Polkville, NC truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Polkville: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Polkville 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 has lower values than North Carolina for garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am). Where it is higher: crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and on snow, slush or ice.
What stands out in Polkville: US-74 deadliest road: 3 fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of Polkville since 2015.
Overview
Cleveland County has recorded 962 truck crashes since 2015, with 679 people injured and 27 killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 4 days.
With 19 truck crashes reported in Polkville since 2015, this page uses Cleveland County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in August (10.7% of the year) and are lowest in March (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
US-74 leads within 10 miles of Polkville with 3 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. Next come SR-182 (1), Ssr-1351 New House Rd (1) and Ssr-1352 Crower Ridge Rd (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 16 of the truck crashes here, or 1.7%, compared with 2.6% in North Carolina.
Route planning tips for Polkville fleets
- Plan August schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Cleveland County.
- Where you can, review stops along US-74; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- 2.1% 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
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 Cleveland County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-74 | 3 |
| SR-182 | 1 |
| Ssr-1351 New House Rd | 1 |
| Ssr-1352 Crower Ridge Rd | 1 |
| Ssr-1533 Moriah School Rd | 1 |
| Ssr-1643 Belwood-Lawndale Rd | 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 |
Polkville at a glance
| Population | 524 |
| Land area | 1.9 sq mi |
| Density | 281 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 28136) | $83,304 |
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 |
In the 1990s about 53 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 74. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. 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 Polkville
How many truck crashes happen in Polkville?
Cleveland County has had 962 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 679 people and killing 27.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Polkville?
NHTSA data shows US-74 with 3 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Polkville since 2015, the highest of any road.
When do most truck crashes happen in Polkville?
Truck crashes in Cleveland County peak in August, with 10.7% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Polkville?
Garbage trucks were involved in 16 reported crashes in Cleveland County since 2015 (1.7% of truck crashes).
How does Polkville compare with North Carolina for truck crashes?
Per 100,000 residents, Cleveland County has 79.9 truck crashes a year; North Carolina has 61.3.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Polkville?
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.