ZIP 35987 (Steele, AL) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 35987: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in St. Clair 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
4.0 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 4.2 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How St. Clair County compares with Alabama
St. Clair County against Alabama and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where St. Clair County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | St. Clair County | Alabama | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 116.4 | 80.8 | 49.7 | 1.4× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 4.2 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 1.2× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.45 | 0.46 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.0% | 2.3% | 2.3% | 11% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 1.5% | 0.8% | 6.2% | 1.9× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 19.4% | 22.5% | 23.7% | 14% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 14.5% | 12.3% | 13.8% | 1.2× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 41.2% | 40.8% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 29.3% | 23.7% | 24.8% | 1.2× the state |
St. Clair County has lower values than Alabama for garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am). It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and on snow, slush or ice.
What stands out in St. Clair County: 1.5% on snowy, slushy or icy roads, against 0.8% across Alabama.
Overview
Since 2015, 1,310 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in St. Clair County. They injured 597 people and killed 53.
That averages about one truck crash every 3 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
October has the most truck crashes, 10.5% of the yearly total, while December has the fewest (6.4%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 41.2% of truck crashes, against 40.8% across Alabama.
More truck crashes happen at 3–4 pm than at any other hour (7.1%).
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 1.5% of truck crashes, compared with 0.8% in Alabama.
Where crashes happen
Roads with fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of ZIP 35987 since 2015: I-59 (3), Us-Sr 53 (3), CR-24 (1), CR-26 (1) and CR-33 (1). No single road stands out.
Garbage & waste trucks
28 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 2.1% share (Alabama: 2.3%).
The most garbage-truck crashes happen in January (18%).
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 4.0, vs 4.2 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for ZIP 35987 fleets
- Review driver schedules for October, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in January; review collection routes for that month.
- With 1.5% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above Alabama), plan winter equipment checks early.
- 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 St. Clair County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-59 | 3 |
| Us-Sr 53 | 3 |
| CR-24 | 1 |
| CR-26 | 1 |
| CR-33 | 1 |
| Mu-Pleasant Valley Rd | 1 |
| SR-25 | 1 |
| US-231 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (St. Clair County) |
|---|---|
| I-20 | 614 |
| I-59 | 278 |
| US-231 | 97 |
| US-411 | 43 |
| Al-174 | 23 |
| US-78 | 21 |
| Al-144 | 16 |
| Cogswell Ave | 13 |
ZIP 35987 at a glance
| Population | 2,861 |
| Density | 18 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $78,906 |
| Median home value | $184,862 |
| Home ownership | 90% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in St. Clair 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 | 60 | — | 2.9 |
| 2000s | 86 | +42% | 2.3 |
| 2010s | 90 | +5% | 2.3 |
| 2020s | 116 | +29% | 3.6 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 60 to 116. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 3.0 a year in 2016–19 and 3.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 35987
How common are truck crashes in ZIP 35987?
Since 2015, 1,310 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in St. Clair County (597 injured, 53 killed).
What is the worst month for truck crashes in ZIP 35987?
October has the most truck crashes in St. Clair County, 10.5% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in ZIP 35987?
Garbage trucks were involved in 28 reported crashes in St. Clair County since 2015 (2.1% of truck crashes).
How does ZIP 35987 compare with Alabama for truck crashes?
Per 100,000 residents, St. Clair County has 116.4 truck crashes a year; Alabama has 80.8.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in ZIP 35987?
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.