Union County, NC truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Union 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
0.0 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 1.9 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Union County compares with North Carolina
Union County against North Carolina and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Union County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Union County | North Carolina | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 61.1 | 61.3 | 49.7 | same |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 1.9 | 2.5 | 3.4 | 24% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.70 | 0.66 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 3.3% | 2.6% | 2.3% | 1.3× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 0.4% | 1.7% | 6.2% | 74% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 26.1% | 24.0% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 7.3% | 10.5% | 13.8% | 30% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 41.2% | 41.0% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 18.3% | 20.4% | 24.8% | 10% below the state |
Compared with North Carolina, Union County is lower on deaths per 100 crashes, on snow, slush or ice and in rain, sleet or snow. It runs above North Carolina on garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am).
Union County at a glance: US-74 most fatal truck crashes in Union County: 7 since 2015.
Overview
Union County has recorded 1,866 truck crashes since 2015, with 1,295 people injured and 34 killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 2 days.
When crashes happen
The worst month is July with 9.8% of truck crashes; the quietest is November at 6.9%.
November through March accounts for 41.2% of truck crashes here, compared with 41.0% in North Carolina.
By time of day, 1–2 pm stands out with 8.0% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 0.4% of truck crashes, compared with 1.7% in North Carolina.
Where crashes happen
Within this area, US-74 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (7). It is followed by SR-200 (4), SR-218 (4) and US-601 (3).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 62 of the truck crashes here, or 3.3%, compared with 2.6% in North Carolina.
The most garbage-truck crashes happen in October (15%).
Per 100 crashes, garbage trucks recorded 0.0 deaths compared with 1.9 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for Union County fleets
- Build extra time into July routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Where you can, review stops along US-74; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in October; review collection routes for that month.
- 26.1% of truck crashes happen between 6 and 10 am, above North Carolina; consider earlier or later starts where possible.
- 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 Union County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Union County) |
|---|---|
| US-74 | 7 |
| SR-200 | 4 |
| SR-218 | 4 |
| US-601 | 3 |
| SR-16 | 2 |
| Lansford Rd | 1 |
| Lawyers Rd | 1 |
| SR-207 | 1 |
| SR-522 | 1 |
| Ssr-1006 Olive Branch Rd | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Union County) |
|---|---|
| US-74 | 24 |
| Skyway Dr | 23 |
| Old Charlotte Hwy | 20 |
| Old Monroe Rd | 18 |
| Stallings Rd | 15 |
| Morgan Mill Rd | 14 |
| W Roosevelt Blvd | 10 |
| Potter Rd | 9 |
Union County at a glance
| Population | 263,386 |
| Land area | 632.7 sq mi |
| Density | 416 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $110,763 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Union 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 | 54 | — | 3.0 |
| 2000s | 98 | +80% | 2.9 |
| 2010s | 148 | +52% | 2.8 |
| 2020s | 138 | -7% | 2.4 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 54 a year in the 1990s and 138 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 4.0 a year in 2016–19 and 2.4 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in Union County
ZIP codes in Union County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Union County
How many truck crashes happen in Union County?
Union County has had 1,866 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 1,295 people and killing 34.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in Union County?
US-74 had 7 fatal crashes involving a large truck in Union County since 2015, more than any other road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Union County?
The worst month is July: 9.8% of truck crashes in Union County happen then.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Union County?
Since 2015, Union County has reported 62 garbage-truck crashes, or 3.3% of its truck crashes.
How does Union County compare with North Carolina for truck crashes?
Per 100,000 residents, Union County has 61.1 truck crashes a year; North Carolina has 61.3.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Union 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.