ZIP 38138 (Germantown, TN) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 38138: 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. Where it is higher: deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share.
The headline for ZIP 38138: US-78 17 fatal truck crashes since 2015, more than any other road within 10 miles of ZIP 38138.
Overview
Shelby County has recorded 5,377 truck crashes since 2015, with 3,109 people injured and 238 killed.
That averages about 1 truck crash a day in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in May (9.1% of the year) and are lowest in February (7.4%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 40.8% of truck crashes, vs 40.5% for Tennessee.
The busiest hour is 12–1 pm, 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 38138 with 17 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. It is followed by I-40 (14), I-240 (8) and SR-175 (5).
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 38138 fleets
- Review driver schedules for May, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Look at alternatives to US-78 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) |
|---|---|
| US-78 | 17 |
| I-40 | 14 |
| I-240 | 8 |
| SR-175 | 5 |
| I-269 | 3 |
| Raines Rd | 2 |
| SR-176 | 2 |
| SR-385 | 2 |
| US-64 | 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 38138 at a glance
| Population | 25,167 |
| Density | 820 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $136,297 |
| Median home value | $429,062 |
| Home ownership | 80% |
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 38138
How many truck crashes happen in ZIP 38138?
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 38138?
Since 2015, US-78 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 38138: 17.
When do most truck crashes happen in ZIP 38138?
The worst month is May: 9.1% of truck crashes in Shelby County happen then.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in ZIP 38138?
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 38138 compared 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 38138?
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.