ZIP 36801 (Opelika, AL) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 36801: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Lee 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 2.2 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Lee County compares with Alabama
Lee County against Alabama and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Lee County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Lee County | Alabama | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 60.1 | 80.8 | 49.7 | 26% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.2 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 35% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.44 | 0.46 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.0% | 2.3% | 2.3% | 11% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 1.1% | 0.8% | 6.2% | 1.4× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 22.9% | 22.5% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 11.0% | 12.3% | 13.8% | 11% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 39.2% | 40.8% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 23.1% | 23.7% | 24.8% | same |
Lee County sits below Alabama on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and garbage-truck share. It stands out for higher on snow, slush or ice.
The headline for ZIP 36801: I-85 most fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 36801: 6 since 2015.
Overview
Police reported 1,326 crashes involving commercial trucks in Lee County since 2015: 569 people were injured and 29 were killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 3 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
August has the most truck crashes, 11.9% of the yearly total, while December has the fewest (6.4%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 39.2% of truck crashes, vs 40.8% for Alabama.
By time of day, 2–3 pm stands out with 7.6% of truck crashes.
1.1% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 0.8% across Alabama.
Where crashes happen
Within this area, I-85 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (6). After it: CR-83 (1), Cunningham Dr (1) and Mu-Old Columbus (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 27 crashes, 2.0% of the total, against 2.3% across Alabama.
Garbage-truck crashes peak in January (11% of them).
Per 100 crashes, garbage trucks recorded 0.0 deaths compared with 2.2 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for ZIP 36801 fleets
- Review driver schedules for August, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Look at alternatives to I-85 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in January; review collection routes for that month.
- 1.1% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice, above Alabama; plan winter equipment checks before the season.
- 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 Lee County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-85 | 6 |
| CR-83 | 1 |
| Cunningham Dr | 1 |
| Mu-Old Columbus | 1 |
| Old Columbus Rd | 1 |
| SR-169 | 1 |
| SR-51 | 1 |
| US-280 | 1 |
| US-29 | 1 |
| Us-Sr 1 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Lee County) |
|---|---|
| I-85 | 487 |
| US-280 | 158 |
| Columbus Parkway | 55 |
| Gateway Drive | 33 |
| Al-51 | 28 |
| Marvyn Parkway | 26 |
| US-431 | 23 |
| Birmingham Highway | 22 |
ZIP 36801 at a glance
| Population | 25,438 |
| Density | 125 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $62,414 |
| Median home value | $234,052 |
| Home ownership | 64% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Lee 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 | 42 | — | 2.9 |
| 2000s | 70 | +67% | 2.8 |
| 2010s | 89 | +27% | 1.6 |
| 2020s | 117 | +32% | 3.8 |
In the 1990s about 42 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 117. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. NHTSA counts 2.0 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 3.8 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 36801
How common are truck crashes in ZIP 36801?
Since 2015, 1,326 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Lee County (569 injured, 29 killed).
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in ZIP 36801?
I-85 had 6 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of ZIP 36801 since 2015, more than any other road.
When do most truck crashes happen in ZIP 36801?
Truck crashes in Lee County peak in August, with 11.9% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in ZIP 36801?
27 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Lee County since 2015, 2.0% of all truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in ZIP 36801 compared with Alabama?
Per 100,000 residents, Lee County has 60.1 truck crashes a year; Alabama has 80.8.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in ZIP 36801?
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.