ZIP 37421 (Chattanooga, TN) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 37421: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Hamilton 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
1.1 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 2.6 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Hamilton County compares with Tennessee
Hamilton County against Tennessee and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Hamilton County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Hamilton County | Tennessee | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 69.5 | 60.1 | 49.7 | 1.2× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.6 | 3.9 | 3.4 | 33% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.43 | 0.48 | 0.49 | 10% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 3.1% | 1.9% | 2.3% | 1.6× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 0.6% | 2.3% | 6.2% | 75% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 22.2% | 21.8% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 18.4% | 14.9% | 13.8% | 1.2× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 38.7% | 40.5% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 23.1% | 25.9% | 24.8% | 11% below the state |
Hamilton County sits below Tennessee on deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and on snow, slush or ice. It runs above Tennessee on crashes per 100k residents / yr, garbage-truck share and in rain, sleet or snow.
What stands out in ZIP 37421: 2.8× change in fatal truck crashes a year within 10 miles of ZIP 37421 (2.2 → 6.2).
Overview
Police reported 3,122 crashes involving commercial trucks in Hamilton County since 2015: 1,345 people were injured and 80 were killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about 1 truck crash a day.
When crashes happen
The worst month is June with 9.5% of truck crashes; the quietest is January at 6.3%.
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 38.7% of truck crashes, vs 40.5% for Tennessee.
More truck crashes happen at 8–9 am than at any other hour (7.5%).
Road surface: 0.6% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Tennessee: 2.3%).
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks within 10 miles of ZIP 37421 is I-75, with 23 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. It is followed by I-24 (8), SR-319 (2) and US-11 (2).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 94 crashes, 3.0% of the total, against 1.9% across Tennessee.
Garbage-truck crashes peak in June (13% of them).
They recorded 1.1 deaths per 100 crashes, against 2.6 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for ZIP 37421 fleets
- Plan June schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Hamilton County.
- Look at alternatives to I-75 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in June; review collection routes for that month.
- 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 Hamilton County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-75 | 23 |
| I-24 | 8 |
| SR-319 | 2 |
| US-11 | 2 |
| CR-070400 | 1 |
| CR-KLINGLER Ln | 1 |
| Lake Resort Dr | 1 |
| N Access Rd | 1 |
| SR-153 | 1 |
| SR-2 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Hamilton County) |
|---|---|
| I-24 | 625 |
| I-75 | 554 |
| SR-153 | 72 |
| Amnicola Hwy | 59 |
| Bonny Oaks Dr | 45 |
| SR-58 | 39 |
| SR-27 | 35 |
| Lee Hwy | 35 |
ZIP 37421 at a glance
| Population | 52,985 |
| Density | 645 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $82,517 |
| Median home value | $333,307 |
| Home ownership | 60% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Hamilton 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 | 37 | — | 4.0 |
| 2000s | 131 | +253% | 4.5 |
| 2010s | 213 | +63% | 2.8 |
| 2020s | 282 | +32% | 6.8 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 37 to 282. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal large-truck crashes: 3.5 a year in 2016–19, 6.8 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 37421
How common are truck crashes in ZIP 37421?
Since 2015, 3,122 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Hamilton County (1,345 injured, 80 killed).
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in ZIP 37421?
I-75 had 23 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of ZIP 37421 since 2015, more than any other road.
When do most truck crashes happen in ZIP 37421?
The worst month is June: 9.5% of truck crashes in Hamilton County happen then.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in ZIP 37421?
94 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Hamilton County since 2015, 3.0% of all truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in ZIP 37421 compare with Tennessee?
The yearly rate is 69.5 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Hamilton County, vs 60.1 for Tennessee.
How can I plan a safer truck route in ZIP 37421?
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.