Valdese, NC truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Valdese: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Valdese 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 |
Compared with North Carolina, Burke County is lower on 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.
The headline for Valdese: I-40 8 fatal truck crashes since 2015, more than any other road within 10 miles of Valdese.
Overview
Burke County has recorded 652 truck crashes since 2015, with 400 people injured and 14 killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 6 days.
With 68 truck crashes reported in Valdese since 2015, this page uses Burke County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in October (11.7% of the year) and are lowest in April (5.1%).
November through March accounts for 39.0% of truck crashes here, compared with 41.0% in 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
Within this area, I-40 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (8). It is followed by Ssr-1933 Southwest Blvd (2), US-64 (2) and SR-1159 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 16 crashes, 2.5% of the total, against 2.6% across North Carolina.
Route planning tips for Valdese fleets
- Review driver schedules for October, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Where you can, review stops along I-40; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- With 1.9% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above North Carolina), plan winter equipment checks early.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
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 Burke County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-40 | 8 |
| Ssr-1933 Southwest Blvd | 2 |
| US-64 | 2 |
| SR-1159 | 1 |
| SR-18 | 1 |
| Ssr-1001 Connelly Springs Rd | 1 |
| Ssr-1145 Virginia St | 1 |
| Ssr-1404 Beecher Anderson Rd | 1 |
| Ssr-1786 Miller Bridge Rd | 1 |
| US-321 | 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 |
Valdese at a glance
| Population | 4,713 |
| Land area | 7.9 sq mi |
| Density | 600 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 28690) | $67,000 |
| Median home value (ZIP 28690) | $202,312 |
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 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 40 a year in the 1990s and 50 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal large-truck crashes: 2.0 a year in 2016–19, 1.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Valdese
How common are truck crashes in Valdese?
Burke County has had 652 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 400 people and killing 14.
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in Valdese?
Since 2015, I-40 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Valdese: 8.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Valdese?
Truck crashes in Burke County peak in October, with 11.7% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Valdese?
16 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Burke County since 2015, 2.5% of all truck crashes.
How does Valdese 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.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Valdese?
The free Route Planner takes your stops and returns a route risk score, safer alternatives and low-bridge warnings.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.