ZIP 27256 (Gulf, NC) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 27256: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Chatham County, 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
10 of 685 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Chatham County compares with North Carolina
Chatham County against North Carolina and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Chatham County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Chatham County | North Carolina | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 69.2 | 61.3 | 49.7 | 1.1× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 1.4 | 2.5 | 3.4 | 44% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.56 | 0.66 | 0.49 | 15% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.6% | 2.6% | 2.3% | 39% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 2.7% | 1.7% | 6.2% | 1.5× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 28.4% | 24.0% | 23.7% | 1.2× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 8.0% | 10.5% | 13.8% | 24% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 42.6% | 41.0% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 18.2% | 20.4% | 24.8% | 11% below the state |
Chatham County sits below North Carolina on deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share. It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr, on snow, slush or ice and morning rush (6–10 am).
What stands out in Chatham County: 2.7% share of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (North Carolina: 1.7%).
Overview
Police reported 685 crashes involving commercial trucks in Chatham County since 2015: 373 people were injured and 10 were killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 6 days.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in October (10.2% of the year) and are lowest in May (6.9%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 42.6% of truck crashes, against 41.0% across North Carolina.
More truck crashes happen at 8–9 am than at any other hour (9.1%).
2.7% 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 (5). It is followed by Mciver St (1), SR-42 (1) and Ssr-1318 Steel Bridge Rd (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
10 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 1.5% share (North Carolina: 2.6%).
Route planning tips for ZIP 27256 fleets
- Review driver schedules for October, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Look at alternatives to US-421 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- Morning starts matter: 28.4% of truck crashes fall between 6 and 10 am, higher than North Carolina.
- 2.7% 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
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 Chatham County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-421 | 5 |
| Mciver St | 1 |
| SR-42 | 1 |
| Ssr-1318 Steel Bridge Rd | 1 |
| US-1 | 1 |
| US-15 | 1 |
| US-241 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Chatham County) |
|---|---|
| E 11Th St | 8 |
| E Eleventh St | 5 |
| E Raleigh St | 3 |
| East Eleventh St | 3 |
| E 3Rd St | 2 |
| East Eleventh Street | 2 |
| Progress Blvd | 2 |
| S Chatham Ave | 2 |
ZIP 27256 at a glance
| Population | 64 |
| Density | 22 per sq mi |
| Home ownership | 100% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Chatham 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 | 34 | — | 3.1 |
| 2000s | 33 | -2% | 2.1 |
| 2010s | 53 | +59% | 0.6 |
| 2020s | 52 | -2% | 1.4 |
In the 1990s about 34 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 52. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. NHTSA counts 0.5 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 1.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 27256
How many truck accidents are there in ZIP 27256?
Chatham County has had 685 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 373 people and killing 10.
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in ZIP 27256?
Since 2015, US-421 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 27256: 5.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in ZIP 27256?
The worst month is October: 10.2% of truck crashes in Chatham County happen then.
Are garbage truck crashes common in ZIP 27256?
Garbage trucks were involved in 10 reported crashes in Chatham County since 2015 (1.5% of truck crashes).
How does ZIP 27256 compare with North Carolina for truck crashes?
Per 100,000 residents, Chatham County has 69.2 truck crashes a year; North Carolina has 61.3.
How can I plan a safer truck route in ZIP 27256?
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.