ZIP 38261 (Union City, TN) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 38261: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Obion 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
6 of 225 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Obion County compares with Tennessee
Obion County against Tennessee and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Obion County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Obion County | Tennessee | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 64.3 | 60.1 | 49.7 | same |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 4.7 | 3.9 | 3.4 | 1.2× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.57 | 0.48 | 0.49 | 1.2× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.8% | 1.9% | 2.3% | 1.4× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 5.1% | 2.3% | 6.2% | 2.2× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 27.1% | 21.8% | 23.7% | 1.2× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 15.9% | 14.9% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 45.3% | 40.5% | 41.9% | 1.1× the state |
| After dark | 21.5% | 25.9% | 24.8% | 17% below the state |
Obion County has lower values than Tennessee for after dark. Where it is higher: deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share.
Obion County at a glance: 5.1% of truck crashes happened on snow, slush or ice, vs 2.3% in Tennessee.
Overview
Since 2015, 225 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Obion County. They injured 132 people and killed 10.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 19 days.
When crashes happen
The worst month is January with 13.3% of truck crashes; the quietest is July at 3.6%.
November through March accounts for 45.3% of truck crashes here, compared with 40.5% in Tennessee.
The busiest hour is 3–4 pm, with 9.8% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 5.1% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Tennessee: 2.3%).
Where crashes happen
Within this area, US-51 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (4). After it: US-45W (2).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 6 of the truck crashes here, or 2.7%, compared with 1.9% in Tennessee.
Route planning tips for ZIP 38261 fleets
- Review driver schedules for January, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Where you can, review stops along US-51; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- 27.1% of truck crashes happen between 6 and 10 am, above Tennessee; consider earlier or later starts where possible.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 5.1% of truck crashes here, more than Tennessee; schedule winter checks early.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
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 Obion County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-51 | 4 |
| US-45W | 2 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Obion County) |
|---|---|
| N Hwy 51 | 31 |
| US-51 | 19 |
| N Everett Blvd | 9 |
| S Hwy 51 | 9 |
| W Reelfoot Av | 8 |
| S Hwy 45 | 6 |
| Pleasant Hill Rd | 5 |
| SR-184 | 5 |
ZIP 38261 at a glance
| Population | 16,385 |
| Density | 36 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $55,876 |
| Median home value | $153,269 |
| Home ownership | 61% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Obion 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 | 9 | — | 1.0 |
| 2000s | 12 | +36% | 0.5 |
| 2010s | 16 | +34% | 0.6 |
| 2020s | 21 | +35% | 0.6 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 9 to 21. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 0.8 a year in 2016–19 and 0.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 38261
How common are truck crashes in ZIP 38261?
225 truck crashes have been reported in Obion County since 2015, with 10 deaths and 132 injuries.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in ZIP 38261?
US-51 had 4 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of ZIP 38261 since 2015, more than any other road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in ZIP 38261?
Truck crashes in Obion County peak in January, with 13.3% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in ZIP 38261?
6 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Obion County since 2015, 2.7% of all truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in ZIP 38261 compare with Tennessee?
The yearly rate is 64.3 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Obion County, vs 60.1 for Tennessee.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in ZIP 38261?
Paste your stops into the free CurbWaste Route Planner: it scores your route against fatal-crash locations, suggests safer alternatives and flags low bridges.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.