Hillsborough, NC truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Hillsborough: 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
4 of 714 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Hillsborough compares with North Carolina
Hillsborough against North Carolina and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Hillsborough stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Hillsborough | North Carolina | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 613.9 | 61.3 | 49.7 | 10.0× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.0 | 2.5 | 3.4 | 20% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.58 | 0.66 | 0.49 | 12% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.4% | 2.6% | 2.3% | 83% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 5.9% | 1.7% | 6.2% | 3.4× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 25.6% | 24.0% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 13.2% | 10.5% | 13.8% | 1.3× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 44.7% | 41.0% | 41.9% | 1.1× the state |
| After dark | 27.4% | 20.4% | 24.8% | 1.3× the state |
Hillsborough has lower values than North Carolina for deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share. It runs above North Carolina on crashes per 100k residents / yr, on snow, slush or ice and in rain, sleet or snow.
The headline for Hillsborough: 5.9% on snowy, slushy or icy roads, against 1.7% across North Carolina.
Overview
Hillsborough has recorded 714 truck crashes since 2015, with 420 people injured and 13 killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 6 days.
When crashes happen
The worst month is February with 10.9% of truck crashes; the quietest is December at 6.0%.
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 44.7% of truck crashes, vs 41.0% for North Carolina.
By time of day, 8–9 am stands out with 7.4% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 5.9% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (North Carolina: 1.7%).
Where crashes happen
I-85 leads within 10 miles of Hillsborough with 4 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. It is followed by I-40 (2), SR-86 (2) and US-501 (2).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 4 crashes, 0.6% of the total, against 2.6% across North Carolina.
Route planning tips for Hillsborough fleets
- Plan February schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Hillsborough.
- Where you can, review stops along I-85; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 5.9% of truck crashes here, more than North Carolina; schedule winter checks early.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
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 Hillsborough
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-85 | 4 |
| I-40 | 2 |
| SR-86 | 2 |
| US-501 | 2 |
| US-70 | 2 |
| None | 1 |
| SR-1177 | 1 |
| SR-157 | 1 |
| SR-57 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Hillsborough) |
|---|---|
| S Churton St | 3 |
| Cornelius St | 3 |
| N Churton St | 2 |
| North Churton | 1 |
| North Churton Street | 1 |
| S Cameron St | 1 |
| W King | 1 |
| Churton St | 1 |
Hillsborough at a glance
| Population | 9,773 |
| Land area | 5.8 sq mi |
| Density | 1,696 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 27278) | $105,887 |
| Median home value (ZIP 27278) | $413,634 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Hillsborough 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 | 24 | — | 1.7 |
| 2000s | 28 | +20% | 1.1 |
| 2010s | 47 | +66% | 1.2 |
| 2020s | 63 | +34% | 2.0 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 24 to 63. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 1.5 a year in 2016–19 and 2.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Hillsborough
How many truck crashes happen in Hillsborough?
714 truck crashes have been reported in Hillsborough since 2015, with 13 deaths and 420 injuries.
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in Hillsborough?
NHTSA data shows I-85 with 4 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Hillsborough since 2015, the highest of any road.
When do most truck crashes happen in Hillsborough?
Truck crashes in Hillsborough peak in February, with 10.9% of the year's crashes.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Hillsborough?
4 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Hillsborough since 2015, 0.6% of all truck crashes.
How does Hillsborough compare with North Carolina for truck crashes?
Hillsborough records 613.9 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 61.3 across North Carolina.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Hillsborough?
The free Route Planner takes your stops and returns a route risk score, safer alternatives and low-bridge warnings.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.