North Wilkesboro, NC truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in North Wilkesboro: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in North Wilkesboro and Wilkes County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Wilkes County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
15 of 431 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Wilkes County compares with North Carolina
Wilkes County against North Carolina and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Wilkes County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Wilkes County | North Carolina | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 57.4 | 61.3 | 49.7 | same |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.9 | 2.5 | 3.4 | 1.2× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.74 | 0.66 | 0.49 | 1.1× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 3.6% | 2.6% | 2.3% | 1.4× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 1.9% | 1.7% | 6.2% | 1.1× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 26.3% | 24.0% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 6.9% | 10.5% | 13.8% | 34% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 46.2% | 41.0% | 41.9% | 1.1× the state |
| After dark | 21.1% | 20.4% | 24.8% | same |
Wilkes County sits below North Carolina on in rain, sleet or snow. It stands out for higher deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share.
What stands out in North Wilkesboro: US-421 3 fatal truck crashes since 2015, more than any other road within 10 miles of North Wilkesboro.
Overview
Wilkes County has recorded 431 truck crashes since 2015, with 318 people injured and 12 killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 10 days.
North Wilkesboro had 90 reported truck crashes since 2015, too few for reliable patterns, so the charts and findings on this page use Wilkes County numbers.
When crashes happen
The worst month is January with 11.1% of truck crashes; the quietest is July at 4.4%.
The five winter months (November to March) hold 46.2% of truck crashes, against 41.0% across North Carolina.
The busiest hour is 3–4 pm, with 8.4% of truck crashes.
1.9% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 1.7% across North Carolina.
Where crashes happen
Within this area, US-421 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (3). After it: SR-268 (1), Ssr-1372 (1) and Ssr-2324 Red White And Blue Rd (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
15 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 3.5% share (North Carolina: 2.6%).
Route planning tips for North Wilkesboro fleets
- Plan January schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Wilkes County.
- Where you can, review stops along US-421; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- 26.3% of truck crashes happen between 6 and 10 am, above North Carolina; consider earlier or later starts where possible.
- 1.9% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice, above North Carolina; plan winter equipment checks before the season.
- 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 Wilkes County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-421 | 3 |
| SR-268 | 1 |
| Ssr-1372 | 1 |
| Ssr-2324 Red White And Blue Rd | 1 |
| Ssr-2462 Country Club Rd Ext | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Wilkes County) |
|---|---|
| Call St | 2 |
| River St | 2 |
| US-421 | 2 |
| Wilkesboro Ave | 2 |
| 2Nd St | 1 |
| 6Th Street | 1 |
| Bojangles | 1 |
| Chatham Street | 1 |
North Wilkesboro at a glance
| Population | 4,412 |
| Land area | 6.6 sq mi |
| Density | 666 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 28697) | $52,988 |
| Median home value (ZIP 28697) | $209,004 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Wilkes 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 | 28 | — | 1.8 |
| 2000s | 29 | +3% | 1.8 |
| 2010s | 39 | +35% | 1.0 |
| 2020s | 34 | -13% | 1.8 |
In the 1990s about 28 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 34. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 1.0 a year in 2016–19 and 1.8 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about North Wilkesboro
How many truck crashes happen in North Wilkesboro?
431 truck crashes have been reported in Wilkes County since 2015, with 12 deaths and 318 injuries.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in North Wilkesboro?
US-421 had 3 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of North Wilkesboro since 2015, more than any other road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in North Wilkesboro?
January has the most truck crashes in Wilkes County, 11.1% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in North Wilkesboro?
Garbage trucks were involved in 15 reported crashes in Wilkes County since 2015 (3.5% of truck crashes).
How do truck crashes in North Wilkesboro compare with North Carolina?
The yearly rate is 57.4 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Wilkes County, vs 61.3 for North Carolina.
How can I plan a safer truck route in North Wilkesboro?
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.