ZIP 35215 (Birmingham, AL) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 35215: 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 has lower values than Alabama for deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash. Where it is higher: garbage-truck share and in rain, sleet or snow.
ZIP 35215 at a glance: 1.7× fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 35215 per year, 2020–24 vs 2016–19 (3.8 vs 2.2).
Overview
Since 2015, 6,305 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Jefferson County. They injured 2,535 people and killed 141.
In complete reporting years that works out to about 1 truck crash a day.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in March (9.2% of the year) and are lowest in February (7.3%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 41.4% of truck crashes, vs 40.8% for Alabama.
By time of day, 2–3 pm stands out with 6.8% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 0.8% of truck crashes, compared with 0.8% in Alabama.
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks within 10 miles of ZIP 35215 is I-59, with 7 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. It is followed by I-20 (5), SR-79 (5) and I-65 (4).
Garbage & waste trucks
185 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 2.9% share (Alabama: 2.3%).
Garbage-truck crashes peak in August (13% of them).
They recorded 2.3 deaths per 100 crashes, against 2.1 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for ZIP 35215 fleets
- Review driver schedules for March, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Look at alternatives to I-59 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- 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
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 Jefferson County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-59 | 7 |
| I-20 | 5 |
| SR-79 | 5 |
| I-65 | 4 |
| Black Creek Rd | 1 |
| CR-10 | 1 |
| CR-DUG Hollow Rd | 1 |
| I-459 | 1 |
| Mu-1st Ave N | 1 |
| Parkway East | 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 35215 at a glance
| Population | 43,903 |
| Density | 600 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $52,793 |
| Median home value | $156,918 |
| Home ownership | 57% |
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 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 168 to 484. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. NHTSA counts 6.8 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 10.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 35215
How common are truck crashes in ZIP 35215?
Jefferson County has had 6,305 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 2,535 people and killing 141.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in ZIP 35215?
I-59 had 7 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of ZIP 35215 since 2015, more than any other road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in ZIP 35215?
The worst month is March: 9.2% of truck crashes in Jefferson County happen then.
Are garbage truck crashes common in ZIP 35215?
Garbage trucks were involved in 185 reported crashes in Jefferson County since 2015 (2.9% of truck crashes).
What is the truck crash rate in ZIP 35215 compared with Alabama?
Jefferson County records 81.9 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 80.8 across Alabama.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in ZIP 35215?
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.