Caroleen, NC truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Caroleen: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Caroleen and Rutherford County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Rutherford County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
2 of 309 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Rutherford County compares with North Carolina
Rutherford County against North Carolina and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Rutherford County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Rutherford County | North Carolina | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 39.4 | 61.3 | 49.7 | 36% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.8 | 2.5 | 3.4 | 1.1× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.58 | 0.66 | 0.49 | 12% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.7% | 2.6% | 2.3% | 73% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 1.4% | 1.7% | 6.2% | 18% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 23.6% | 24.0% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 10.2% | 10.5% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 37.3% | 41.0% | 41.9% | 9% below the state |
| After dark | 17.2% | 20.4% | 24.8% | 15% below the state |
Compared with North Carolina, Rutherford County is lower on crashes per 100k residents / yr, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share. It stands out for higher deaths per 100 crashes.
The headline for Rutherford County: 1 in 143 of truck crashes here involve garbage trucks: 0.7%, vs 2.6% in North Carolina.
Overview
Police reported 309 crashes involving commercial trucks in Rutherford County since 2015: 180 people were injured and 9 were killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 14 days in fully reported years.
With 0 truck crashes reported in Caroleen since 2015, this page uses Rutherford County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
The worst month is September with 13.3% of truck crashes; the quietest is February at 4.9%.
November through March accounts for 37.3% of truck crashes here, compared with 41.0% in North Carolina.
More truck crashes happen at 10–11 am than at any other hour (10.4%).
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 1.4% of truck crashes, compared with 1.7% in North Carolina.
Where crashes happen
US-74 leads within 10 miles of Caroleen with 5 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. It is followed by US-221 (2), Casey Martin Dr (1) and SR-150 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 2 of the truck crashes here, or 0.6%, compared with 2.6% in North Carolina.
Route planning tips for Caroleen fleets
- Build extra time into September routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Check whether your routes use US-74, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
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 Rutherford County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-74 | 5 |
| US-221 | 2 |
| Casey Martin Dr | 1 |
| SR-150 | 1 |
| SR-87 | 1 |
| Ssr-1351 New House Rd | 1 |
| US-74A | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Rutherford County) |
|---|---|
| College Ave | 6 |
| Railroad Ave | 5 |
| College Avenue | 5 |
| S Broadway St | 4 |
| W Main St | 3 |
| Withrow Rd | 3 |
| Buffalo Creek Rd | 2 |
| Charlotte Rd | 2 |
Caroleen at a glance
| Land area | 1.1 sq mi |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Rutherford 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 | 18 | — | 1.4 |
| 2000s | 26 | +44% | 1.0 |
| 2010s | 28 | +5% | 0.7 |
| 2020s | 24 | -14% | 1.0 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 18 a year in the 1990s and 24 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal large-truck crashes: 0.8 a year in 2016–19, 1.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Caroleen
How common are truck crashes in Caroleen?
309 truck crashes have been reported in Rutherford County since 2015, with 9 deaths and 180 injuries.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in Caroleen?
Since 2015, US-74 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Caroleen: 5.
When do most truck crashes happen in Caroleen?
Truck crashes in Rutherford County peak in September, with 13.3% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Caroleen?
Since 2015, Rutherford County has reported 2 garbage-truck crashes, or 0.6% of its truck crashes.
How does Caroleen compare with North Carolina for truck crashes?
Rutherford County records 39.4 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 61.3 across North Carolina.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Caroleen?
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.