Earl, NC truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Earl: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Earl and Cleveland County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Cleveland County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
16 of 962 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Cleveland County compares with North Carolina
Cleveland County against North Carolina and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Cleveland County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Cleveland County | North Carolina | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 79.9 | 61.3 | 49.7 | 1.3× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.0 | 2.5 | 3.4 | 1.2× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.70 | 0.66 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.7% | 2.6% | 2.3% | 35% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 2.1% | 1.7% | 6.2% | 1.2× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 21.6% | 24.0% | 23.7% | 10% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 10.7% | 10.5% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 42.4% | 41.0% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 24.1% | 20.4% | 24.8% | 1.2× the state |
Cleveland County sits below North Carolina on garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am). It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and on snow, slush or ice.
The headline for Earl: I-85 deadliest road: 10 fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of Earl since 2015.
Overview
Since 2015, 962 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Cleveland County. They injured 679 people and killed 27.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 4 days.
Only 9 truck crashes were reported in Earl since 2015; patterns below come from Cleveland County as a whole.
When crashes happen
The worst month is August with 10.7% of truck crashes; the quietest is March at 7.0%.
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 42.4% of truck crashes, vs 41.0% for North Carolina.
By time of day, 1–2 pm stands out with 8.1% of truck crashes.
2.1% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 1.7% across North Carolina.
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks within 10 miles of Earl is I-85, with 10 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. Next come US-74 (4), SR-150 (2) and SR-18 (2).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 16 crashes, 1.7% of the total, against 2.6% across North Carolina.
Route planning tips for Earl fleets
- Build extra time into August routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Where you can, review stops along I-85; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- With 2.1% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above North Carolina), plan winter equipment checks early.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
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 Cleveland County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-85 | 10 |
| US-74 | 4 |
| SR-150 | 2 |
| SR-18 | 2 |
| SR-198 | 2 |
| Casey Martin Dr | 1 |
| Dixon Blvd | 1 |
| SR-180 | 1 |
| SR-35 | 1 |
| SR-5 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Cleveland County) |
|---|---|
| E Dixon Blvd | 65 |
| W Dixon Blvd | 31 |
| S Dekalb St | 10 |
| E Dixon Bvd | 9 |
| E Marion St | 9 |
| N Post Rd | 8 |
| Fallston Rd | 5 |
| Cherryville Rd | 4 |
Earl at a glance
| Population | 208 |
| Land area | 0.9 sq mi |
| Density | 242 per sq mi |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Cleveland 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 | — | 2.0 |
| 2000s | 53 | -1% | 1.6 |
| 2010s | 77 | +47% | 1.5 |
| 2020s | 74 | -4% | 3.0 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 53 a year in the 1990s and 74 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 2.0 a year in 2016–19 and 3.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Earl
How common are truck crashes in Earl?
Since 2015, 962 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Cleveland County (679 injured, 27 killed).
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in Earl?
NHTSA data shows I-85 with 10 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Earl since 2015, the highest of any road.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Earl?
August has the most truck crashes in Cleveland County, 10.7% of the yearly total.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Earl?
Garbage trucks were involved in 16 reported crashes in Cleveland County since 2015 (1.7% of truck crashes).
What is the truck crash rate in Earl compared with North Carolina?
The yearly rate is 79.9 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Cleveland County, vs 61.3 for North Carolina.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Earl?
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.