ZIP 38127 (Memphis, TN) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 38127: 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 runs above Tennessee on deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share.
ZIP 38127 at a glance: 2.1× fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 38127 per year, 2020–24 vs 2016–19 (9.4 vs 4.5).
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%).
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
I-40 leads within 10 miles of ZIP 38127 with 20 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. Next come I-55 (11), US-51 (7) and US-64 (5).
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.
Per 100 crashes, garbage trucks recorded 2.2 deaths compared with 4.5 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for ZIP 38127 fleets
- Plan May schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Shelby County.
- Where you can, review stops along I-40; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in August; review collection routes for that month.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
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 | 20 |
| I-55 | 11 |
| US-51 | 7 |
| US-64 | 5 |
| US-78 | 4 |
| I-240 | 3 |
| Mu-Sam Cooper Blvd | 2 |
| Berclair Rd | 1 |
| CR-WARD Rd | 1 |
| Cs-Southland Drive | 1 |
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 38127 at a glance
| Population | 39,541 |
| Density | 404 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $36,901 |
| Median home value | $89,618 |
| Home ownership | 42% |
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 38127
How many truck accidents are there in ZIP 38127?
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 38127?
NHTSA data shows I-40 with 20 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 38127 since 2015, the highest of any road.
Which month has the most truck crashes in ZIP 38127?
Truck crashes in Shelby County peak in May, with 9.1% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in ZIP 38127?
Garbage trucks were involved in 139 reported crashes in Shelby County since 2015 (2.6% of truck crashes).
How does ZIP 38127 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 38127?
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.