ZIP 28120 (Mount Holly, NC) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 28120: 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 runs above North Carolina on crashes per 100k residents / yr, garbage-truck share and in rain, sleet or snow.
ZIP 28120 at a glance: I-85 15 fatal truck crashes since 2015, more than any other road within 10 miles of ZIP 28120.
Overview
Gaston County has recorded 2,086 truck crashes since 2015, with 1,440 people injured and 38 killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 2 days.
When crashes happen
The worst month is March with 9.4% of truck crashes; the quietest is December at 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%).
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 1.1% of truck crashes, compared with 1.7% in North Carolina.
Where crashes happen
I-85 leads within 10 miles of ZIP 28120 with 15 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. It is followed by I-485 (7), SR-16 (5) and US-29 (5).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 61 crashes, 2.9% of the total, against 2.6% across North Carolina.
The most garbage-truck crashes happen in November (18%).
Per 100 crashes, garbage trucks recorded 1.7 deaths compared with 1.8 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for ZIP 28120 fleets
- Plan March schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Gaston County.
- Check whether your routes use I-85, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- Waste haulers: November is the peak month for garbage-truck crashes in Gaston County.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
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 | 15 |
| I-485 | 7 |
| SR-16 | 5 |
| US-29 | 5 |
| SR-273 | 2 |
| Brookshire Blvd | 1 |
| Brownstone Ct | 1 |
| Hovis Rd | 1 |
| Moores Chapel Rd | 1 |
| Mt Holly Rd | 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 28120 at a glance
| Population | 25,805 |
| Density | 318 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $78,231 |
| Median home value | $317,482 |
| Home ownership | 75% |
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. Fatal large-truck crashes: 3.8 a year in 2016–19, 3.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 28120
How many truck crashes happen in ZIP 28120?
Gaston County has had 2,086 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 1,440 people and killing 38.
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in ZIP 28120?
Since 2015, I-85 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 28120: 15.
Which month has the most truck crashes in ZIP 28120?
March has the most truck crashes in Gaston County, 9.4% of the yearly total.
Are garbage truck crashes common in ZIP 28120?
Garbage trucks were involved in 61 reported crashes in Gaston County since 2015 (2.9% of truck crashes).
How do truck crashes in ZIP 28120 compare with North Carolina?
The yearly rate is 73.6 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Gaston County, vs 61.3 for North Carolina.
How can I plan a safer truck route in ZIP 28120?
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.