Burlington, NC truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Burlington: 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
10 of 522 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Burlington compares with North Carolina
Burlington against North Carolina and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Burlington stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Burlington | North Carolina | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 74.5 | 61.3 | 49.7 | 1.2× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 0.8 | 2.5 | 3.4 | 68% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.68 | 0.66 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.8% | 2.6% | 2.3% | 31% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 2.6% | 1.7% | 6.2% | 1.5× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 22.7% | 24.0% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 12.1% | 10.5% | 13.8% | 1.2× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 34.4% | 41.0% | 41.9% | 16% below the state |
| After dark | 22.9% | 20.4% | 24.8% | 1.1× the state |
Burlington sits below North Carolina on deaths per 100 crashes, garbage-truck share and winter months (nov–mar). Where it is higher: crashes per 100k residents / yr, on snow, slush or ice and in rain, sleet or snow.
The headline for Burlington: 2.6% on snowy, slushy or icy roads, against 1.7% across North Carolina.
Overview
Since 2015, 522 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Burlington. They injured 355 people and killed 4.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 8 days.
When crashes happen
The worst month is September with 12.6% of truck crashes; the quietest is March at 5.9%.
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 34.4% of truck crashes, vs 41.0% for North Carolina.
More truck crashes happen at 2–3 pm than at any other hour (8.2%).
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 2.6% of truck crashes, compared with 1.7% in North Carolina.
Where crashes happen
I-40 leads within 10 miles of Burlington with 6 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. After it: I-85 (4), SR-49 (2) and SR-54 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 10 crashes, 1.9% of the total, against 2.6% across North Carolina.
Route planning tips for Burlington fleets
- Plan September schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Burlington.
- Look at alternatives to I-40 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- 2.6% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice, above North Carolina; plan winter equipment checks before the season.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
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 Burlington
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-40 | 6 |
| I-85 | 4 |
| SR-49 | 2 |
| SR-54 | 1 |
| Ssr-1928 Jimmie Kerr Rd | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Burlington) |
|---|---|
| S Mebane St | 11 |
| Huffman Mill Rd | 10 |
| S Nc 61 Hwy | 5 |
| University Dr | 4 |
| Maple Ave | 4 |
| Tucker St | 3 |
| Plantation Dr | 3 |
| Mebane St | 3 |
Burlington at a glance
| Population | 61,365 |
| Land area | 30.8 sq mi |
| Density | 1,993 per sq mi |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Burlington 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 | 18 | — | 1.7 |
| 2000s | 34 | +97% | 1.6 |
| 2010s | 49 | +41% | 1.0 |
| 2020s | 41 | -15% | 2.2 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 18 to 41. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal large-truck crashes: 1.2 a year in 2016–19, 2.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Burlington
How many truck accidents are there in Burlington?
522 truck crashes have been reported in Burlington since 2015, with 4 deaths and 355 injuries.
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in Burlington?
I-40 had 6 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Burlington since 2015, more than any other road.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Burlington?
Truck crashes in Burlington peak in September, with 12.6% of the year's crashes.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Burlington?
10 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Burlington since 2015, 1.9% of all truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in Burlington compared with North Carolina?
Per 100,000 residents, Burlington has 74.5 truck crashes a year; North Carolina has 61.3.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Burlington?
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.