ZIP 38119 (Memphis, TN) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 38119: 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.
What stands out in ZIP 38119: US-78 deadliest road: 19 fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 38119 since 2015.
Overview
Shelby County has recorded 5,377 truck crashes since 2015, with 3,109 people injured and 238 killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly 1 truck crash every day.
When crashes happen
The worst month is May with 9.1% of truck crashes; the quietest is February at 7.4%.
November through March accounts for 40.8% of truck crashes here, compared with 40.5% in Tennessee.
By time of day, 12–1 pm stands out 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 38119 with 19 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. It is followed by I-40 (17), SR-175 (14) and I-240 (10).
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%).
Per 100 crashes, garbage trucks recorded 2.2 deaths compared with 4.5 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for ZIP 38119 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.
- Waste haulers: August is the peak month for garbage-truck crashes in Shelby County.
- 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 | 19 |
| I-40 | 17 |
| SR-175 | 14 |
| I-240 | 10 |
| I-55 | 3 |
| 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 38119 at a glance
| Population | 23,464 |
| Density | 1,028 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $89,289 |
| Median home value | $296,721 |
| Home ownership | 60% |
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 large-truck crashes: 15.8 a year in 2016–19, 19.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 38119
How common are truck crashes in ZIP 38119?
Shelby County has had 5,377 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 3,109 people and killing 238.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in ZIP 38119?
US-78 had 19 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of ZIP 38119 since 2015, more than any other road.
When do most truck crashes happen in ZIP 38119?
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 38119?
139 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Shelby County since 2015, 2.6% of all truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in ZIP 38119 compared with Tennessee?
Shelby County records 50.8 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 60.1 across Tennessee.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in ZIP 38119?
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.