ZIP 38115 (Memphis, TN) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 38115: 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 38115: US-78 21 fatal truck crashes since 2015, more than any other road within 10 miles of ZIP 38115.
Overview
Since 2015, 5,377 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Shelby County. They injured 3,109 people and killed 238.
In complete reporting years that works out to about 1 truck crash a day.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in May (9.1% of the year) and are lowest in February (7.4%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 40.8% of truck crashes, vs 40.5% for Tennessee.
The busiest hour is 12–1 pm, with 7.0% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 1.2% of truck crashes, compared with 2.3% in Tennessee.
Where crashes happen
US-78 leads within 10 miles of ZIP 38115 with 21 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. After it: SR-175 (14), I-40 (12) and I-240 (11).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 139 of the truck crashes here, or 2.6%, compared with 1.9% in Tennessee.
Garbage-truck crashes peak in August (12% of them).
They recorded 2.2 deaths per 100 crashes, against 4.5 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for ZIP 38115 fleets
- Plan May schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Shelby County.
- Look at alternatives to US-78 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in August; review collection routes for that month.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
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 Shelby County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-78 | 21 |
| SR-175 | 14 |
| I-40 | 12 |
| I-240 | 11 |
| I-55 | 6 |
| US-64 | 3 |
| Winchester Rd | 3 |
| Airways Blvd | 2 |
| Mu-E Raines Rd | 2 |
| Mu-Sam Cooper Blvd | 2 |
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 38115 at a glance
| Population | 38,491 |
| Density | 1,732 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $45,636 |
| Median home value | $145,382 |
| Home ownership | 23% |
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 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 24 to 424. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. 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 38115
How common are truck crashes in ZIP 38115?
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 38115?
US-78 had 21 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of ZIP 38115 since 2015, more than any other road.
Which month has the most truck crashes in ZIP 38115?
May has the most truck crashes in Shelby County, 9.1% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in ZIP 38115?
139 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Shelby County since 2015, 2.6% of all truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in ZIP 38115 compare with Tennessee?
The yearly rate is 50.8 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Shelby County, vs 60.1 for Tennessee.
How can I plan a safer truck route in ZIP 38115?
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.