ZIP 35243 (Birmingham, AL) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 35243: 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 35243 at a glance: 1.7× fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 35243 per year, 2020–24 vs 2016–19 (5.4 vs 3.2).
Overview
Jefferson County has recorded 6,305 truck crashes since 2015, with 2,535 people injured and 141 killed.
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.
The busiest hour is 2–3 pm, 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
Fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 35243 since 2015 were spread across roads: I-59 (8), I-65 (8), I-459 (6), I-20 (4) and Us-Sr 38 (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 35243 fleets
- Plan March schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Jefferson County.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in August; review collection routes for that month.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
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 Jefferson County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-59 | 8 |
| I-65 | 8 |
| I-459 | 6 |
| I-20 | 4 |
| Us-Sr 38 | 3 |
| University Blvd | 2 |
| 1st Ave N | 1 |
| 24th St N | 1 |
| 4th Ave S | 1 |
| Balsam Ave Sw | 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 35243 at a glance
| Population | 18,176 |
| Density | 560 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $99,645 |
| Median home value | $536,225 |
| Home ownership | 54% |
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 35243
How common are truck crashes in ZIP 35243?
Since 2015, 6,305 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Jefferson County (2,535 injured, 141 killed).
When do most truck crashes happen in ZIP 35243?
March has the most truck crashes in Jefferson County, 9.2% of the yearly total.
Are garbage truck crashes common in ZIP 35243?
185 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Jefferson County since 2015, 2.9% of all truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in ZIP 35243 compared with Alabama?
Jefferson County records 81.9 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 80.8 across Alabama.
How can I plan a safer truck route in ZIP 35243?
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.