ZIP 36518 (Chatom, AL) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 36518: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Washington 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
3 of 224 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
No fatal large-truck crashes with a road name recorded here since 2015.
How Washington County compares with Alabama
Washington County against Alabama and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Washington County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Washington County | Alabama | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 125.3 | 80.8 | 49.7 | 1.6× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.9 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 1.1× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.55 | 0.46 | 0.49 | 1.2× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.5% | 2.3% | 2.3% | 36% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 1.5% | 0.8% | 6.2% | 1.8× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 24.1% | 22.5% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 9.7% | 12.3% | 13.8% | 21% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 45.4% | 40.8% | 41.9% | 1.1× the state |
| After dark | 23.7% | 23.7% | 24.8% | same |
Compared with Alabama, Washington County is lower on garbage-truck share and in rain, sleet or snow. It runs above Alabama on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash.
The headline for Washington County: 1.5% of truck crashes happened on snow, slush or ice, vs 0.8% in Alabama.
Overview
Washington County has recorded 224 truck crashes since 2015, with 124 people injured and 8 killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 19 days.
When crashes happen
February has the most truck crashes, 10.7% of the yearly total, while April has the fewest (4.5%).
November through March accounts for 45.4% of truck crashes here, compared with 40.8% in Alabama.
More truck crashes happen at 11 am–12 pm than at any other hour (10.7%).
Road surface: 1.5% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Alabama: 0.8%).
Where crashes happen
No fatal crash involving a large truck has a recorded location within 10 miles of ZIP 36518 since 2015.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 3 crashes, 1.3% of the total, against 2.3% across Alabama.
Route planning tips for ZIP 36518 fleets
- Plan February schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Washington County.
- Morning starts matter: 24.1% of truck crashes fall between 6 and 10 am, higher than Alabama.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 1.5% of truck crashes here, more than Alabama; schedule winter checks early.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
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 Washington County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
No fatal crashes involving a large truck with a road name were recorded within 10 miles since 2015.
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Washington County) |
|---|---|
| US-43 | 79 |
| US-45 | 33 |
| Al-56 | 25 |
| Al-17 | 20 |
| Cr-34 | 10 |
| Paul Bayou Rd. | 6 |
| Paul Bayou Road | 4 |
| Healing Springs Ave | 3 |
ZIP 36518 at a glance
| Population | 2,109 |
| Density | 6 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $87,768 |
| Median home value | $182,447 |
| Home ownership | 83% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Washington 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 | 10 | — | 1.2 |
| 2000s | 12 | +20% | 0.6 |
| 2010s | 16 | +26% | 0.6 |
| 2020s | 18 | +16% | 0.8 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 10 to 18. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal large-truck crashes: 0.5 a year in 2016–19, 0.8 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 36518
How many truck accidents are there in ZIP 36518?
Washington County has had 224 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 124 people and killing 8.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in ZIP 36518?
The worst month is February: 10.7% of truck crashes in Washington County happen then.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in ZIP 36518?
3 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Washington County since 2015, 1.3% of all truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in ZIP 36518 compared with Alabama?
Washington County records 125.3 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 80.8 across Alabama.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in ZIP 36518?
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.