Wayne County, NC truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Wayne 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 4.3 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Wayne County compares with North Carolina
Wayne County against North Carolina and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Wayne County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Wayne County | North Carolina | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 59.3 | 61.3 | 49.7 | same |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 4.3 | 2.5 | 3.4 | 1.7× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.72 | 0.66 | 0.49 | 1.1× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.7% | 2.6% | 2.3% | same |
| On snow, slush or ice | 1.3% | 1.7% | 6.2% | 26% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 21.3% | 24.0% | 23.7% | 11% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 8.0% | 10.5% | 13.8% | 24% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 41.5% | 41.0% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 21.1% | 20.4% | 24.8% | same |
Wayne County has lower values than North Carolina for on snow, slush or ice, morning rush (6–10 am) and in rain, sleet or snow. Where it is higher: deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash.
The headline for Wayne County: 4.3 people killed per 100 truck crashes (North Carolina: 2.5).
Overview
Since 2015, 832 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Wayne County. They injured 607 people and killed 35.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 5 days.
When crashes happen
March has the most truck crashes, 9.5% of the yearly total, while November has the fewest (7.5%).
November through March accounts for 41.5% of truck crashes here, compared with 41.0% in North Carolina.
The busiest hour is 12–1 pm, with 8.2% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 1.3% of truck crashes, compared with 1.7% in North Carolina.
Where crashes happen
Within this area, SR-55 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (8). After it: US-13 (4), US-70 (4) and SR-111 (3).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 23 crashes, 2.8% of the total, against 2.6% across North Carolina.
The most garbage-truck crashes happen in February (22%).
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 0.0, vs 4.3 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for Wayne County fleets
- Plan March schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Wayne County.
- Check whether your routes use SR-55, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in February; review collection routes for that month.
- 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 Wayne County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Wayne County) |
|---|---|
| SR-55 | 8 |
| US-13 | 4 |
| US-70 | 4 |
| SR-111 | 3 |
| I-795 | 2 |
| SR-581 | 2 |
| Country Day Rd | 1 |
| Ssr-1105 Dobbersville Rd | 1 |
| Ssr-1120 Sleepy Creek Rd | 1 |
| US-117 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Wayne County) |
|---|---|
| W Grantham St | 11 |
| E Ash St | 7 |
| N Berkeley Blvd | 7 |
| W Ash St | 6 |
| Breazeale Ave | 4 |
| N Carolina St | 4 |
| E Elm St | 3 |
| N George St | 3 |
Wayne County at a glance
| Population | 120,338 |
| Land area | 553.9 sq mi |
| Density | 217 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $60,324 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Wayne 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 | 48 | — | 2.3 |
| 2000s | 62 | +28% | 3.3 |
| 2010s | 81 | +31% | 2.6 |
| 2020s | 59 | -27% | 3.0 |
In the 1990s about 48 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 59. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. NHTSA counts 2.2 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 3.0 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in Wayne County
ZIP codes in Wayne County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Wayne County
How many truck crashes happen in Wayne County?
Since 2015, 832 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Wayne County (607 injured, 35 killed).
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Wayne County?
SR-55 had 8 fatal crashes involving a large truck in Wayne County since 2015, more than any other road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Wayne County?
Truck crashes in Wayne County peak in March, with 9.5% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Wayne County?
Garbage trucks were involved in 23 reported crashes in Wayne County since 2015 (2.8% of truck crashes).
What is the truck crash rate in Wayne County compared with North Carolina?
Wayne County records 59.3 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 61.3 across North Carolina.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Wayne 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.