Whittier, NC truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Whittier: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Whittier and Jackson County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Jackson County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
3 of 263 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Jackson County compares with North Carolina
Jackson County against North Carolina and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Jackson County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Jackson County | North Carolina | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 49.8 | 61.3 | 49.7 | 19% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 4.0 | 2.5 | 3.4 | 1.6× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.51 | 0.66 | 0.49 | 23% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.2% | 2.6% | 2.3% | 53% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 1.6% | 1.7% | 6.2% | same |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 28.2% | 24.0% | 23.7% | 1.2× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 16.5% | 10.5% | 13.8% | 1.6× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 33.9% | 41.0% | 41.9% | 17% below the state |
| After dark | 14.9% | 20.4% | 24.8% | 27% below the state |
Compared with North Carolina, Jackson County is lower on crashes per 100k residents / yr, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share. It stands out for higher deaths per 100 crashes, morning rush (6–10 am) and in rain, sleet or snow.
What stands out in Jackson County: 16.5% in rain, sleet or snow, against 10.5% across North Carolina.
Overview
Since 2015, 263 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Jackson County. They injured 136 people and killed 10.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 16 days.
With 1 truck crash reported in Whittier since 2015, this page uses Jackson County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
August has the most truck crashes, 12.2% of the yearly total, while March has the fewest (5.7%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 33.9% of truck crashes, against 41.0% across North Carolina.
The busiest hour is 9–10 am, with 9.5% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 1.6% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (North Carolina: 1.7%).
Where crashes happen
Roads with fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Whittier since 2015: US-23 (1), US-441 (1) and US-74 (1). No single road stands out.
Garbage & waste trucks
3 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 1.1% share (North Carolina: 2.6%).
Route planning tips for Whittier fleets
- Review driver schedules for August, the month with the most truck crashes.
- The morning rush (6–10 am) holds 28.2% of truck crashes here, more than North Carolina; adjust start times where you can.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
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 Jackson County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-23 | 1 |
| US-441 | 1 |
| US-74 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Jackson County) |
|---|---|
| Andy Shaw Ford | 1 |
| Blanton Branch Rd | 1 |
| Buckberry Dr South | 1 |
| Cedar Creek Club | 1 |
| Central Dr | 1 |
| Cope Creek | 1 |
| E Sylva Shopping Ctr | 1 |
| First Presbyt Church | 1 |
Whittier at a glance
| Land area | 0.2 sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 28789) | $51,713 |
| Median home value (ZIP 28789) | $226,222 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Jackson 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 | 5 | — | 0.4 |
| 2000s | 19 | +248% | 0.3 |
| 2010s | 23 | +20% | 0.4 |
| 2020s | 20 | -14% | 1.0 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 5 a year in the 1990s and 20 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal large-truck crashes: 0.5 a year in 2016–19, 1.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Whittier
How many truck accidents are there in Whittier?
Since 2015, 263 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Jackson County (136 injured, 10 killed).
When do most truck crashes happen in Whittier?
August has the most truck crashes in Jackson County, 12.2% of the yearly total.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Whittier?
Since 2015, Jackson County has reported 3 garbage-truck crashes, or 1.1% of its truck crashes.
How does Whittier compare with North Carolina for truck crashes?
Jackson County records 49.8 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 61.3 across North Carolina.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Whittier?
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.