ZIP 38501 (Cookeville, TN) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 38501: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Putnam 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
10 of 878 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Putnam County compares with Tennessee
Putnam County against Tennessee and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Putnam County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Putnam County | Tennessee | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 86.2 | 60.1 | 49.7 | 1.4× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 4.3 | 3.9 | 3.4 | 1.1× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.49 | 0.48 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.2% | 1.9% | 2.3% | 36% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 3.9% | 2.3% | 6.2% | 1.7× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 19.8% | 21.8% | 23.7% | 10% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 14.9% | 14.9% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 38.9% | 40.5% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 24.6% | 25.9% | 24.8% | same |
Putnam County sits below Tennessee on garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am). Where it is higher: crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and on snow, slush or ice.
Putnam County at a glance: 3.9% of truck crashes happened on snow, slush or ice, vs 2.3% in Tennessee.
Overview
Since 2015, 878 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Putnam County. They injured 421 people and killed 36.
That averages about one truck crash every 5 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in July (10.6% of the year) and are lowest in October (6.9%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 38.9% of truck crashes, vs 40.5% for Tennessee.
More truck crashes happen at 3–4 pm than at any other hour (8.8%).
3.9% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 2.3% across Tennessee.
Where crashes happen
I-40 leads within 10 miles of ZIP 38501 with 7 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. After it: SR-111 (4), Buffalo Valley Rd (1) and CR-SHIPLEY Rd (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 10 crashes, 1.1% of the total, against 1.9% across Tennessee.
Route planning tips for ZIP 38501 fleets
- Review driver schedules for July, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Check whether your routes use I-40, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- With 3.9% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above Tennessee), plan winter equipment checks early.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
About the data
This report uses the FMCSA crash file (reported crashes of trucks over 10,000 lb) and NHTSA FARS (fatal crashes). It reports the numbers without guessing at reasons.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Putnam County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-40 | 7 |
| SR-111 | 4 |
| Buffalo Valley Rd | 1 |
| CR-SHIPLEY Rd | 1 |
| SR-135 | 1 |
| SR-136 | 1 |
| US-70N | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Putnam County) |
|---|---|
| I-40 | 582 |
| Ramp | 34 |
| E Spring St | 16 |
| SR-111S | 13 |
| S Jefferson Ave | 13 |
| S Willow Ave | 10 |
| Monterey Hwy | 7 |
| E 10Th St | 7 |
ZIP 38501 at a glance
| Population | 42,471 |
| Density | 188 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $52,145 |
| Median home value | $283,963 |
| Home ownership | 49% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Putnam 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 | — | 1.6 |
| 2000s | 35 | +46% | 1.3 |
| 2010s | 54 | +52% | 1.1 |
| 2020s | 82 | +53% | 3.0 |
In the 1990s about 24 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 82. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal large-truck crashes: 2.2 a year in 2016–19, 3.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 38501
How common are truck crashes in ZIP 38501?
878 truck crashes have been reported in Putnam County since 2015, with 36 deaths and 421 injuries.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in ZIP 38501?
I-40 had 7 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of ZIP 38501 since 2015, more than any other road.
When do most truck crashes happen in ZIP 38501?
July has the most truck crashes in Putnam County, 10.6% of the yearly total.
Are garbage truck crashes common in ZIP 38501?
10 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Putnam County since 2015, 1.1% of all truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in ZIP 38501 compared with Tennessee?
Putnam County records 86.2 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 60.1 across Tennessee.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in ZIP 38501?
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.