ZIP 38506 (Cookeville, TN) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 38506: 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). It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and on snow, slush or ice.
The headline for Putnam County: 3.9% share of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (Tennessee: 2.3%).
Overview
Police reported 878 crashes involving commercial trucks in Putnam County since 2015: 421 people were injured and 36 were killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 5 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
The worst month is July with 10.6% of truck crashes; the quietest is October at 6.9%.
November through March accounts for 38.9% of truck crashes here, compared with 40.5% in Tennessee.
By time of day, 3–4 pm stands out with 8.8% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 3.9% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Tennessee: 2.3%).
Where crashes happen
Within this area, I-40 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (7). Next come SR-111 (4), Buffalo Valley Rd (1) and CR-SHIPLEY Rd (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
10 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 1.1% share (Tennessee: 1.9%).
Route planning tips for ZIP 38506 fleets
- Review driver schedules for July, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Where you can, review stops along I-40; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- 3.9% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice, above Tennessee; plan winter equipment checks before the season.
- 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 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 38506 at a glance
| Population | 30,100 |
| Density | 71 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $70,279 |
| Median home value | $288,340 |
| Home ownership | 75% |
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 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 24 a year in the 1990s and 82 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. NHTSA counts 2.2 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 3.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 38506
How many truck accidents are there in ZIP 38506?
Putnam County has had 878 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 421 people and killing 36.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in ZIP 38506?
Since 2015, I-40 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 38506: 7.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in ZIP 38506?
The worst month is July: 10.6% of truck crashes in Putnam County happen then.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in ZIP 38506?
10 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Putnam County since 2015, 1.1% of all truck crashes.
How does ZIP 38506 compare with Tennessee for truck crashes?
Putnam County records 86.2 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 60.1 across Tennessee.
How can I plan a safer truck route in ZIP 38506?
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.