ZIP 35901 (Gadsden, AL) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 35901: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Etowah 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 4.0 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Etowah County compares with Alabama
Etowah County against Alabama and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Etowah County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Etowah County | Alabama | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 87.6 | 80.8 | 49.7 | 1.1× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 4.0 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 1.2× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.45 | 0.46 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.3% | 2.3% | 2.3% | same |
| On snow, slush or ice | 0.2% | 0.8% | 6.2% | 75% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 23.7% | 22.5% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 13.5% | 12.3% | 13.8% | 1.1× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 39.2% | 40.8% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 21.8% | 23.7% | 24.8% | 8% below the state |
Compared with Alabama, Etowah County is lower on on snow, slush or ice and after dark. It runs above Alabama on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and in rain, sleet or snow.
The headline for ZIP 35901: I-59 deadliest road: 8 fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 35901 since 2015.
Overview
Since 2015, 1,054 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Etowah County. They injured 472 people and killed 41.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 4 days.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in August (9.9% of the year) and are lowest in October (6.9%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 39.2% of truck crashes, against 40.8% across Alabama.
More truck crashes happen at 1–2 pm than at any other hour (8.3%).
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 0.2% of truck crashes, compared with 0.8% in Alabama.
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks within 10 miles of ZIP 35901 is I-59, with 8 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. After it: US-411 (3), I-759 (1) and SR-211 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 24 crashes, 2.3% of the total, against 2.3% across Alabama.
Garbage-truck crashes peak in September (17% of them).
They recorded 0.0 deaths per 100 crashes, against 4.0 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for ZIP 35901 fleets
- Plan August schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Etowah County.
- Check whether your routes use I-59, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- For residential and commercial waste routes, look again at September schedules: garbage-truck crashes peak then.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
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 Etowah County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-59 | 8 |
| US-411 | 3 |
| I-759 | 1 |
| SR-211 | 1 |
| SR-25 | 1 |
| SR-77 | 1 |
| Sutton Bridge Rd | 1 |
| Tidmore Bend Rd | 1 |
| US-278 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Etowah County) |
|---|---|
| I-59 | 187 |
| US-431 | 120 |
| US-278 | 99 |
| Al-77 | 84 |
| US-411 | 30 |
| E Meighan Blvd | 29 |
| I-759 | 22 |
| East Meighan Blvd | 19 |
ZIP 35901 at a glance
| Population | 18,769 |
| Density | 122 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $48,876 |
| Median home value | $156,259 |
| Home ownership | 66% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Etowah 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 | 41 | — | 2.8 |
| 2000s | 65 | +58% | 1.7 |
| 2010s | 86 | +31% | 2.8 |
| 2020s | 81 | -6% | 4.0 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 41 a year in the 1990s and 81 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal large-truck crashes: 3.5 a year in 2016–19, 4.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 35901
How many truck accidents are there in ZIP 35901?
1,054 truck crashes have been reported in Etowah County since 2015, with 41 deaths and 472 injuries.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in ZIP 35901?
I-59 had 8 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of ZIP 35901 since 2015, more than any other road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in ZIP 35901?
Truck crashes in Etowah County peak in August, with 9.9% of the year's crashes.
Are garbage truck crashes common in ZIP 35901?
Garbage trucks were involved in 24 reported crashes in Etowah County since 2015 (2.3% of truck crashes).
What is the truck crash rate in ZIP 35901 compared with Alabama?
The yearly rate is 87.6 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Etowah County, vs 80.8 for Alabama.
How can I plan a safer truck route in ZIP 35901?
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.