ZIP 27603 (Raleigh, NC) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 27603: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Wake 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
2.5 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 1.0 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Wake County compares with North Carolina
Wake County against North Carolina and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Wake County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Wake County | North Carolina | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 45.2 | 61.3 | 49.7 | 26% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 1.0 | 2.5 | 3.4 | 60% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.62 | 0.66 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.6% | 2.6% | 2.3% | same |
| On snow, slush or ice | 1.4% | 1.7% | 6.2% | 21% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 26.3% | 24.0% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 9.9% | 10.5% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 40.8% | 41.0% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 14.9% | 20.4% | 24.8% | 27% below the state |
Wake County sits below North Carolina on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and on snow, slush or ice. Where it is higher: morning rush (6–10 am).
The headline for ZIP 27603: US-401 most fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 27603: 6 since 2015.
Overview
Since 2015, 6,415 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Wake County. They injured 3,996 people and killed 66.
That averages about 2 truck crashes a day in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in June (9.7% of the year) and are lowest in December (7.3%).
November through March accounts for 40.8% of truck crashes here, compared with 41.0% in North Carolina.
More truck crashes happen at 8–9 am than at any other hour (8.0%).
Road surface: 1.4% 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 27603 is US-401, with 6 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. After it: I-40 (5), Ssr-1006 Old Stage Rd (2) and I-440 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
168 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 2.6% share (North Carolina: 2.6%).
Garbage-truck crashes peak in April (12% of them).
They recorded 2.5 deaths per 100 crashes, against 1.0 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for ZIP 27603 fleets
- Plan June schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Wake County.
- Where you can, review stops along US-401; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- For residential and commercial waste routes, look again at April schedules: garbage-truck crashes peak then.
- 26.3% of truck crashes happen between 6 and 10 am, above North Carolina; consider earlier or later starts where possible.
- 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 Wake County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-401 | 6 |
| I-40 | 5 |
| Ssr-1006 Old Stage Rd | 2 |
| I-440 | 1 |
| I-87 | 1 |
| SR-1538 | 1 |
| Ssr-1379 Penny Rd | 1 |
| Ssr-2697 S New Hope Rd | 1 |
| US-1 | 1 |
| US-70 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Wake County) |
|---|---|
| Capital Blvd | 254 |
| Glenwood Ave | 137 |
| New Bern Ave | 62 |
| Wake Forest Rd | 50 |
| E Williams St | 47 |
| Wade Ave | 39 |
| Knightdale Blvd | 37 |
| S Wilmington St | 37 |
ZIP 27603 at a glance
| Population | 53,972 |
| Density | 405 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $90,484 |
| Median home value | $380,443 |
| Home ownership | 61% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Wake 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 | 164 | — | 6.3 |
| 2000s | 302 | +84% | 5.6 |
| 2010s | 552 | +83% | 5.0 |
| 2020s | 486 | -12% | 6.0 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 164 to 486. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal large-truck crashes: 6.0 a year in 2016–19, 6.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 27603
How many truck accidents are there in ZIP 27603?
Wake County has had 6,415 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 3,996 people and killing 66.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in ZIP 27603?
NHTSA data shows US-401 with 6 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 27603 since 2015, the highest of any road.
When do most truck crashes happen in ZIP 27603?
The worst month is June: 9.7% of truck crashes in Wake County happen then.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in ZIP 27603?
Since 2015, Wake County has reported 168 garbage-truck crashes, or 2.6% of its truck crashes.
How does ZIP 27603 compare with North Carolina for truck crashes?
The yearly rate is 45.2 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Wake County, vs 61.3 for North Carolina.
How can I plan a safer truck route in ZIP 27603?
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.