ZIP 38120 (Memphis, TN) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 38120: 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. Where it is higher: deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share.
What stands out in ZIP 38120: I-40 most fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 38120: 25 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
May has the most truck crashes, 9.1% of the yearly total, while February has the fewest (7.4%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 40.8% of truck crashes, vs 40.5% for 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
The deadliest road for trucks within 10 miles of ZIP 38120 is I-40, with 25 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. Next come US-78 (20), I-240 (13) and SR-175 (8).
Garbage & waste trucks
139 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 2.6% share (Tennessee: 1.9%).
Their busiest month is August, with 12% of garbage-truck crashes.
They recorded 2.2 deaths per 100 crashes, against 4.5 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for ZIP 38120 fleets
- Review driver schedules for May, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Where you can, review stops along I-40; 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.
- 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) |
|---|---|
| I-40 | 25 |
| US-78 | 20 |
| I-240 | 13 |
| SR-175 | 8 |
| US-64 | 4 |
| Airways Blvd | 2 |
| Mu-Sam Cooper Blvd | 2 |
| Raines Rd | 2 |
| SR-176 | 2 |
| SR-385 | 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 38120 at a glance
| Population | 13,309 |
| Density | 534 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $123,538 |
| Median home value | $460,824 |
| Home ownership | 72% |
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 |
In the 1990s about 24 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 424. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. 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 38120
How common are truck crashes in ZIP 38120?
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 38120?
Since 2015, I-40 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 38120: 25.
When do most truck crashes happen in ZIP 38120?
Truck crashes in Shelby County peak in May, with 9.1% of the year's crashes.
Are garbage truck crashes common in ZIP 38120?
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 38120 compare with Tennessee?
Per 100,000 residents, Shelby County has 50.8 truck crashes a year; Tennessee has 60.1.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in ZIP 38120?
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.