Gaston County, NC truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Gaston 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
1.7 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 1.8 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Gaston County compares with North Carolina
Gaston County against North Carolina and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Gaston County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Gaston County | North Carolina | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 73.6 | 61.3 | 49.7 | 1.2× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 1.8 | 2.5 | 3.4 | 28% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.70 | 0.66 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 3.0% | 2.6% | 2.3% | 1.2× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 1.1% | 1.7% | 6.2% | 38% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 25.0% | 24.0% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 13.3% | 10.5% | 13.8% | 1.3× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 40.0% | 41.0% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 22.8% | 20.4% | 24.8% | 1.1× the state |
Compared with North Carolina, Gaston County is lower on deaths per 100 crashes and on snow, slush or ice. Where it is higher: crashes per 100k residents / yr, garbage-truck share and in rain, sleet or snow.
Gaston County at a glance: I-85 deadliest road: 12 fatal truck crashes in Gaston County since 2015.
Overview
Police reported 2,086 crashes involving commercial trucks in Gaston County since 2015: 1,440 people were injured and 38 were killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 2 days.
When crashes happen
March has the most truck crashes, 9.4% of the yearly total, while December has the fewest (7.2%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 40.0% of truck crashes, vs 41.0% for North Carolina.
The busiest hour is 3–4 pm, with 7.5% of truck crashes.
1.1% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 1.7% across North Carolina.
Where crashes happen
I-85 leads in Gaston County with 12 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. After it: US-321 (3), SR-273 (2) and US-74 (2).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 61 of the truck crashes here, or 2.9%, compared with 2.6% in North Carolina.
Garbage-truck crashes peak in November (18% of them).
Per 100 crashes, garbage trucks recorded 1.7 deaths compared with 1.8 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for Gaston County fleets
- Plan March schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Gaston County.
- Look at alternatives to I-85 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in November; review collection routes for that month.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
About the data
Sources: the FMCSA crash file for all reported truck crashes and NHTSA FARS for fatal crashes with a large truck. Every statement here comes straight from those numbers.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Gaston County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Gaston County) |
|---|---|
| I-85 | 12 |
| US-321 | 3 |
| SR-273 | 2 |
| US-74 | 2 |
| Brownstone Ct | 1 |
| N Chester St | 1 |
| SR-274 | 1 |
| SR-275 | 1 |
| SR-279 | 1 |
| SR-7 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Gaston County) |
|---|---|
| N Chester St | 60 |
| E Franklin Blvd | 34 |
| W Franklin Blvd | 16 |
| S York Rd | 16 |
| Bessemer City Rd | 16 |
| Gastonia Dallas Hwy | 16 |
| N New Hope Rd | 15 |
| S New Hope Rd | 15 |
Gaston County at a glance
| Population | 242,010 |
| Land area | 355.8 sq mi |
| Density | 680 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $69,403 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Gaston 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 | 91 | — | 3.0 |
| 2000s | 118 | +30% | 2.4 |
| 2010s | 151 | +28% | 2.7 |
| 2020s | 178 | +18% | 3.0 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 91 to 178. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. NHTSA counts 3.8 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 3.0 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in Gaston County
ZIP codes in Gaston County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Gaston County
How many truck crashes happen in Gaston County?
2,086 truck crashes have been reported in Gaston County since 2015, with 38 deaths and 1,440 injuries.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Gaston County?
Since 2015, I-85 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes in Gaston County: 12.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Gaston County?
March has the most truck crashes in Gaston County, 9.4% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Gaston County?
Garbage trucks were involved in 61 reported crashes in Gaston County since 2015 (2.9% of truck crashes).
How does Gaston County compare with North Carolina for truck crashes?
Per 100,000 residents, Gaston County has 73.6 truck crashes a year; North Carolina has 61.3.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Gaston County?
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.