ZIP 35903 (Gadsden, AL) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 35903: 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. Where it is higher: crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and in rain, sleet or snow.
What stands out in ZIP 35903: US-411 most fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 35903: 3 since 2015.
Overview
Police reported 1,054 crashes involving commercial trucks in Etowah County since 2015: 472 people were injured and 41 were killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 4 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
August has the most truck crashes, 9.9% of the yearly total, while October has the fewest (6.9%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 39.2% of truck crashes, vs 40.8% for 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
US-411 leads within 10 miles of ZIP 35903 with 3 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. After it: Us-Sr 74 (2), I-759 (1) and SR-25 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
24 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 2.3% share (Alabama: 2.3%).
Their busiest month is September, with 17% of garbage-truck crashes.
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 0.0, vs 4.0 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for ZIP 35903 fleets
- Review driver schedules for August, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Check whether your routes use US-411, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in September; 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
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) |
|---|---|
| US-411 | 3 |
| Us-Sr 74 | 2 |
| I-759 | 1 |
| SR-25 | 1 |
| Tidmore Bend Rd | 1 |
| US-278 | 1 |
| Us-Sr 1 | 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 35903 at a glance
| Population | 17,113 |
| Density | 97 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $53,122 |
| Median home value | $168,872 |
| Home ownership | 65% |
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 |
In the 1990s about 41 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 81. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. 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 35903
How many truck crashes happen in ZIP 35903?
Since 2015, 1,054 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Etowah County (472 injured, 41 killed).
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in ZIP 35903?
NHTSA data shows US-411 with 3 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 35903 since 2015, the highest of any road.
When do most truck crashes happen in ZIP 35903?
Truck crashes in Etowah County peak in August, with 9.9% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in ZIP 35903?
Since 2015, Etowah County has reported 24 garbage-truck crashes, or 2.3% of its truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in ZIP 35903 compare with Alabama?
Etowah County records 87.6 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 80.8 across Alabama.
How can I plan a safer truck route in ZIP 35903?
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.