Bethlehem, NC truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Bethlehem: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Bethlehem and Catawba County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Catawba County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
0.0 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 1.9 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Catawba County compares with North Carolina
Catawba County against North Carolina and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Catawba County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Catawba County | North Carolina | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 73.7 | 61.3 | 49.7 | 1.2× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 1.9 | 2.5 | 3.4 | 24% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.59 | 0.66 | 0.49 | 11% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 3.6% | 2.6% | 2.3% | 1.4× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 1.9% | 1.7% | 6.2% | 1.1× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 24.3% | 24.0% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 10.9% | 10.5% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 42.5% | 41.0% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 17.1% | 20.4% | 24.8% | 16% below the state |
Compared with North Carolina, Catawba County is lower on deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and after dark. It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr, garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice.
What stands out in Bethlehem: US-64 3 fatal truck crashes since 2015, more than any other road within 10 miles of Bethlehem.
Overview
Police reported 1,434 crashes involving commercial trucks in Catawba County since 2015: 844 people were injured and 27 were killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 3 days.
Only 0 truck crashes were reported in Bethlehem since 2015; patterns below come from Catawba County as a whole.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in November (9.1% of the year) and are lowest in December (7.5%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 42.5% of truck crashes, against 41.0% across North Carolina.
The busiest hour is 1–2 pm, with 8.0% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 1.9% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (North Carolina: 1.7%).
Where crashes happen
US-64 leads within 10 miles of Bethlehem with 3 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. It is followed by I-40 (2), SR-1400 (2) and US-321 (2).
Garbage & waste trucks
53 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 3.7% share (North Carolina: 2.6%).
Their busiest month is July, with 13% of garbage-truck crashes.
Per 100 crashes, garbage trucks recorded 0.0 deaths compared with 1.9 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for Bethlehem fleets
- Plan November schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Catawba County.
- Check whether your routes use US-64, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in July; review collection routes for that month.
- 1.9% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice, above North Carolina; plan winter equipment checks before the season.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
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 Catawba County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-64 | 3 |
| I-40 | 2 |
| SR-1400 | 2 |
| US-321 | 2 |
| 9th Ave | 1 |
| SR-127 | 1 |
| Ssr-1005 Mcdonald Pkwy Ne | 1 |
| Ssr-1005 Startown Rd | 1 |
| Ssr-1128 Barrett Mountain Rd | 1 |
| Ssr-127 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Catawba County) |
|---|---|
| Rock Barn Rd Ne | 40 |
| Conover Blvd | 25 |
| Thornburg Dr Ne | 19 |
| 1St St | 15 |
| Startown Rd | 14 |
| 1St Ave Sw | 11 |
| 8Th St Dr Se | 11 |
| Mcdonald Pkwy Se | 11 |
Bethlehem at a glance
| Land area | 7.6 sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 28601) | $67,817 |
| Median home value (ZIP 28601) | $264,697 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Catawba 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 | 68 | — | 3.5 |
| 2000s | 89 | +30% | 2.0 |
| 2010s | 116 | +30% | 2.0 |
| 2020s | 111 | -4% | 2.2 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 68 to 111. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal large-truck crashes: 1.8 a year in 2016–19, 2.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Bethlehem
How many truck crashes happen in Bethlehem?
Since 2015, 1,434 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Catawba County (844 injured, 27 killed).
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in Bethlehem?
Since 2015, US-64 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Bethlehem: 3.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Bethlehem?
Truck crashes in Catawba County peak in November, with 9.1% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Bethlehem?
53 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Catawba County since 2015, 3.7% of all truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in Bethlehem compare with North Carolina?
Catawba County records 73.7 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 61.3 across North Carolina.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Bethlehem?
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.