North Carolina truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in North Carolina: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes, 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
1.9 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 2.5 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How North Carolina compares with United States
North Carolina against United States, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where North Carolina stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | North Carolina | United States | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 61.3 | 49.7 | 1.2× the US |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.5 | 3.4 | 26% below the US |
| Injuries per crash | 0.66 | 0.49 | 1.3× the US |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.6% | 2.3% | 1.1× the US |
| On snow, slush or ice | 1.7% | 6.2% | 72% below the US |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 24.0% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 10.5% | 13.8% | 24% below the US |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 41.0% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 20.4% | 24.8% | 18% below the US |
Compared with the US, North Carolina is lower on deaths per 100 crashes, on snow, slush or ice and in rain, sleet or snow. Where it is higher: crashes per 100k residents / yr, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share.
North Carolina at a glance: I-85 deadliest road: 92 fatal truck crashes in North Carolina since 2015.
Overview
Police reported 79,527 crashes involving commercial trucks in North Carolina since 2015: 52,140 people were injured and 1,955 were killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about 19 truck crashes a day.
When crashes happen
The worst month is October with 9.0% of truck crashes; the quietest is December at 7.7%.
The five winter months (November to March) hold 41.0% of truck crashes, against 41.9% across the US.
By time of day, 1–2 pm stands out with 7.4% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 1.7% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (the US: 6.2%).
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks in North Carolina is I-85, with 92 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. Next come I-40 (76), I-95 (69) and US-64 (48).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 2,060 of the truck crashes here, or 2.6%, compared with 2.3% in the US.
The most garbage-truck crashes happen in August (10%).
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 1.9, vs 2.5 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for North Carolina fleets
- Plan October schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in North Carolina.
- Where you can, review stops along I-85; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- Waste haulers: August is the peak month for garbage-truck crashes in North Carolina.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
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 North Carolina
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in North Carolina) |
|---|---|
| I-85 | 92 |
| I-40 | 76 |
| I-95 | 69 |
| US-64 | 48 |
| US-74 | 45 |
| I-77 | 43 |
| US-70 | 39 |
| US-421 | 32 |
| SR-87 | 26 |
| SR-24 | 25 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (North Carolina) |
|---|---|
| Capital Blvd | 254 |
| Glenwood Ave | 137 |
| Brookshire Blvd | 104 |
| S Main St | 104 |
| Wilkinson Blvd | 103 |
| W Wendover Av | 102 |
| W Market St | 98 |
| N Tryon St | 89 |
North Carolina at a glance
| Population | 11,046,024 |
| Land area | 48,624.2 sq mi |
| Density | 227 per sq mi |
Historical data: truck crashes in North Carolina 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 | 2,307 | — | 171.2 |
| 2000s | 4,612 | +100% | 153.9 |
| 2010s | 6,463 | +40% | 127.8 |
| 2020s | 6,248 | -3% | 169.6 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 2,307 to 6,248. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 151.8 a year in 2016–19 and 169.6 a year in 2020–24.
Counties in North Carolina
Largest places in North Carolina
Nearby states
Questions fleets ask about North Carolina
How many truck accidents are there in North Carolina?
North Carolina has had 79,527 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 52,140 people and killing 1,955.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in North Carolina?
Since 2015, I-85 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes in North Carolina: 92.
When do most truck crashes happen in North Carolina?
October has the most truck crashes in North Carolina, 9.0% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in North Carolina?
Garbage trucks were involved in 2,060 reported crashes in North Carolina since 2015 (2.6% of truck crashes).
How does North Carolina compare with the US for truck crashes?
Per 100,000 residents, North Carolina has 61.3 truck crashes a year; the US has 49.7.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in North Carolina?
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.