ZIP 35224 (Birmingham, AL) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 35224: 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. It stands out for higher garbage-truck share and in rain, sleet or snow.
ZIP 35224 at a glance: I-59 11 fatal truck crashes since 2015, more than any other road within 10 miles of ZIP 35224.
Overview
Police reported 6,305 crashes involving commercial trucks in Jefferson County since 2015: 2,535 people were injured and 141 were killed.
That averages about 1 truck crash a day in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
The worst month is March with 9.2% of truck crashes; the quietest is February at 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.
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 35224 is I-59, with 11 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. After it: I-65 (8), I-22 (3) and SR-5 (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%).
Per 100 crashes, garbage trucks recorded 2.3 deaths compared with 2.1 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for ZIP 35224 fleets
- Build extra time into March routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Check whether your routes use I-59, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- For residential and commercial waste routes, look again at August schedules: garbage-truck crashes peak then.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
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 | 11 |
| I-65 | 8 |
| I-22 | 3 |
| SR-5 | 3 |
| I-20 | 2 |
| University Blvd | 2 |
| 1st Ave N | 1 |
| 24th St N | 1 |
| 32nd St | 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 35224 at a glance
| Population | 4,739 |
| Density | 113 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $42,639 |
| Median home value | $80,036 |
| Home ownership | 64% |
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. 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 35224
How many truck crashes happen in ZIP 35224?
Since 2015, 6,305 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Jefferson County (2,535 injured, 141 killed).
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in ZIP 35224?
Since 2015, I-59 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 35224: 11.
Which month has the most truck crashes in ZIP 35224?
March has the most truck crashes in Jefferson County, 9.2% of the yearly total.
Are garbage truck crashes common in ZIP 35224?
Garbage trucks were involved in 185 reported crashes in Jefferson County since 2015 (2.9% of truck crashes).
How does ZIP 35224 compare with Alabama for truck crashes?
The yearly rate is 81.9 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Jefferson County, vs 80.8 for Alabama.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in ZIP 35224?
Use the free Route Planner: enter your stops to get a risk score, safer alternatives and the low bridges on your route.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.