ZIP 35214 (Birmingham, AL) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 35214: 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 |
Jefferson County sits below Alabama on deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash. It stands out for higher garbage-truck share and in rain, sleet or snow.
ZIP 35214 at a glance: I-59 deadliest road: 14 fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 35214 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%).
November through March accounts for 41.4% of truck crashes here, compared with 40.8% in Alabama.
By time of day, 2–3 pm stands out with 6.8% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 0.8% 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 35214 is I-59, with 14 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. Next come I-65 (9), I-20 (3) and I-22 (3).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 185 of the truck crashes here, or 2.9%, compared with 2.3% in Alabama.
Their busiest month is August, with 13% of garbage-truck crashes.
Per 100 crashes, garbage trucks recorded 2.3 deaths compared with 2.1 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for ZIP 35214 fleets
- Build extra time into March routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Where you can, review stops along I-59; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- Waste haulers: August is the peak month for garbage-truck crashes in Jefferson County.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
About the data
Crash counts come from the FMCSA crash file (police-reported crashes involving trucks over 10,000 lb); fatal-crash locations come from NHTSA FARS. Text on this page states only what these numbers show.
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 | 14 |
| I-65 | 9 |
| I-20 | 3 |
| I-22 | 3 |
| SR-79 | 3 |
| SR-5 | 2 |
| University Blvd | 2 |
| 1st Ave N | 1 |
| 24th St N | 1 |
| 4th Ave S | 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 35214 at a glance
| Population | 17,027 |
| Density | 265 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $56,383 |
| Median home value | $163,449 |
| Home ownership | 65% |
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 |
In the 1990s about 168 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 484. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal large-truck crashes: 6.8 a year in 2016–19, 10.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 35214
How many truck accidents are there in ZIP 35214?
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 35214?
Since 2015, I-59 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 35214: 14.
Which month has the most truck crashes in ZIP 35214?
The worst month is March: 9.2% of truck crashes in Jefferson County happen then.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in ZIP 35214?
185 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Jefferson County since 2015, 2.9% of all truck crashes.
How does ZIP 35214 compare with Alabama for truck crashes?
Per 100,000 residents, Jefferson County has 81.9 truck crashes a year; Alabama has 80.8.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in ZIP 35214?
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.