ZIP 36539 (Fruitdale, AL) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 36539: 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 |
Washington County has lower values than Alabama for 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.
Washington County at a glance: 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
The worst month is February with 10.7% of truck crashes; the quietest is April at 4.5%.
November through March accounts for 45.4% of truck crashes here, compared with 40.8% in Alabama.
By time of day, 11 am–12 pm stands out with 10.7% of truck crashes.
1.5% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 0.8% across Alabama.
Where crashes happen
No fatal crash involving a large truck has a recorded location within 10 miles of ZIP 36539 since 2015.
Garbage & waste trucks
3 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 1.3% share (Alabama: 2.3%).
Route planning tips for ZIP 36539 fleets
- Build extra time into February routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- 24.1% of truck crashes happen between 6 and 10 am, above Alabama; consider earlier or later starts where possible.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 1.5% of truck crashes here, more than Alabama; schedule winter 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 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 36539 at a glance
| Population | 453 |
| Density | 3 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $55,625 |
| Home ownership | 89% |
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 crashes involving a large truck averaged 0.5 a year in 2016–19 and 0.8 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 36539
How common are truck crashes in ZIP 36539?
Since 2015, 224 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Washington County (124 injured, 8 killed).
What is the worst month for truck crashes in ZIP 36539?
The worst month is February: 10.7% of truck crashes in Washington County happen then.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in ZIP 36539?
3 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Washington County since 2015, 1.3% of all truck crashes.
How does ZIP 36539 compare with Alabama for truck crashes?
Per 100,000 residents, Washington County has 125.3 truck crashes a year; Alabama has 80.8.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in ZIP 36539?
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.