ZIP 38125 (Memphis, TN) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 38125: 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.
ZIP 38125 at a glance: US-78 deadliest road: 19 fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 38125 since 2015.
Overview
Shelby County has recorded 5,377 truck crashes since 2015, with 3,109 people injured and 238 killed.
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%).
November through March accounts for 40.8% of truck crashes here, compared with 40.5% in Tennessee.
The busiest hour is 12–1 pm, with 7.0% of truck crashes.
1.2% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 2.3% across Tennessee.
Where crashes happen
US-78 leads within 10 miles of ZIP 38125 with 19 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. It is followed by I-240 (7), SR-175 (7) and I-269 (3).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 139 crashes, 2.6% of the total, against 1.9% across Tennessee.
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 38125 fleets
- Review driver schedules for May, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Check whether your routes use US-78, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- 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
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) |
|---|---|
| US-78 | 19 |
| I-240 | 7 |
| SR-175 | 7 |
| I-269 | 3 |
| SR-302 | 3 |
| Raines Rd | 2 |
| SR-176 | 2 |
| SR-385 | 2 |
| US-72 | 2 |
| Winchester 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 38125 at a glance
| Population | 43,071 |
| Density | 875 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $86,162 |
| Median home value | $251,756 |
| Home ownership | 54% |
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 38125
How common are truck crashes in ZIP 38125?
Since 2015, 5,377 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Shelby County (3,109 injured, 238 killed).
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in ZIP 38125?
Since 2015, US-78 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 38125: 19.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in ZIP 38125?
The worst month is May: 9.1% of truck crashes in Shelby County happen then.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in ZIP 38125?
Since 2015, Shelby County has reported 139 garbage-truck crashes, or 2.6% of its truck crashes.
How does ZIP 38125 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 can I plan a safer truck route in ZIP 38125?
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.