 20,251 |
| Density | 169 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $118,344 |
| Median home value | $315,470 |
| Home ownership | 91% |
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. 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 35080
How many truck crashes happen in ZIP 35080?
1,467 truck crashes have been reported in Shelby County since 2015, with 30 deaths and 576 injuries.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in ZIP 35080?
Since 2015, I-459 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 35080: 3.
When do most truck crashes happen in ZIP 35080?
October has the most truck crashes in Shelby County, 9.5% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in ZIP 35080?
Since 2015, Shelby County has reported 40 garbage-truck crashes, or 2.7% of its truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in ZIP 35080 compared 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 35080?
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.