ZIP 35603 (Decatur, AL) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 35603: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Morgan 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
2.9 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 2.1 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Morgan County compares with Alabama
Morgan County against Alabama and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Morgan County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Morgan County | Alabama | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 89.2 | 80.8 | 49.7 | 1.1× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.1 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 38% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.37 | 0.46 | 0.49 | 20% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.8% | 2.3% | 2.3% | 1.2× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 1.0% | 0.8% | 6.2% | 1.2× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 24.4% | 22.5% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 11.6% | 12.3% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 39.0% | 40.8% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 20.3% | 23.7% | 24.8% | 14% below the state |
Compared with Alabama, Morgan County is lower on deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and after dark. It runs above Alabama on crashes per 100k residents / yr, garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice.
ZIP 35603 at a glance: I-65 most fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 35603: 7 since 2015.
Overview
Since 2015, 1,313 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Morgan County. They injured 492 people and killed 27.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 3 days.
When crashes happen
March has the most truck crashes, 10.1% of the yearly total, while February has the fewest (5.5%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 39.0% of truck crashes, vs 40.8% for Alabama.
The busiest hour is 3–4 pm, with 8.2% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 1.0% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Alabama: 0.8%).
Where crashes happen
Within this area, I-65 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (7). Next come SR-67 (6), SR-20 (2) and SR-36 (2).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 35 crashes, 2.7% of the total, against 2.3% across Alabama.
The most garbage-truck crashes happen in May (20%).
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 2.9, vs 2.1 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for ZIP 35603 fleets
- Review driver schedules for March, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Where you can, review stops along I-65; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- For residential and commercial waste routes, look again at May schedules: garbage-truck crashes peak then.
- 24.4% of truck crashes happen between 6 and 10 am, above Alabama; consider earlier or later starts where possible.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 1.0% of truck crashes here, more than Alabama; schedule winter checks early.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
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 Morgan County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-65 | 7 |
| SR-67 | 6 |
| SR-20 | 2 |
| SR-36 | 2 |
| US-31 | 2 |
| Us-Sr 3 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Morgan County) |
|---|---|
| I-65 | 289 |
| Al-67 | 195 |
| Al-20 | 155 |
| US-31 | 102 |
| Al-36 | 30 |
| SR-67 | 29 |
| SR-20 | 25 |
| Al Hwy 20 | 18 |
ZIP 35603 at a glance
| Population | 32,179 |
| Density | 175 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $81,490 |
| Median home value | $252,081 |
| Home ownership | 74% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Morgan 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 | 54 | — | 3.4 |
| 2000s | 84 | +57% | 3.5 |
| 2010s | 90 | +6% | 1.7 |
| 2020s | 115 | +28% | 2.8 |
In the 1990s about 54 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 115. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal large-truck crashes: 2.0 a year in 2016–19, 2.8 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 35603
How many truck accidents are there in ZIP 35603?
Since 2015, 1,313 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Morgan County (492 injured, 27 killed).
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in ZIP 35603?
I-65 had 7 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of ZIP 35603 since 2015, more than any other road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in ZIP 35603?
The worst month is March: 10.1% of truck crashes in Morgan County happen then.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in ZIP 35603?
35 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Morgan County since 2015, 2.7% of all truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in ZIP 35603 compared with Alabama?
The yearly rate is 89.2 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Morgan County, vs 80.8 for Alabama.
How can I plan a safer truck route in ZIP 35603?
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.