ZIP 37020 (Bell Buckle, TN) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 37020: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Bedford 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
7 of 244 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Bedford County compares with Tennessee
Bedford County against Tennessee and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Bedford County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Bedford County | Tennessee | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 38.9 | 60.1 | 49.7 | 35% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 9.5 | 3.9 | 3.4 | 2.4× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.58 | 0.48 | 0.49 | 1.2× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 3.0% | 1.9% | 2.3% | 1.6× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 0.9% | 2.3% | 6.2% | 63% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 28.4% | 21.8% | 23.7% | 1.3× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 15.1% | 14.9% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 42.7% | 40.5% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 18.1% | 25.9% | 24.8% | 30% below the state |
Bedford County sits below Tennessee on crashes per 100k residents / yr, on snow, slush or ice and after dark. It runs above Tennessee on deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share.
Bedford County at a glance: 9.5 people killed per 100 truck crashes (Tennessee: 3.9).
Overview
Bedford County has recorded 244 truck crashes since 2015, with 145 people injured and 22 killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 17 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in March (11.5% of the year) and are lowest in October (5.7%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 42.7% of truck crashes, vs 40.5% for Tennessee.
The busiest hour is 1–2 pm, with 9.8% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 0.9% of truck crashes, compared with 2.3% in Tennessee.
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks within 10 miles of ZIP 37020 is I-24, with 7 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. It is followed by US-231 (6), US-41 (2) and CR-CHRISTIANA Hoovers Gap Rd (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
7 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 2.9% share (Tennessee: 1.9%).
Route planning tips for ZIP 37020 fleets
- Plan March schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Bedford County.
- Check whether your routes use I-24, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- 28.4% of truck crashes happen between 6 and 10 am, above Tennessee; consider earlier or later starts where possible.
- 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 Bedford County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-24 | 7 |
| US-231 | 6 |
| US-41 | 2 |
| CR-CHRISTIANA Hoovers Gap Rd | 1 |
| SR-437 | 1 |
| SR-82 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Bedford County) |
|---|---|
| US-231 | 19 |
| SR-231N | 18 |
| Madison St | 16 |
| SR-64W | 12 |
| Us-41-Alt | 11 |
| SR-82E | 7 |
| Tn-64 | 7 |
| Highway 41An | 6 |
ZIP 37020 at a glance
| Population | 5,000 |
| Density | 21 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $86,034 |
| Median home value | $348,784 |
| Home ownership | 95% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Bedford 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 | 6 | — | 0.9 |
| 2000s | 14 | +137% | 0.6 |
| 2010s | 16 | +13% | 0.9 |
| 2020s | 22 | +44% | 1.8 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 6 a year in the 1990s and 22 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal large-truck crashes: 1.2 a year in 2016–19, 1.8 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 37020
How many truck accidents are there in ZIP 37020?
Bedford County has had 244 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 145 people and killing 22.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in ZIP 37020?
Since 2015, I-24 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 37020: 7.
Which month has the most truck crashes in ZIP 37020?
Truck crashes in Bedford County peak in March, with 11.5% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in ZIP 37020?
7 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Bedford County since 2015, 2.9% of all truck crashes.
How does ZIP 37020 compare with Tennessee for truck crashes?
The yearly rate is 38.9 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Bedford County, vs 60.1 for Tennessee.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in ZIP 37020?
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.