ZIP 38116 (Memphis, TN) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 38116: 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 |
Compared with Tennessee, Shelby County is lower on crashes per 100k residents / yr and on snow, slush or ice. It runs above Tennessee on deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share.
What stands out in ZIP 38116: US-78 deadliest road: 21 fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 38116 since 2015.
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
The worst month is May with 9.1% of truck crashes; the quietest is February at 7.4%.
The five winter months (November to March) hold 40.8% of truck crashes, against 40.5% across Tennessee.
By time of day, 12–1 pm stands out with 7.0% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 1.2% 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 38116 is US-78, with 21 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. After it: I-55 (17), SR-175 (14) and I-240 (13).
Garbage & waste trucks
139 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 2.6% share (Tennessee: 1.9%).
The most garbage-truck crashes happen in August (12%).
They recorded 2.2 deaths per 100 crashes, against 4.5 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for ZIP 38116 fleets
- Plan May schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Shelby County.
- Where you can, review stops along US-78; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- Waste haulers: August is the peak month for garbage-truck crashes in Shelby County.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
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 |
| I-55 | 17 |
| SR-175 | 14 |
| I-240 | 13 |
| I-40 | 9 |
| US-61 | 5 |
| US-51 | 4 |
| US-64 | 3 |
| Airways Blvd | 2 |
| Mu-E Raines Rd | 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 38116 at a glance
| Population | 40,061 |
| Density | 788 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $42,183 |
| Median home value | $139,947 |
| Home ownership | 43% |
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. NHTSA counts 15.8 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 19.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 38116
How common are truck crashes in ZIP 38116?
5,377 truck crashes have been reported in Shelby County since 2015, with 238 deaths and 3,109 injuries.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in ZIP 38116?
Since 2015, US-78 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 38116: 21.
When do most truck crashes happen in ZIP 38116?
Truck crashes in Shelby County peak in May, with 9.1% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in ZIP 38116?
Since 2015, Shelby County has reported 139 garbage-truck crashes, or 2.6% of its truck crashes.
How does ZIP 38116 compare with Tennessee for truck crashes?
The yearly rate is 50.8 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Shelby County, vs 60.1 for Tennessee.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in ZIP 38116?
The free Route Planner takes your stops and returns a route risk score, safer alternatives and low-bridge warnings.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.