ZIP 35661 (Muscle Shoals, AL) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 35661: 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 has lower values than Alabama for 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).
What stands out in ZIP 35661: SR-20 deadliest road: 7 fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 35661 since 2015.
Overview
Since 2015, 518 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Colbert County. They injured 281 people and killed 28.
That averages about one truck crash every 8 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
October has the most truck crashes, 11.8% of the yearly total, while July has the fewest (4.6%).
November through March accounts for 44.3% of truck crashes here, compared with 40.8% in Alabama.
The busiest hour is 2–3 pm, with 8.5% of truck crashes.
0.6% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 0.8% across Alabama.
Where crashes happen
SR-20 leads within 10 miles of ZIP 35661 with 7 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. It is followed by SR-184 (3), SR-2 (2) and CR-323 (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 35661 fleets
- Plan October schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Colbert County.
- Where you can, review stops along SR-20; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
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 Colbert County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-20 | 7 |
| SR-184 | 3 |
| SR-2 | 2 |
| CR-323 | 1 |
| Mu-6th St | 1 |
| SR-133 | 1 |
| SR-157 | 1 |
| US-43 | 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 35661 at a glance
| Population | 19,169 |
| Density | 145 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $74,310 |
| Median home value | $190,690 |
| Home ownership | 70% |
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 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 39 a year in the 1990s and 42 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 1.0 a year in 2016–19 and 3.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 35661
How many truck crashes happen in ZIP 35661?
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 35661?
SR-20 had 7 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of ZIP 35661 since 2015, more than any other road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in ZIP 35661?
The worst month is October: 11.8% of truck crashes in Colbert County happen then.
Are garbage truck crashes common in ZIP 35661?
7 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Colbert County since 2015, 1.4% of all truck crashes.
How does ZIP 35661 compare with Alabama for truck crashes?
Colbert County records 75.5 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 80.8 across Alabama.
How can I plan a safer truck route in ZIP 35661?
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.