ZIP 35979 (Higdon, AL) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 35979: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in DeKalb 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
15 of 569 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How DeKalb County compares with Alabama
DeKalb County against Alabama and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where DeKalb County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | DeKalb County | Alabama | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 66.5 | 80.8 | 49.7 | 18% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 6.4 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 1.9× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.40 | 0.46 | 0.49 | 13% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.6% | 2.3% | 2.3% | 1.2× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 0.9% | 0.8% | 6.2% | 1.2× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 18.7% | 22.5% | 23.7% | 17% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 9.7% | 12.3% | 13.8% | 21% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 35.7% | 40.8% | 41.9% | 12% below the state |
| After dark | 27.7% | 23.7% | 24.8% | 1.2× the state |
DeKalb County sits below Alabama on crashes per 100k residents / yr, injuries per crash and morning rush (6–10 am). It runs above Alabama on deaths per 100 crashes, garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice.
The headline for DeKalb County: 6.4 deaths for every 100 truck crashes, against 3.4 across Alabama.
Overview
Police reported 569 crashes involving commercial trucks in DeKalb County since 2015: 230 people were injured and 36 were killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 8 days.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in September (13.0% of the year) and are lowest in January (5.8%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 35.7% of truck crashes, against 40.8% across Alabama.
More truck crashes happen at 1–2 pm than at any other hour (7.7%).
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 0.9% of truck crashes, compared with 0.8% in Alabama.
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks within 10 miles of ZIP 35979 is I-59, with 4 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. It is followed by SR-75 (3) and SR-117 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 15 of the truck crashes here, or 2.6%, compared with 2.3% in Alabama.
Route planning tips for ZIP 35979 fleets
- Review driver schedules for September, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Look at alternatives to I-59 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- 0.9% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice, above Alabama; plan winter equipment checks before the season.
- 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 DeKalb County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-59 | 4 |
| SR-75 | 3 |
| SR-117 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (DeKalb County) |
|---|---|
| I-59 | 202 |
| Al-68 | 52 |
| Al-75 | 41 |
| Al-117 | 37 |
| Al-35 | 26 |
| US-11 | 10 |
| Main Street East | 8 |
| Wallace Av Ne | 8 |
ZIP 35979 at a glance
| Population | 1,103 |
| Density | 37 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $51,833 |
| Median home value | $149,252 |
| Home ownership | 95% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in DeKalb 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 | 40 | — | 2.5 |
| 2000s | 47 | +18% | 2.4 |
| 2010s | 46 | -3% | 1.5 |
| 2020s | 51 | +10% | 3.4 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 40 a year in the 1990s and 51 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 2.0 a year in 2016–19 and 3.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 35979
How many truck accidents are there in ZIP 35979?
569 truck crashes have been reported in DeKalb County since 2015, with 36 deaths and 230 injuries.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in ZIP 35979?
I-59 had 4 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of ZIP 35979 since 2015, more than any other road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in ZIP 35979?
Truck crashes in DeKalb County peak in September, with 13.0% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in ZIP 35979?
Garbage trucks were involved in 15 reported crashes in DeKalb County since 2015 (2.6% of truck crashes).
How does ZIP 35979 compare with Alabama for truck crashes?
Per 100,000 residents, DeKalb County has 66.5 truck crashes a year; Alabama has 80.8.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in ZIP 35979?
Paste your stops into the free CurbWaste Route Planner: it scores your route against fatal-crash locations, suggests safer alternatives and flags low bridges.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.