Cabarrus County, NC truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Cabarrus County: 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
1.7 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 1.2 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Cabarrus County compares with North Carolina
Cabarrus County against North Carolina and the US, 2015–2024 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Cabarrus County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2024) | Cabarrus County | North Carolina | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 69.5 | 61.3 | 49.7 | 1.1× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 1.2 | 2.5 | 3.4 | 52% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.67 | 0.66 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 3.5% | 2.6% | 2.3% | 1.3× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 0.9% | 1.7% | 6.2% | 45% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 23.5% | 24.0% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 9.9% | 10.5% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 39.2% | 41.0% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 18.9% | 20.4% | 24.8% | 7% below the state |
Cabarrus County sits below North Carolina on deaths per 100 crashes, on snow, slush or ice and after dark. It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr and garbage-truck share.
Cabarrus County at a glance: I-85 7 fatal truck crashes since 2015, more than any other road in Cabarrus County.
Overview
Police reported 1,874 crashes involving commercial trucks in Cabarrus County since 2015: 1,259 people were injured and 22 were killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 2 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
March has the most truck crashes, 10.2% of the yearly total, while April has the fewest (6.4%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 39.2% of truck crashes, vs 41.0% for North Carolina.
By time of day, 2–3 pm stands out with 7.6% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 0.9% of truck crashes, compared with 1.7% in North Carolina.
Where crashes happen
I-85 leads in Cabarrus County with 7 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. Next come US-601 (4), None - Parking Lot (1) and SR-24 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 61 of the truck crashes here, or 3.3%, compared with 2.6% in North Carolina.
Their busiest month is May, with 13% of garbage-truck crashes.
They recorded 1.7 deaths per 100 crashes, against 1.2 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for Cabarrus County fleets
- Plan March schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Cabarrus County.
- Where you can, review stops along I-85; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in May; review collection routes for that month.
- 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.
Reporting was incomplete in 2025, so those years are greyed out and left out of rates and comparisons.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Cabarrus County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Cabarrus County) |
|---|---|
| I-85 | 7 |
| US-601 | 4 |
| None - Parking Lot | 1 |
| SR-24 | 1 |
| SR-3 | 1 |
| SR-73 | 1 |
| Ssr-1002 | 1 |
| Ssr-1139 | 1 |
| Ssr-1430 George W Liles Pkwy | 1 |
| Ssr-2114 Centergrove Rd | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Cabarrus County) |
|---|---|
| Concord Pkwy | 63 |
| Poplar Tent Rd | 50 |
| Davidson Hwy | 30 |
| Warren C Coleman Blvd | 20 |
| S Cannon Blvd | 18 |
| Derita Rd | 15 |
| Kannapolis Pkwy | 12 |
| Odell School Rd | 11 |
Cabarrus County at a glance
| Population | 244,925 |
| Land area | 361.2 sq mi |
| Density | 678 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $88,432 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Cabarrus 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 | 53 | — | 2.5 |
| 2000s | 95 | +81% | 2.7 |
| 2010s | 154 | +62% | 2.1 |
| 2020s | 143 | -7% | 1.8 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 53 to 143. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 2.5 a year in 2016–19 and 1.8 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in Cabarrus County
ZIP codes in Cabarrus County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Cabarrus County
How many truck accidents are there in Cabarrus County?
Since 2015, 1,874 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Cabarrus County (1,259 injured, 22 killed).
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in Cabarrus County?
NHTSA data shows I-85 with 7 fatal large-truck crashes in Cabarrus County since 2015, the highest of any road.
When do most truck crashes happen in Cabarrus County?
The worst month is March: 10.2% of truck crashes in Cabarrus County happen then.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Cabarrus County?
Since 2015, Cabarrus County has reported 61 garbage-truck crashes, or 3.3% of its truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in Cabarrus County compare with North Carolina?
Per 100,000 residents, Cabarrus County has 69.5 truck crashes a year; North Carolina has 61.3.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Cabarrus County?
Use the free Route Planner: enter your stops to get a risk score, safer alternatives and the low bridges on your route.
Crash reporting to FMCSA was incomplete in 2025; those years are greyed out and left out of rates. 2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.