ZIP 35216 (Birmingham, AL) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 35216: 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 |
Compared with Alabama, Jefferson County is lower on deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash. It stands out for higher garbage-truck share and in rain, sleet or snow.
What stands out in ZIP 35216: 2.1× change in fatal truck crashes a year within 10 miles of ZIP 35216 (3.0 → 6.2).
Overview
Since 2015, 6,305 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Jefferson County. They injured 2,535 people and killed 141.
That averages about 1 truck crash a day in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
March has the most truck crashes, 9.2% of the yearly total, while February has the fewest (7.3%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 41.4% of truck crashes, against 40.8% across 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 35216 is I-59, with 12 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. After it: I-65 (9), I-459 (6) and I-20 (3).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 185 crashes, 2.9% of the total, against 2.3% across Alabama.
The most garbage-truck crashes happen in August (13%).
They recorded 2.3 deaths per 100 crashes, against 2.1 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for ZIP 35216 fleets
- Plan March schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Jefferson County.
- 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.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
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 | 12 |
| I-65 | 9 |
| I-459 | 6 |
| I-20 | 3 |
| CR-11 | 2 |
| SR-5 | 2 |
| University Blvd | 2 |
| Us-Sr 38 | 2 |
| 1st Ave N | 1 |
| 24th St N | 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 35216 at a glance
| Population | 34,327 |
| Density | 1,021 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $74,525 |
| Median home value | $385,832 |
| Home ownership | 56% |
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 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 168 a year in the 1990s and 484 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 6.8 a year in 2016–19 and 10.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 35216
How common are truck crashes in ZIP 35216?
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 35216?
NHTSA data shows I-59 with 12 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 35216 since 2015, the highest of any road.
Which month has the most truck crashes in ZIP 35216?
Truck crashes in Jefferson County peak in March, with 9.2% of the year's crashes.
Are garbage truck crashes common in ZIP 35216?
185 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Jefferson County since 2015, 2.9% of all truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in ZIP 35216 compare with Alabama?
The yearly rate is 81.9 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Jefferson County, vs 80.8 for Alabama.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in ZIP 35216?
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.