ZIP 35986 (Rainsville, AL) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 35986: 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 has lower values than Alabama for crashes per 100k residents / yr, injuries per crash and morning rush (6–10 am). Where it is higher: deaths per 100 crashes, garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice.
DeKalb County at a glance: 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%).
November through March accounts for 35.7% of truck crashes here, compared with 40.8% in Alabama.
More truck crashes happen at 1–2 pm than at any other hour (7.7%).
Road surface: 0.9% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Alabama: 0.8%).
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks within 10 miles of ZIP 35986 is SR-35, with 5 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. Next come SR-75 (3), I-59 (2) and SR-40 (2).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 15 crashes, 2.6% of the total, against 2.3% across Alabama.
Route planning tips for ZIP 35986 fleets
- Plan September schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in DeKalb County.
- Where you can, review stops along SR-35; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- With 0.9% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above Alabama), plan winter equipment checks early.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
About the data
Sources: the FMCSA crash file for all reported truck crashes and NHTSA FARS for fatal crashes with a large truck. Every statement here comes straight from those numbers.
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) |
|---|---|
| SR-35 | 5 |
| SR-75 | 3 |
| I-59 | 2 |
| SR-40 | 2 |
| Mccurdy Ave S | 1 |
| Sr-Gault Ave N | 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 35986 at a glance
| Population | 8,207 |
| Density | 74 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $68,056 |
| Median home value | $221,562 |
| Home ownership | 90% |
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 |
In the 1990s about 40 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 51. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal large-truck crashes: 2.0 a year in 2016–19, 3.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 35986
How common are truck crashes in ZIP 35986?
Since 2015, 569 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in DeKalb County (230 injured, 36 killed).
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in ZIP 35986?
SR-35 had 5 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of ZIP 35986 since 2015, more than any other road.
Which month has the most truck crashes in ZIP 35986?
September has the most truck crashes in DeKalb County, 13.0% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in ZIP 35986?
Since 2015, DeKalb County has reported 15 garbage-truck crashes, or 2.6% of its truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in ZIP 35986 compared with Alabama?
DeKalb County records 66.5 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 80.8 across Alabama.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in ZIP 35986?
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.