Chatham County, NC truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Chatham 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
10 of 685 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Chatham County compares with North Carolina
Chatham County against North Carolina and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Chatham County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Chatham County | North Carolina | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 69.2 | 61.3 | 49.7 | 1.1× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 1.4 | 2.5 | 3.4 | 44% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.56 | 0.66 | 0.49 | 15% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.6% | 2.6% | 2.3% | 39% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 2.7% | 1.7% | 6.2% | 1.5× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 28.4% | 24.0% | 23.7% | 1.2× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 8.0% | 10.5% | 13.8% | 24% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 42.6% | 41.0% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 18.2% | 20.4% | 24.8% | 11% below the state |
Chatham County sits below North Carolina on deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share. It runs above North Carolina on crashes per 100k residents / yr, on snow, slush or ice and morning rush (6–10 am).
Chatham County at a glance: 2.7% share of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (North Carolina: 1.7%).
Overview
Police reported 685 crashes involving commercial trucks in Chatham County since 2015: 373 people were injured and 10 were killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 6 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
The worst month is October with 10.2% of truck crashes; the quietest is May at 6.9%.
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 42.6% of truck crashes, vs 41.0% for North Carolina.
The busiest hour is 8–9 am, with 9.1% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 2.7% of truck crashes, compared with 1.7% in North Carolina.
Where crashes happen
Within this area, US-421 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (3). After it: US-64 (2), CR-1916 (1) and SR-751 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 10 of the truck crashes here, or 1.5%, compared with 2.6% in North Carolina.
Route planning tips for Chatham County fleets
- Plan October schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Chatham County.
- Where you can, review stops along US-421; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- 28.4% of truck crashes happen between 6 and 10 am, above North Carolina; consider earlier or later starts where possible.
- 2.7% 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
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 Chatham County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Chatham County) |
|---|---|
| US-421 | 3 |
| US-64 | 2 |
| CR-1916 | 1 |
| SR-751 | 1 |
| Ssr-1005 Bonlee Bennett Rd | 1 |
| Ssr-2113 S Chatham Ave Ext | 1 |
| US-15 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Chatham County) |
|---|---|
| E 11Th St | 8 |
| E Eleventh St | 5 |
| E Raleigh St | 3 |
| East Eleventh St | 3 |
| E 3Rd St | 2 |
| East Eleventh Street | 2 |
| Progress Blvd | 2 |
| S Chatham Ave | 2 |
Chatham County at a glance
| Population | 83,874 |
| Land area | 681.5 sq mi |
| Density | 123 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $108,279 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Chatham 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 | 34 | — | 3.1 |
| 2000s | 33 | -2% | 2.1 |
| 2010s | 53 | +59% | 0.6 |
| 2020s | 52 | -2% | 1.4 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 34 a year in the 1990s and 52 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 0.5 a year in 2016–19 and 1.4 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in Chatham County
ZIP codes in Chatham County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Chatham County
How common are truck crashes in Chatham County?
Since 2015, 685 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Chatham County (373 injured, 10 killed).
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in Chatham County?
Since 2015, US-421 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes in Chatham County: 3.
When do most truck crashes happen in Chatham County?
The worst month is October: 10.2% of truck crashes in Chatham County happen then.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Chatham County?
10 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Chatham County since 2015, 1.5% of all truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in Chatham County compare with North Carolina?
The yearly rate is 69.2 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Chatham County, vs 61.3 for North Carolina.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Chatham County?
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.