Cleveland, NC truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Cleveland: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Cleveland and Rowan County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Rowan County numbers.
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% on snowy, slushy or icy roads, against 1.7% across North Carolina.
Overview
Police reported 1,526 crashes involving commercial trucks in Rowan County since 2015: 990 people were injured and 36 were killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 3 days.
With 66 truck crashes reported in Cleveland since 2015, this page uses Rowan County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
May has the most truck crashes, 10.4% of the yearly total, while June has the fewest (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, US-70 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (4). It is followed by I-40 (2), SR-801 (2) and Ssr-1526 (2).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 61 of the truck crashes here, or 4.0%, compared with 2.6% in North Carolina.
The most garbage-truck crashes happen in May (18%).
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 5.2, vs 2.1 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for Cleveland fleets
- Review driver schedules for May, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Where you can, review stops along US-70; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- Waste haulers: May is the peak month for garbage-truck crashes in Rowan County.
- 2.7% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice, above North Carolina; plan winter equipment checks before the season.
- 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 Rowan County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-70 | 4 |
| I-40 | 2 |
| SR-801 | 2 |
| Ssr-1526 | 2 |
| US-601 | 2 |
| SR-150 | 1 |
| Ssr-1728 Barringer Rd | 1 |
| Ssr-2048 Woodleaf Rd | 1 |
| US-64 | 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 |
Cleveland at a glance
| Population | 887 |
| Land area | 1.6 sq mi |
| Density | 572 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 27013) | $66,301 |
| Median home value (ZIP 27013) | $212,204 |
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 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 77 a year in the 1990s and 115 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. NHTSA counts 3.0 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 4.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Cleveland
How many truck crashes happen in Cleveland?
Rowan County has had 1,526 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 990 people and killing 36.
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in Cleveland?
Since 2015, US-70 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Cleveland: 4.
When do most truck crashes happen in Cleveland?
Truck crashes in Rowan County peak in May, with 10.4% of the year's crashes.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Cleveland?
Garbage trucks were involved in 61 reported crashes in Rowan County since 2015 (4.0% of truck crashes).
How do truck crashes in Cleveland 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.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Cleveland?
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.