Cowpens, SC truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Cowpens: 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 of 299 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Cowpens compares with South Carolina
Cowpens against South Carolina and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Cowpens stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Cowpens | South Carolina | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 1,190.4 | 61.6 | 49.7 | 19.3× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.7 | 3.9 | 3.4 | 31% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.62 | 0.64 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.0% | 2.1% | 2.3% | 52% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 0.0% | 0.4% | 6.2% | 100% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 15.1% | 24.0% | 23.7% | 37% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 16.1% | 11.4% | 13.8% | 1.4× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 38.4% | 40.5% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 25.7% | 21.5% | 24.8% | 1.2× the state |
Cowpens has lower values than South Carolina for deaths per 100 crashes, garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice. It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr, in rain, sleet or snow and after dark.
The headline for Cowpens: 0.0% of truck crashes happened on snow, slush or ice, vs 0.4% in South Carolina.
Overview
Police reported 299 crashes involving commercial trucks in Cowpens since 2015: 181 people were injured and 8 were killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 14 days.
When crashes happen
July has the most truck crashes, 12.0% of the yearly total, while November has the fewest (5.4%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 38.4% of truck crashes, against 40.5% across South Carolina.
More truck crashes happen at 3–4 pm than at any other hour (11.4%).
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 0.0% of truck crashes, compared with 0.4% in South Carolina.
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks within 10 miles of Cowpens is I-85, with 11 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. After it: US-176 (5), US-29 (4) and SR-295 (2).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 3 of the truck crashes here, or 1.0%, compared with 2.1% in South Carolina.
Route planning tips for Cowpens fleets
- Build extra time into July routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Where you can, review stops along I-85; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
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 Cowpens
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-85 | 11 |
| US-176 | 5 |
| US-29 | 4 |
| SR-295 | 2 |
| US-221 | 2 |
| Cr- Farley Ave | 1 |
| SR-110 | 1 |
| SR-296 | 1 |
| SR-44 | 1 |
| SR-9 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Cowpens) |
|---|---|
| I-85 | 103 |
| 80Nb | 6 |
| Gossett Rd | 6 |
| Cannons Campground Rd | 5 |
| 81Sb | 4 |
| 82Sb | 4 |
| Battleground Rd | 3 |
| 82Nb | 2 |
Cowpens at a glance
| Population | 2,230 |
| Land area | 2.3 sq mi |
| Density | 972 per sq mi |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Cowpens 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 | — | — | 6.0 |
| 2000s | — | — | 3.8 |
| 2010s | 22 | — | 4.9 |
| 2020s | 27 | +24% | 7.2 |
From the 2010s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 22 to 27. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. NHTSA counts 5.5 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 7.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Cowpens
How common are truck crashes in Cowpens?
299 truck crashes have been reported in Cowpens since 2015, with 8 deaths and 181 injuries.
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in Cowpens?
Since 2015, I-85 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Cowpens: 11.
When do most truck crashes happen in Cowpens?
July has the most truck crashes in Cowpens, 12.0% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Cowpens?
3 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Cowpens since 2015, 1.0% of all truck crashes.
How does Cowpens compare with South Carolina for truck crashes?
Per 100,000 residents, Cowpens has 1,190.4 truck crashes a year; South Carolina has 61.6.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Cowpens?
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.