Rowan County, NC truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Rowan 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
5.2 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 2.1 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Rowan County compares with North Carolina
Rowan County against North Carolina and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Rowan County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Rowan County | North Carolina | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 86.2 | 61.3 | 49.7 | 1.4× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.1 | 2.5 | 3.4 | 16% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.64 | 0.66 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 4.0% | 2.6% | 2.3% | 1.5× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 2.7% | 1.7% | 6.2% | 1.6× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 22.9% | 24.0% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 12.0% | 10.5% | 13.8% | 1.1× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 43.3% | 41.0% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 25.2% | 20.4% | 24.8% | 1.2× the state |
Rowan County sits below North Carolina on deaths per 100 crashes. It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr, garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice.
Rowan County at a glance: 2.7% of truck crashes happened on snow, slush or ice, vs 1.7% in North Carolina.
Overview
Rowan County has recorded 1,526 truck crashes since 2015, with 990 people injured and 36 killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 3 days.
When crashes happen
The worst month is May with 10.4% of truck crashes; the quietest is June at 7.5%.
November through March accounts for 43.3% of truck crashes here, compared with 41.0% in North Carolina.
By time of day, 2–3 pm stands out with 8.3% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 2.7% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (North Carolina: 1.7%).
Where crashes happen
Within this area, I-85 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (9). Next come SR-152 (4), US-601 (3) and SR-801 (2).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 61 crashes, 4.0% of the total, against 2.6% across North Carolina.
Their busiest month is May, with 18% of garbage-truck crashes.
Per 100 crashes, garbage trucks recorded 5.2 deaths compared with 2.1 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for Rowan County fleets
- Plan May schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Rowan County.
- Look at alternatives to I-85 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- Waste haulers: May is the peak month for garbage-truck crashes in Rowan County.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 2.7% of truck crashes here, more than North Carolina; schedule winter checks early.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
About the data
Crash counts come from the FMCSA crash file (police-reported crashes involving trucks over 10,000 lb); fatal-crash locations come from NHTSA FARS. Text on this page states only what these numbers show.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Rowan County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Rowan County) |
|---|---|
| I-85 | 9 |
| SR-152 | 4 |
| US-601 | 3 |
| SR-801 | 2 |
| Ssr-1004 Stokes Ferry Rd | 2 |
| Ssr-1526 | 2 |
| US-29 | 2 |
| Bostian Rd | 1 |
| Jake Alexander Blvd | 1 |
| Mooresville Rd | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Rowan County) |
|---|---|
| W Jake Alexander Blvd | 22 |
| Peeler Rd | 22 |
| Statesville Blvd | 16 |
| Jake Alexander Blvd | 15 |
| E Innes St | 10 |
| W Innes St | 9 |
| Mooresville Rd | 7 |
| S Main St | 6 |
Rowan County at a glance
| Population | 153,384 |
| Land area | 511.6 sq mi |
| Density | 300 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $65,002 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Rowan 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 | 77 | — | 3.4 |
| 2000s | 89 | +15% | 2.7 |
| 2010s | 119 | +34% | 2.4 |
| 2020s | 115 | -3% | 4.2 |
In the 1990s about 77 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 115. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal large-truck crashes: 3.0 a year in 2016–19, 4.2 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in Rowan County
ZIP codes in Rowan County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Rowan County
How many truck crashes happen in Rowan County?
Since 2015, 1,526 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Rowan County (990 injured, 36 killed).
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in Rowan County?
NHTSA data shows I-85 with 9 fatal large-truck crashes in Rowan County since 2015, the highest of any road.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Rowan County?
May has the most truck crashes in Rowan County, 10.4% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Rowan County?
Since 2015, Rowan County has reported 61 garbage-truck crashes, or 4.0% of its truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in Rowan County compare with North Carolina?
The yearly rate is 86.2 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Rowan County, vs 61.3 for North Carolina.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Rowan County?
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.