ZIP 36874 (Salem, AL) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 36874: 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 Lee County: 1.1% of truck crashes happened on snow, slush or ice, vs 0.8% in Alabama.
Overview
Police reported 1,326 crashes involving commercial trucks in Lee County since 2015: 569 people were injured and 29 were killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 3 days.
When crashes happen
August has the most truck crashes, 11.9% of the yearly total, while December has the fewest (6.4%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 39.2% of truck crashes, against 40.8% across Alabama.
By time of day, 2–3 pm stands out with 7.6% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 1.1% of truck crashes, compared with 0.8% in Alabama.
Where crashes happen
Fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 36874 since 2015 were spread across roads: CR-298 (2), US-280 (2), Us-Sr 8 (2), CR-249 (1) and Mu-Old Columbus (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 27 of the truck crashes here, or 2.0%, compared with 2.3% in Alabama.
Their busiest month is January, with 11% of garbage-truck crashes.
Per 100 crashes, garbage trucks recorded 0.0 deaths compared with 2.2 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for ZIP 36874 fleets
- Review driver schedules for August, the month with the most truck crashes.
- For residential and commercial waste routes, look again at January schedules: garbage-truck crashes peak then.
- 1.1% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice, above Alabama; plan winter equipment checks before the season.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
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 Lee County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| CR-298 | 2 |
| US-280 | 2 |
| Us-Sr 8 | 2 |
| CR-249 | 1 |
| Mu-Old Columbus | 1 |
| SR-169 | 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 36874 at a glance
| Population | 9,096 |
| Density | 31 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $66,986 |
| Median home value | $194,506 |
| Home ownership | 91% |
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. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 2.0 a year in 2016–19 and 3.8 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 36874
How common are truck crashes in ZIP 36874?
Lee County has had 1,326 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 569 people and killing 29.
Which month has the most truck crashes in ZIP 36874?
August has the most truck crashes in Lee County, 11.9% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in ZIP 36874?
Garbage trucks were involved in 27 reported crashes in Lee County since 2015 (2.0% of truck crashes).
How do truck crashes in ZIP 36874 compare with Alabama?
The yearly rate is 60.1 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Lee County, vs 80.8 for Alabama.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in ZIP 36874?
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.