Spencer, NC truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Spencer: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Spencer 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. Where it is higher: crashes per 100k residents / yr, garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice.
What stands out in Rowan County: 2.7% of truck crashes happened on snow, slush or ice, vs 1.7% in North Carolina.
Overview
Police reported 1,526 crashes involving commercial trucks in Rowan County since 2015: 990 people were injured and 36 were killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 3 days.
Only 84 truck crashes were reported in Spencer since 2015; patterns below come from Rowan County as a whole.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in May (10.4% of the year) and are lowest in June (7.5%).
November through March accounts for 43.3% of truck crashes here, compared with 41.0% in North Carolina.
More truck crashes happen at 2–3 pm than at any other hour (8.3%).
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 (13). After it: US-601 (3), Jake Alexander Blvd (1) and Mooresville Rd (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 61 crashes, 4.0% of the total, against 2.6% across North Carolina.
The most garbage-truck crashes happen in May (18%).
They recorded 5.2 deaths per 100 crashes, against 2.1 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for Spencer fleets
- Plan May schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Rowan County.
- Check whether your routes use I-85, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- Waste haulers: May is the peak month for garbage-truck crashes in Rowan County.
- With 2.7% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above North Carolina), plan winter equipment checks early.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
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 Rowan County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-85 | 13 |
| US-601 | 3 |
| Jake Alexander Blvd | 1 |
| Mooresville Rd | 1 |
| S Jake Alexander | 1 |
| SR-150 | 1 |
| Ssr-1002 | 1 |
| Ssr-1728 Barringer Rd | 1 |
| Ssr-2048 Woodleaf Rd | 1 |
| US-29 | 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 |
Spencer at a glance
| Population | 3,406 |
| Land area | 3.4 sq mi |
| Density | 1,003 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 28159) | $63,036 |
| Median home value (ZIP 28159) | $190,223 |
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 crashes involving a large truck averaged 3.0 a year in 2016–19 and 4.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Spencer
How common are truck crashes in Spencer?
1,526 truck crashes have been reported in Rowan County since 2015, with 36 deaths and 990 injuries.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Spencer?
NHTSA data shows I-85 with 13 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Spencer since 2015, the highest of any road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Spencer?
Truck crashes in Rowan County peak in May, with 10.4% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Spencer?
61 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Rowan County since 2015, 4.0% of all truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in Spencer compared with North Carolina?
Per 100,000 residents, Rowan County has 86.2 truck crashes a year; North Carolina has 61.3.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Spencer?
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.