ZIP 38109 (Memphis, TN) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 38109: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Shelby 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
2.2 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 4.5 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Shelby County compares with Tennessee
Shelby County against Tennessee and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Shelby County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Shelby County | Tennessee | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 50.8 | 60.1 | 49.7 | 15% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 4.5 | 3.9 | 3.4 | 1.2× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.58 | 0.48 | 0.49 | 1.2× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.7% | 1.9% | 2.3% | 1.4× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 1.2% | 2.3% | 6.2% | 48% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 21.7% | 21.8% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 15.6% | 14.9% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 40.8% | 40.5% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 25.0% | 25.9% | 24.8% | same |
Shelby County has lower values than Tennessee for crashes per 100k residents / yr and on snow, slush or ice. It stands out for higher deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share.
The headline for ZIP 38109: I-55 19 fatal truck crashes since 2015, more than any other road within 10 miles of ZIP 38109.
Overview
Police reported 5,377 crashes involving commercial trucks in Shelby County since 2015: 3,109 people were injured and 238 were killed.
That averages about 1 truck crash a day in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in May (9.1% of the year) and are lowest in February (7.4%).
November through March accounts for 40.8% of truck crashes here, compared with 40.5% in Tennessee.
More truck crashes happen at 12–1 pm than at any other hour (7.0%).
Road surface: 1.2% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Tennessee: 2.3%).
Where crashes happen
I-55 leads within 10 miles of ZIP 38109 with 19 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. After it: I-40 (7), SR-175 (6) and US-61 (6).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 139 of the truck crashes here, or 2.6%, compared with 1.9% in Tennessee.
Their busiest month is August, with 12% of garbage-truck crashes.
Per 100 crashes, garbage trucks recorded 2.2 deaths compared with 4.5 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for ZIP 38109 fleets
- Build extra time into May routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Where you can, review stops along I-55; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- For residential and commercial waste routes, look again at August schedules: garbage-truck crashes peak then.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
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 Shelby County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-55 | 19 |
| I-40 | 7 |
| SR-175 | 6 |
| US-61 | 6 |
| I-240 | 4 |
| US-78 | 3 |
| US-51 | 2 |
| Airways Blvd | 1 |
| Brooks Rd | 1 |
| Channel Ave | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Shelby County) |
|---|---|
| I-40 | 813 |
| I-240 | 407 |
| Lamar Ave | 331 |
| I-55 | 267 |
| E Shelby Dr | 234 |
| Winchester Rd | 111 |
| Getwell Rd | 61 |
| Shelby Dr | 61 |
ZIP 38109 at a glance
| Population | 42,452 |
| Density | 274 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $37,496 |
| Median home value | $89,022 |
| Home ownership | 56% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Shelby 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 | 24 | — | 13.2 |
| 2000s | 384 | +1525% | 10.0 |
| 2010s | 510 | +33% | 11.1 |
| 2020s | 424 | -17% | 19.0 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 24 a year in the 1990s and 424 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 15.8 a year in 2016–19 and 19.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 38109
How many truck accidents are there in ZIP 38109?
Shelby County has had 5,377 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 3,109 people and killing 238.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in ZIP 38109?
I-55 had 19 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of ZIP 38109 since 2015, more than any other road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in ZIP 38109?
Truck crashes in Shelby County peak in May, with 9.1% of the year's crashes.
Are garbage truck crashes common in ZIP 38109?
Since 2015, Shelby County has reported 139 garbage-truck crashes, or 2.6% of its truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in ZIP 38109 compared with Tennessee?
Shelby County records 50.8 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 60.1 across Tennessee.
How can I plan a safer truck route in ZIP 38109?
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.