South Carolina truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in South Carolina: 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
3.8 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 3.9 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How South Carolina compares with United States
South Carolina against United States, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where South Carolina stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | South Carolina | United States | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 61.6 | 49.7 | 1.2× the US |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.9 | 3.4 | 1.1× the US |
| Injuries per crash | 0.64 | 0.49 | 1.3× the US |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.1% | 2.3% | 8% below the US |
| On snow, slush or ice | 0.4% | 6.2% | 93% below the US |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 24.0% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 11.4% | 13.8% | 18% below the US |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 40.5% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 21.5% | 24.8% | 13% below the US |
South Carolina sits below the US on garbage-truck share, on snow, slush or ice and in rain, sleet or snow. It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash.
The headline for South Carolina: 0.4% share of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (the US: 6.2%).
Overview
South Carolina has recorded 38,924 truck crashes since 2015, with 24,524 people injured and 1,530 killed.
That averages about 9 truck crashes a day in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in March (9.1% of the year) and are lowest in November (7.7%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 40.5% of truck crashes, against 41.9% across the US.
More truck crashes happen at 2–3 pm than at any other hour (6.9%).
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 0.4% of truck crashes, compared with 6.2% in the US.
Where crashes happen
Within this area, I-26 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (89). After it: I-95 (77), I-85 (52) and US-17 (51).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 818 of the truck crashes here, or 2.1%, compared with 2.3% in the US.
Garbage-truck crashes peak in May (9% of them).
Per 100 crashes, garbage trucks recorded 3.8 deaths compared with 3.9 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for South Carolina fleets
- Plan March schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in South Carolina.
- Where you can, review stops along I-26; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- Waste haulers: May is the peak month for garbage-truck crashes in South Carolina.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
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 South Carolina
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in South Carolina) |
|---|---|
| I-26 | 89 |
| I-95 | 77 |
| I-85 | 52 |
| US-17 | 51 |
| I-20 | 43 |
| I-77 | 41 |
| US-25 | 26 |
| US-52 | 22 |
| US-176 | 21 |
| US-21 | 19 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (South Carolina) |
|---|---|
| I-26 | 1,584 |
| I-85 | 1,242 |
| I-20 | 919 |
| I-95 | 840 |
| I-77 | 618 |
| White Horse Rd | 125 |
| Augusta Rd | 100 |
| Ashley Phosphate Rd | 82 |
South Carolina at a glance
| Population | 5,478,831 |
| Land area | 30,064.1 sq mi |
| Density | 182 per sq mi |
Historical data: truck crashes in South Carolina 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 | 2,887 | — | 95.1 |
| 2000s | 2,548 | -12% | 90.5 |
| 2010s | 2,902 | +14% | 85.6 |
| 2020s | 3,415 | +18% | 120.2 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 2,887 to 3,415. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 105.8 a year in 2016–19 and 120.2 a year in 2020–24.
Counties in South Carolina
Largest places in South Carolina
Nearby states
Questions fleets ask about South Carolina
How common are truck crashes in South Carolina?
38,924 truck crashes have been reported in South Carolina since 2015, with 1,530 deaths and 24,524 injuries.
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in South Carolina?
NHTSA data shows I-26 with 89 fatal large-truck crashes in South Carolina since 2015, the highest of any road.
Which month has the most truck crashes in South Carolina?
Truck crashes in South Carolina peak in March, with 9.1% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in South Carolina?
Garbage trucks were involved in 818 reported crashes in South Carolina since 2015 (2.1% of truck crashes).
What is the truck crash rate in South Carolina compared with the US?
The yearly rate is 61.6 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in South Carolina, vs 49.7 for the US.
How can I plan a safer truck route in South Carolina?
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.