Gulf, NC truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Gulf: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Gulf and Chatham County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Chatham County numbers.
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).
The headline for Chatham County: 2.7% on snowy, slushy or icy roads, against 1.7% across North Carolina.
Overview
Chatham County has recorded 685 truck crashes since 2015, with 373 people injured and 10 killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 6 days in fully reported years.
With 0 truck crashes reported in Gulf since 2015, this page uses Chatham County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
October has the most truck crashes, 10.2% of the yearly total, while May has the fewest (6.9%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 42.6% of truck crashes, vs 41.0% for North Carolina.
More truck crashes happen at 8–9 am than at any other hour (9.1%).
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 2.7% of truck crashes, compared with 1.7% in North Carolina.
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks within 10 miles of Gulf is US-421, with 5 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. After it: US-1 (2), Mciver St (1) and SR-42 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 10 crashes, 1.5% of the total, against 2.6% across North Carolina.
Route planning tips for Gulf fleets
- Build extra time into October routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Where you can, review stops along US-421; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- Morning starts matter: 28.4% of truck crashes fall between 6 and 10 am, higher than North Carolina.
- With 2.7% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above North Carolina), plan winter equipment checks early.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
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.
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 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-421 | 5 |
| US-1 | 2 |
| Mciver St | 1 |
| SR-42 | 1 |
| Ssr-1318 Steel Bridge Rd | 1 |
| US-15 | 1 |
| US-241 | 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 |
Gulf at a glance
| Land area | 0.9 sq mi |
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 |
In the 1990s about 34 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 52. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal large-truck crashes: 0.5 a year in 2016–19, 1.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Gulf
How common are truck crashes in Gulf?
685 truck crashes have been reported in Chatham County since 2015, with 10 deaths and 373 injuries.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in Gulf?
Since 2015, US-421 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Gulf: 5.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Gulf?
Truck crashes in Chatham County peak in October, with 10.2% of the year's crashes.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Gulf?
10 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Chatham County since 2015, 1.5% of all truck crashes.
How does Gulf compare with North Carolina for truck crashes?
Chatham County records 69.2 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 61.3 across North Carolina.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Gulf?
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.