ZIP 28136 (Polkville, NC) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 28136: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Cleveland 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
16 of 962 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Cleveland County compares with North Carolina
Cleveland County against North Carolina and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Cleveland County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Cleveland County | North Carolina | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 79.9 | 61.3 | 49.7 | 1.3× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.0 | 2.5 | 3.4 | 1.2× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.70 | 0.66 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.7% | 2.6% | 2.3% | 35% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 2.1% | 1.7% | 6.2% | 1.2× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 21.6% | 24.0% | 23.7% | 10% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 10.7% | 10.5% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 42.4% | 41.0% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 24.1% | 20.4% | 24.8% | 1.2× the state |
Cleveland County has lower values than North Carolina for garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am). Where it is higher: crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and on snow, slush or ice.
The headline for ZIP 28136: US-74 3 fatal truck crashes since 2015, more than any other road within 10 miles of ZIP 28136.
Overview
Police reported 962 crashes involving commercial trucks in Cleveland County since 2015: 679 people were injured and 27 were killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 4 days.
When crashes happen
The worst month is August with 10.7% of truck crashes; the quietest is March at 7.0%.
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 42.4% of truck crashes, vs 41.0% for North Carolina.
The busiest hour is 1–2 pm, with 8.1% of truck crashes.
2.1% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 1.7% across North Carolina.
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks within 10 miles of ZIP 28136 is US-74, with 3 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. Next come SR-182 (1), Ssr-1351 New House Rd (1) and Ssr-1352 Crower Ridge Rd (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 16 crashes, 1.7% of the total, against 2.6% across North Carolina.
Route planning tips for ZIP 28136 fleets
- Plan August schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Cleveland County.
- Look at alternatives to US-74 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- With 2.1% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above North Carolina), plan winter equipment checks early.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
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 Cleveland County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-74 | 3 |
| SR-182 | 1 |
| Ssr-1351 New House Rd | 1 |
| Ssr-1352 Crower Ridge Rd | 1 |
| Ssr-1533 Moriah School Rd | 1 |
| Ssr-1643 Belwood-Lawndale Rd | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Cleveland County) |
|---|---|
| E Dixon Blvd | 65 |
| W Dixon Blvd | 31 |
| S Dekalb St | 10 |
| E Dixon Bvd | 9 |
| E Marion St | 9 |
| N Post Rd | 8 |
| Fallston Rd | 5 |
| Cherryville Rd | 4 |
ZIP 28136 at a glance
| Population | 66 |
| Density | 326 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $83,304 |
| Home ownership | 48% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Cleveland 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 | 53 | — | 2.0 |
| 2000s | 53 | -1% | 1.6 |
| 2010s | 77 | +47% | 1.5 |
| 2020s | 74 | -4% | 3.0 |
In the 1990s about 53 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 74. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal large-truck crashes: 2.0 a year in 2016–19, 3.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 28136
How many truck accidents are there in ZIP 28136?
Since 2015, 962 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Cleveland County (679 injured, 27 killed).
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in ZIP 28136?
Since 2015, US-74 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 28136: 3.
When do most truck crashes happen in ZIP 28136?
Truck crashes in Cleveland County peak in August, with 10.7% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in ZIP 28136?
16 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Cleveland County since 2015, 1.7% of all truck crashes.
How does ZIP 28136 compare with North Carolina for truck crashes?
Cleveland County records 79.9 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 61.3 across North Carolina.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in ZIP 28136?
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.