Salem, NC truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Salem: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Salem and Burke County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Burke County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
16 of 652 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Burke County compares with North Carolina
Burke County against North Carolina and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Burke County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Burke County | North Carolina | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 64.3 | 61.3 | 49.7 | same |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.2 | 2.5 | 3.4 | 12% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.61 | 0.66 | 0.49 | 8% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.6% | 2.6% | 2.3% | same |
| On snow, slush or ice | 1.9% | 1.7% | 6.2% | 1.1× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 20.9% | 24.0% | 23.7% | 13% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 12.8% | 10.5% | 13.8% | 1.2× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 39.0% | 41.0% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 21.1% | 20.4% | 24.8% | same |
Burke County has lower values than North Carolina for deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and morning rush (6–10 am). Where it is higher: on snow, slush or ice and in rain, sleet or snow.
What stands out in Salem: US-64 4 fatal truck crashes since 2015, more than any other road within 10 miles of Salem.
Overview
Since 2015, 652 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Burke County. They injured 400 people and killed 14.
That averages about one truck crash every 6 days in fully reported years.
Only 0 truck crashes were reported in Salem since 2015; patterns below come from Burke County as a whole.
When crashes happen
The worst month is October with 11.7% of truck crashes; the quietest is April at 5.1%.
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 39.0% of truck crashes, vs 41.0% for North Carolina.
More truck crashes happen at 3–4 pm than at any other hour (9.8%).
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 1.9% of truck crashes, compared with 1.7% in North Carolina.
Where crashes happen
US-64 leads within 10 miles of Salem with 4 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. It is followed by I-40 (3) and SR-18 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
16 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 2.5% share (North Carolina: 2.6%).
Route planning tips for Salem fleets
- Review driver schedules for October, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Where you can, review stops along US-64; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- 1.9% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice, above North Carolina; 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
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 Burke County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-64 | 4 |
| I-40 | 3 |
| SR-18 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Burke County) |
|---|---|
| Burkemont Ave | 11 |
| W Fleming Dr | 10 |
| Sanford Dr | 8 |
| S Sterling St | 7 |
| N Green St | 7 |
| Main St | 7 |
| Kirksey Dr | 5 |
| Carbon City Rd | 4 |
Salem at a glance
| Land area | 4.3 sq mi |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Burke 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 | 40 | — | 2.7 |
| 2000s | 47 | +17% | 1.5 |
| 2010s | 54 | +15% | 1.2 |
| 2020s | 50 | -8% | 1.0 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 40 to 50. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. NHTSA counts 2.0 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 1.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Salem
How many truck accidents are there in Salem?
Burke County has had 652 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 400 people and killing 14.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in Salem?
Since 2015, US-64 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Salem: 4.
When do most truck crashes happen in Salem?
The worst month is October: 11.7% of truck crashes in Burke County happen then.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Salem?
Since 2015, Burke County has reported 16 garbage-truck crashes, or 2.5% of its truck crashes.
How does Salem compare with North Carolina for truck crashes?
Per 100,000 residents, Burke County has 64.3 truck crashes a year; North Carolina has 61.3.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Salem?
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.