ZIP 36542 (Gulf Shores, AL) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 36542: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Baldwin 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
0.0 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 2.6 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Baldwin County compares with Alabama
Baldwin County against Alabama and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Baldwin County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Baldwin County | Alabama | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 58.2 | 80.8 | 49.7 | 28% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.6 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 24% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.45 | 0.46 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.6% | 2.3% | 2.3% | 1.1× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 0.8% | 0.8% | 6.2% | same |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 23.4% | 22.5% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 12.2% | 12.3% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 39.9% | 40.8% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 21.8% | 23.7% | 24.8% | 8% below the state |
Baldwin County sits below Alabama on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and after dark. Where it is higher: garbage-truck share.
ZIP 36542 at a glance: SR-180 deadliest road: 3 fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 36542 since 2015.
Overview
Police reported 1,768 crashes involving commercial trucks in Baldwin County since 2015: 810 people were injured and 46 were killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 2 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
June has the most truck crashes, 9.8% of the yearly total, while February has the fewest (6.8%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 39.9% of truck crashes, vs 40.8% for Alabama.
The busiest hour is 10–11 am, with 8.1% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 0.8% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Alabama: 0.8%).
Where crashes happen
Within this area, SR-180 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (3). Next come CR-12 (1) and SR-59 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
44 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 2.5% share (Alabama: 2.3%).
Garbage-truck crashes peak in August (16% of them).
Per 100 crashes, garbage trucks recorded 0.0 deaths compared with 2.6 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for ZIP 36542 fleets
- Plan June schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Baldwin County.
- Check whether your routes use SR-180, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- Waste haulers: August is the peak month for garbage-truck crashes in Baldwin County.
- 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 Baldwin County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-180 | 3 |
| CR-12 | 1 |
| SR-59 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Baldwin County) |
|---|---|
| I-10 | 557 |
| I-65 | 231 |
| Al-59 | 113 |
| US-98 | 83 |
| Al-181 | 44 |
| US-31 | 43 |
| US-90 | 35 |
| Baldwin Beach Express | 29 |
ZIP 36542 at a glance
| Population | 18,906 |
| Density | 140 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $79,639 |
| Median home value | $382,821 |
| Home ownership | 73% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Baldwin 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 | 56 | — | 1.9 |
| 2000s | 90 | +61% | 4.5 |
| 2010s | 106 | +18% | 2.5 |
| 2020s | 165 | +56% | 4.0 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 56 to 165. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. NHTSA counts 3.5 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 4.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 36542
How many truck crashes happen in ZIP 36542?
Since 2015, 1,768 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Baldwin County (810 injured, 46 killed).
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in ZIP 36542?
Since 2015, SR-180 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 36542: 3.
Which month has the most truck crashes in ZIP 36542?
June has the most truck crashes in Baldwin County, 9.8% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in ZIP 36542?
44 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Baldwin County since 2015, 2.5% of all truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in ZIP 36542 compared with Alabama?
Per 100,000 residents, Baldwin County has 58.2 truck crashes a year; Alabama has 80.8.
How can I plan a safer truck route in ZIP 36542?
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.