Johnston County, NC truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Johnston 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
3.1 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 3.7 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Johnston County compares with North Carolina
Johnston County against North Carolina and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Johnston County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Johnston County | North Carolina | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 65.0 | 61.3 | 49.7 | same |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.7 | 2.5 | 3.4 | 1.5× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.71 | 0.66 | 0.49 | 1.1× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.8% | 2.6% | 2.3% | 31% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 1.8% | 1.7% | 6.2% | same |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 24.2% | 24.0% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 8.8% | 10.5% | 13.8% | 16% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 40.5% | 41.0% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 21.5% | 20.4% | 24.8% | same |
Johnston County sits below North Carolina on garbage-truck share and in rain, sleet or snow. It stands out for higher deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash.
Johnston County at a glance: I-95 most fatal truck crashes in Johnston County: 15 since 2015.
Overview
Since 2015, 1,874 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Johnston County. They injured 1,328 people and killed 73.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 2 days.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in June (9.7% of the year) and are lowest in January (6.7%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 40.5% of truck crashes, against 41.0% across North Carolina.
By time of day, 2–3 pm stands out with 8.3% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 1.8% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (North Carolina: 1.7%).
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks in Johnston County is I-95, with 15 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. After it: I-40 (7), US-70 (6) and SR-39 (2).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 34 crashes, 1.8% of the total, against 2.6% across North Carolina.
The most garbage-truck crashes happen in August (18%).
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 3.1, vs 3.7 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for Johnston County fleets
- Plan June schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Johnston County.
- Where you can, review stops along I-95; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- Waste haulers: August is the peak month for garbage-truck crashes in Johnston County.
- 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 Johnston County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Johnston County) |
|---|---|
| I-95 | 15 |
| I-40 | 7 |
| US-70 | 6 |
| SR-39 | 2 |
| US-301 | 2 |
| SR-1538 | 1 |
| SR-231 | 1 |
| SR-242 | 1 |
| SR-42 | 1 |
| Ssr-1003 Buffalo Rd | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Johnston County) |
|---|---|
| Buffalo Rd | 9 |
| Shotwell Rd | 9 |
| US-70 | 7 |
| Clayton Blvd | 3 |
| Covered Bridge Rd | 3 |
| N Brightleaf Blvd | 3 |
| W Market St | 3 |
| Amelia Church Rd | 2 |
Johnston County at a glance
| Population | 249,794 |
| Land area | 792.0 sq mi |
| Density | 315 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $82,277 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Johnston 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 | 74 | — | 5.1 |
| 2000s | 109 | +46% | 4.5 |
| 2010s | 125 | +15% | 2.6 |
| 2020s | 170 | +35% | 5.2 |
In the 1990s about 74 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 170. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. NHTSA counts 4.2 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 5.2 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in Johnston County
ZIP codes in Johnston County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Johnston County
How common are truck crashes in Johnston County?
1,874 truck crashes have been reported in Johnston County since 2015, with 73 deaths and 1,328 injuries.
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in Johnston County?
NHTSA data shows I-95 with 15 fatal large-truck crashes in Johnston County since 2015, the highest of any road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Johnston County?
Truck crashes in Johnston County peak in June, with 9.7% of the year's crashes.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Johnston County?
Since 2015, Johnston County has reported 34 garbage-truck crashes, or 1.8% of its truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in Johnston County compared with North Carolina?
Johnston County records 65.0 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 61.3 across North Carolina.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Johnston 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.