Waco, NC truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Waco: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Waco 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.
Waco at a glance: US-74 most fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of Waco: 3 since 2015.
Overview
Cleveland County has recorded 962 truck crashes since 2015, with 679 people injured and 27 killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 4 days in fully reported years.
Only 10 truck crashes were reported in Waco since 2015; patterns below come from Cleveland County as a whole.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in August (10.7% of the year) and are lowest in March (7.0%).
November through March accounts for 42.4% of truck crashes here, compared with 41.0% in North Carolina.
The busiest hour is 1–2 pm, with 8.1% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 2.1% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (North Carolina: 1.7%).
Where crashes happen
US-74 leads within 10 miles of Waco with 3 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. After it: SR-182 (2), Dixon Blvd (1) and SR-216 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
16 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 1.7% share (North Carolina: 2.6%).
Route planning tips for Waco fleets
- Plan August schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Cleveland County.
- Look at alternatives to US-74 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 2.1% of truck crashes here, more than North Carolina; schedule winter 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) |
|---|---|
| US-74 | 3 |
| SR-182 | 2 |
| Dixon Blvd | 1 |
| SR-216 | 1 |
| SR-27 | 1 |
| Ssr-1622 Hephzibah Church Rd | 1 |
| Ssr-1643 Belwood-Lawndale Rd | 1 |
| Ssr-2098 W Old Nc 150 Hwy | 1 |
| Ssr-2292 | 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 |
Waco at a glance
| Population | 314 |
| Land area | 0.8 sq mi |
| Density | 375 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 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 53 to 74. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. 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 Waco
How common are truck crashes in Waco?
Cleveland County has had 962 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 679 people and killing 27.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Waco?
NHTSA data shows US-74 with 3 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Waco since 2015, the highest of any road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Waco?
August has the most truck crashes in Cleveland County, 10.7% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Waco?
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 Waco compared with North Carolina?
Cleveland County records 79.9 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 61.3 across North Carolina.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Waco?
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.