ZIP 35480 (Ralph, AL) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 35480: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Tuscaloosa 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
0.0 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 2.2 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Tuscaloosa County compares with Alabama
Tuscaloosa County against Alabama and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Tuscaloosa County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Tuscaloosa County | Alabama | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 89.5 | 80.8 | 49.7 | 1.1× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.2 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 35% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.46 | 0.46 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.5% | 2.3% | 2.3% | 35% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 0.5% | 0.8% | 6.2% | 43% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 21.6% | 22.5% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 12.3% | 12.3% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 40.9% | 40.8% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 26.1% | 23.7% | 24.8% | 1.1× the state |
Tuscaloosa County has lower values than Alabama for deaths per 100 crashes, garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice. It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr and after dark.
The headline for ZIP 35480: I-59 most fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 35480: 8 since 2015.
Overview
Since 2015, 2,530 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Tuscaloosa County. They injured 1,167 people and killed 55.
That averages about one truck crash every 2 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in August (10.1% of the year) and are lowest in January (7.5%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 40.9% of truck crashes, vs 40.8% for Alabama.
By time of day, 12–1 pm stands out with 7.1% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 0.5% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Alabama: 0.8%).
Where crashes happen
I-59 leads within 10 miles of ZIP 35480 with 8 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. It is followed by CR-60 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 37 crashes, 1.5% of the total, against 2.3% across Alabama.
Their busiest month is April, with 16% of garbage-truck crashes.
Per 100 crashes, garbage trucks recorded 0.0 deaths compared with 2.2 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for ZIP 35480 fleets
- Build extra time into August routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Look at alternatives to I-59 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in April; review collection routes for that month.
- 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 Tuscaloosa County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-59 | 8 |
| CR-60 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Tuscaloosa County) |
|---|---|
| I-59 | 1,097 |
| Mcfarland Blvd | 124 |
| US-82 | 121 |
| Al-69 | 103 |
| US-11 | 67 |
| US-43 | 54 |
| Al-216 | 48 |
| Al-171 | 32 |
ZIP 35480 at a glance
| Population | 1,879 |
| Density | 12 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $88,200 |
| Median home value | $235,754 |
| Home ownership | 96% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Tuscaloosa 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 | 116 | — | 5.7 |
| 2000s | 202 | +75% | 5.0 |
| 2010s | 204 | +1% | 4.6 |
| 2020s | 198 | -3% | 3.6 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 116 a year in the 1990s and 198 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal large-truck crashes: 4.2 a year in 2016–19, 3.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 35480
How many truck crashes happen in ZIP 35480?
Since 2015, 2,530 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Tuscaloosa County (1,167 injured, 55 killed).
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in ZIP 35480?
Since 2015, I-59 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 35480: 8.
Which month has the most truck crashes in ZIP 35480?
Truck crashes in Tuscaloosa County peak in August, with 10.1% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in ZIP 35480?
Garbage trucks were involved in 37 reported crashes in Tuscaloosa County since 2015 (1.5% of truck crashes).
What is the truck crash rate in ZIP 35480 compared with Alabama?
The yearly rate is 89.5 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Tuscaloosa County, vs 80.8 for Alabama.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in ZIP 35480?
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.