ZIP 28054 (Gastonia, NC) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 28054: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Gaston 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
1.7 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 1.8 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Gaston County compares with North Carolina
Gaston County against North Carolina and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Gaston County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Gaston County | North Carolina | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 73.6 | 61.3 | 49.7 | 1.2× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 1.8 | 2.5 | 3.4 | 28% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.70 | 0.66 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 3.0% | 2.6% | 2.3% | 1.2× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 1.1% | 1.7% | 6.2% | 38% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 25.0% | 24.0% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 13.3% | 10.5% | 13.8% | 1.3× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 40.0% | 41.0% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 22.8% | 20.4% | 24.8% | 1.1× the state |
Gaston County has lower values than North Carolina for deaths per 100 crashes and on snow, slush or ice. It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr, garbage-truck share and in rain, sleet or snow.
What stands out in ZIP 28054: I-85 13 fatal truck crashes since 2015, more than any other road within 10 miles of ZIP 28054.
Overview
Gaston County has recorded 2,086 truck crashes since 2015, with 1,440 people injured and 38 killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 2 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in March (9.4% of the year) and are lowest in December (7.2%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 40.0% of truck crashes, against 41.0% across North Carolina.
More truck crashes happen at 3–4 pm than at any other hour (7.5%).
Road surface: 1.1% 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 28054 is I-85, with 13 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. Next come SR-273 (2), US-29 (2) and US-321 (2).
Garbage & waste trucks
61 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 2.9% share (North Carolina: 2.6%).
Garbage-truck crashes peak in November (18% of them).
Per 100 crashes, garbage trucks recorded 1.7 deaths compared with 1.8 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for ZIP 28054 fleets
- Plan March schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Gaston County.
- Where you can, review stops along I-85; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- Waste haulers: November is the peak month for garbage-truck crashes in Gaston County.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
About the data
Sources: the FMCSA crash file for all reported truck crashes and NHTSA FARS for fatal crashes with a large truck. Every statement here comes straight from those numbers.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Gaston County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-85 | 13 |
| SR-273 | 2 |
| US-29 | 2 |
| US-321 | 2 |
| US-74 | 2 |
| Brownstone Ct | 1 |
| Mt Holly Rd | 1 |
| N Chester St | 1 |
| SR-274 | 1 |
| SR-275 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Gaston County) |
|---|---|
| N Chester St | 60 |
| E Franklin Blvd | 34 |
| W Franklin Blvd | 16 |
| S York Rd | 16 |
| Bessemer City Rd | 16 |
| Gastonia Dallas Hwy | 16 |
| N New Hope Rd | 15 |
| S New Hope Rd | 15 |
ZIP 28054 at a glance
| Population | 41,707 |
| Density | 833 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $61,035 |
| Median home value | $244,708 |
| Home ownership | 47% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Gaston 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 | 91 | — | 3.0 |
| 2000s | 118 | +30% | 2.4 |
| 2010s | 151 | +28% | 2.7 |
| 2020s | 178 | +18% | 3.0 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 91 a year in the 1990s and 178 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. NHTSA counts 3.8 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 3.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 28054
How common are truck crashes in ZIP 28054?
2,086 truck crashes have been reported in Gaston County since 2015, with 38 deaths and 1,440 injuries.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in ZIP 28054?
I-85 had 13 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of ZIP 28054 since 2015, more than any other road.
Which month has the most truck crashes in ZIP 28054?
Truck crashes in Gaston County peak in March, with 9.4% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in ZIP 28054?
Since 2015, Gaston County has reported 61 garbage-truck crashes, or 2.9% of its truck crashes.
How does ZIP 28054 compare with North Carolina for truck crashes?
Per 100,000 residents, Gaston County has 73.6 truck crashes a year; North Carolina has 61.3.
How can I plan a safer truck route in ZIP 28054?
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.