ZIP 35972 (Gallant, AL) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 35972: 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 35972: I-59 most fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 35972: 6 since 2015.
Overview
Etowah County has recorded 1,054 truck crashes since 2015, with 472 people injured and 41 killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 4 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
The worst month is August with 9.9% of truck crashes; the quietest is October at 6.9%.
November through March accounts for 39.2% of truck crashes here, compared with 40.8% in Alabama.
More truck crashes happen at 1–2 pm than at any other hour (8.3%).
Road surface: 0.2% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Alabama: 0.8%).
Where crashes happen
I-59 leads within 10 miles of ZIP 35972 with 6 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. After it: US-431 (2), CR-41 (1) and Mu-Pleasant Valley Rd (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).
Per 100 crashes, garbage trucks recorded 0.0 deaths compared with 4.0 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for ZIP 35972 fleets
- Build extra time into August routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- 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.
- 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 Etowah County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-59 | 6 |
| US-431 | 2 |
| CR-41 | 1 |
| Mu-Pleasant Valley Rd | 1 |
| SR-179 | 1 |
| SR-25 | 1 |
| SR-77 | 1 |
| US-278 | 1 |
| Us-Sr 53 | 1 |
| Us-Sr 74 | 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 35972 at a glance
| Population | 1,291 |
| Density | 19 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $42,457 |
| Median home value | $113,998 |
| Home ownership | 100% |
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 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 41 to 81. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 3.5 a year in 2016–19 and 4.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 35972
How many truck crashes happen in ZIP 35972?
Etowah County has had 1,054 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 472 people and killing 41.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in ZIP 35972?
I-59 had 6 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of ZIP 35972 since 2015, more than any other road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in ZIP 35972?
August has the most truck crashes in Etowah County, 9.9% of the yearly total.
Are garbage truck crashes common in ZIP 35972?
24 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Etowah County since 2015, 2.3% of all truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in ZIP 35972 compared with Alabama?
Per 100,000 residents, Etowah County has 87.6 truck crashes a year; Alabama has 80.8.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in ZIP 35972?
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.