ZIP 35616 (Cherokee, AL) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 35616: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Colbert 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
7 of 518 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Colbert County compares with Alabama
Colbert County against Alabama and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Colbert County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Colbert County | Alabama | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 75.5 | 80.8 | 49.7 | same |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 5.3 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 1.6× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.55 | 0.46 | 0.49 | 1.2× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.4% | 2.3% | 2.3% | 37% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 0.6% | 0.8% | 6.2% | 24% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 22.9% | 22.5% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 11.9% | 12.3% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 44.3% | 40.8% | 41.9% | 1.1× the state |
| After dark | 22.9% | 23.7% | 24.8% | same |
Colbert County sits below Alabama on garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice. It runs above Alabama on deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and winter months (nov–mar).
ZIP 35616 at a glance: US-72 3 fatal truck crashes since 2015, more than any other road within 10 miles of ZIP 35616.
Overview
Since 2015, 518 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Colbert County. They injured 281 people and killed 28.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 8 days.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in October (11.8% of the year) and are lowest in July (4.6%).
November through March accounts for 44.3% of truck crashes here, compared with 40.8% in Alabama.
By time of day, 2–3 pm stands out with 8.5% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 0.6% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Alabama: 0.8%).
Where crashes happen
US-72 leads within 10 miles of ZIP 35616 with 3 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. Next come CR-RIVERTON Rose Trail (1) and SR-247 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 7 of the truck crashes here, or 1.4%, compared with 2.3% in Alabama.
Route planning tips for ZIP 35616 fleets
- Build extra time into October routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Check whether your routes use US-72, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- 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 Colbert County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-72 | 3 |
| CR-RIVERTON Rose Trail | 1 |
| SR-247 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Colbert County) |
|---|---|
| US-72 | 128 |
| Al-20 | 56 |
| SR-72 | 36 |
| Al-157 | 31 |
| US-43 | 28 |
| Wilson Dam Road | 12 |
| Al-184 | 11 |
| Al-133 | 10 |
ZIP 35616 at a glance
| Population | 3,731 |
| Density | 7 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $48,720 |
| Median home value | $100,182 |
| Home ownership | 76% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Colbert 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 | 39 | — | 2.8 |
| 2000s | 43 | +10% | 2.0 |
| 2010s | 43 | -1% | 1.3 |
| 2020s | 42 | -1% | 3.0 |
In the 1990s about 39 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 42. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. NHTSA counts 1.0 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 3.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 35616
How many truck crashes happen in ZIP 35616?
Since 2015, 518 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Colbert County (281 injured, 28 killed).
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in ZIP 35616?
NHTSA data shows US-72 with 3 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 35616 since 2015, the highest of any road.
When do most truck crashes happen in ZIP 35616?
The worst month is October: 11.8% of truck crashes in Colbert County happen then.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in ZIP 35616?
7 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Colbert County since 2015, 1.4% of all truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in ZIP 35616 compared with Alabama?
Per 100,000 residents, Colbert County has 75.5 truck crashes a year; Alabama has 80.8.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in ZIP 35616?
The free Route Planner takes your stops and returns a route risk score, safer alternatives and low-bridge warnings.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.