ZIP 27542 (Kenly, NC) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 27542: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Johnston 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
3.1 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 3.7 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Johnston County compares with North Carolina
Johnston County against North Carolina and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Johnston County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Johnston County | North Carolina | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 65.0 | 61.3 | 49.7 | same |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.7 | 2.5 | 3.4 | 1.5× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.71 | 0.66 | 0.49 | 1.1× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.8% | 2.6% | 2.3% | 31% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 1.8% | 1.7% | 6.2% | same |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 24.2% | 24.0% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 8.8% | 10.5% | 13.8% | 16% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 40.5% | 41.0% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 21.5% | 20.4% | 24.8% | same |
Johnston County sits below North Carolina on garbage-truck share and in rain, sleet or snow. Where it is higher: deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash.
The headline for ZIP 27542: I-95 deadliest road: 5 fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 27542 since 2015.
Overview
Police reported 1,874 crashes involving commercial trucks in Johnston County since 2015: 1,328 people were injured and 73 were killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 2 days.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in June (9.7% of the year) and are lowest in January (6.7%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 40.5% of truck crashes, against 41.0% across North Carolina.
More truck crashes happen at 2–3 pm than at any other hour (8.3%).
Road surface: 1.8% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (North Carolina: 1.7%).
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks within 10 miles of ZIP 27542 is I-95, with 5 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. It is followed by SR-231 (1), SR-39 (1) and SR-42 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 34 of the truck crashes here, or 1.8%, compared with 2.6% in North Carolina.
The most garbage-truck crashes happen in August (18%).
They recorded 3.1 deaths per 100 crashes, against 3.7 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for ZIP 27542 fleets
- Plan June schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Johnston County.
- Where you can, review stops along I-95; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- Waste haulers: August is the peak month for garbage-truck crashes in Johnston County.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
About the data
Crash counts come from the FMCSA crash file (police-reported crashes involving trucks over 10,000 lb); fatal-crash locations come from NHTSA FARS. Text on this page states only what these numbers show.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Johnston County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-95 | 5 |
| SR-231 | 1 |
| SR-39 | 1 |
| SR-42 | 1 |
| SR-581 | 1 |
| Ssr-1131 New Sandy Hill Church | 1 |
| Ssr-2342 | 1 |
| US-301 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Johnston County) |
|---|---|
| Buffalo Rd | 9 |
| Shotwell Rd | 9 |
| US-70 | 7 |
| Clayton Blvd | 3 |
| Covered Bridge Rd | 3 |
| N Brightleaf Blvd | 3 |
| W Market St | 3 |
| Amelia Church Rd | 2 |
ZIP 27542 at a glance
| Population | 9,850 |
| Density | 42 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $66,038 |
| Median home value | $205,050 |
| Home ownership | 75% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Johnston 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 | 74 | — | 5.1 |
| 2000s | 109 | +46% | 4.5 |
| 2010s | 125 | +15% | 2.6 |
| 2020s | 170 | +35% | 5.2 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 74 to 170. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 4.2 a year in 2016–19 and 5.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 27542
How many truck accidents are there in ZIP 27542?
Since 2015, 1,874 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Johnston County (1,328 injured, 73 killed).
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in ZIP 27542?
I-95 had 5 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of ZIP 27542 since 2015, more than any other road.
When do most truck crashes happen in ZIP 27542?
The worst month is June: 9.7% of truck crashes in Johnston County happen then.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in ZIP 27542?
34 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Johnston County since 2015, 1.8% of all truck crashes.
How does ZIP 27542 compare with North Carolina for truck crashes?
Johnston County records 65.0 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 61.3 across North Carolina.
How can I plan a safer truck route in ZIP 27542?
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.