ZIP 38117 (Memphis, TN) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 38117: 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 sits below Tennessee 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.
The headline for ZIP 38117: I-40 deadliest road: 30 fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 38117 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.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly 1 truck crash every day.
When crashes happen
May has the most truck crashes, 9.1% of the yearly total, while February has the fewest (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
The deadliest road for trucks within 10 miles of ZIP 38117 is I-40, with 30 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. Next come US-78 (21), I-240 (14) and SR-175 (14).
Garbage & waste trucks
139 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 2.6% share (Tennessee: 1.9%).
Garbage-truck crashes peak in August (12% of them).
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 2.2, vs 4.5 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for ZIP 38117 fleets
- Review driver schedules for May, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Look at alternatives to I-40 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- 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
Sources: the FMCSA crash file for all reported truck crashes and NHTSA FARS for fatal crashes with a large truck. Every statement here comes straight from those numbers.
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-40 | 30 |
| US-78 | 21 |
| I-240 | 14 |
| SR-175 | 14 |
| I-55 | 9 |
| US-51 | 5 |
| US-64 | 5 |
| Winchester Rd | 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 38117 at a glance
| Population | 25,776 |
| Density | 1,060 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $85,633 |
| Median home value | $310,979 |
| Home ownership | 76% |
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 38117
How many truck crashes happen in ZIP 38117?
Shelby County has had 5,377 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 3,109 people and killing 238.
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in ZIP 38117?
NHTSA data shows I-40 with 30 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 38117 since 2015, the highest of any road.
When do most truck crashes happen in ZIP 38117?
May has the most truck crashes in Shelby County, 9.1% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in ZIP 38117?
Garbage trucks were involved in 139 reported crashes in Shelby County since 2015 (2.6% of truck crashes).
How does ZIP 38117 compare with Tennessee for truck crashes?
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 38117?
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.