ZIP 38548 (Buffalo Valley, TN) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 38548: 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 has lower values than Tennessee for 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% of truck crashes happened on snow, slush or ice, vs 2.3% in Tennessee.
Overview
Putnam County has recorded 878 truck crashes since 2015, with 421 people injured and 36 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.
More truck crashes happen at 3–4 pm than at any other hour (8.8%).
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 3.9% of truck crashes, compared with 2.3% in Tennessee.
Where crashes happen
I-40 leads within 10 miles of ZIP 38548 with 11 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 10 of the truck crashes here, or 1.1%, compared with 1.9% in Tennessee.
Route planning tips for ZIP 38548 fleets
- Review driver schedules for July, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Look at alternatives to I-40 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- With 3.9% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above Tennessee), plan winter equipment 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 Putnam County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-40 | 11 |
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 38548 at a glance
| Population | 1,154 |
| Density | 16 per sq mi |
| Median home value | $260,538 |
| Home ownership | 93% |
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 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 24 to 82. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. 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 38548
How many truck crashes happen in ZIP 38548?
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 38548?
Since 2015, I-40 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 38548: 11.
When do most truck crashes happen in ZIP 38548?
The worst month is July: 10.6% of truck crashes in Putnam County happen then.
Are garbage truck crashes common in ZIP 38548?
Since 2015, Putnam County has reported 10 garbage-truck crashes, or 1.1% of its truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in ZIP 38548 compare with Tennessee?
Per 100,000 residents, Putnam County has 86.2 truck crashes a year; Tennessee has 60.1.
How can I plan a safer truck route in ZIP 38548?
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.