ZIP 35143 (Shelby, AL) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 35143: 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 runs above Alabama on garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am).
What stands out in Shelby County: 2.1 deaths for every 100 truck crashes, against 3.4 across Alabama.
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%).
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%).
0.6% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 0.8% across Alabama.
Where crashes happen
Roads with fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of ZIP 35143 since 2015: SR-145 (2) and CR-CEDAR Creek Rd (1). No single road stands out.
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).
They recorded 0.0 deaths per 100 crashes, against 2.1 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for ZIP 35143 fleets
- Plan October schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Shelby County.
- 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.
- 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) |
|---|---|
| SR-145 | 2 |
| CR-CEDAR Creek 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 35143 at a glance
| Population | 3,146 |
| Density | 28 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $72,500 |
| Median home value | $223,609 |
| Home ownership | 84% |
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 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 53 to 118. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal large-truck crashes: 2.8 a year in 2016–19, 2.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 35143
How common are truck crashes in ZIP 35143?
Shelby County has had 1,467 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 576 people and killing 30.
When do most truck crashes happen in ZIP 35143?
Truck crashes in Shelby County peak in October, with 9.5% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in ZIP 35143?
40 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Shelby County since 2015, 2.7% of all truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in ZIP 35143 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 35143?
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.