ZIP 28139 (Rutherfordton, NC) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 28139: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Rutherford 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 of 309 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Rutherford County compares with North Carolina
Rutherford County against North Carolina and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Rutherford County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Rutherford County | North Carolina | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 39.4 | 61.3 | 49.7 | 36% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.8 | 2.5 | 3.4 | 1.1× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.58 | 0.66 | 0.49 | 12% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.7% | 2.6% | 2.3% | 73% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 1.4% | 1.7% | 6.2% | 18% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 23.6% | 24.0% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 10.2% | 10.5% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 37.3% | 41.0% | 41.9% | 9% below the state |
| After dark | 17.2% | 20.4% | 24.8% | 15% below the state |
Rutherford County sits below North Carolina on crashes per 100k residents / yr, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share. Where it is higher: deaths per 100 crashes.
The headline for Rutherford County: 1 in 143 garbage-truck share of crashes is 0.7%, against 2.6% for North Carolina.
Overview
Police reported 309 crashes involving commercial trucks in Rutherford County since 2015: 180 people were injured and 9 were killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 14 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in September (13.3% of the year) and are lowest in February (4.9%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 37.3% of truck crashes, against 41.0% across North Carolina.
The busiest hour is 10–11 am, with 10.4% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 1.4% of truck crashes, compared with 1.7% in North Carolina.
Where crashes happen
Fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 28139 since 2015 were spread across roads: US-64 (2), US-74 (2), Ssr-1510 Hudlow Rd (1), US-221 (1) and US-74A (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 2 of the truck crashes here, or 0.6%, compared with 2.6% in North Carolina.
Route planning tips for ZIP 28139 fleets
- Review driver schedules for September, the month with the most truck crashes.
- 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 Rutherford County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-64 | 2 |
| US-74 | 2 |
| Ssr-1510 Hudlow Rd | 1 |
| US-221 | 1 |
| US-74A | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Rutherford County) |
|---|---|
| College Ave | 6 |
| Railroad Ave | 5 |
| College Avenue | 5 |
| S Broadway St | 4 |
| W Main St | 3 |
| Withrow Rd | 3 |
| Buffalo Creek Rd | 2 |
| Charlotte Rd | 2 |
ZIP 28139 at a glance
| Population | 20,008 |
| Density | 42 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $56,558 |
| Median home value | $235,161 |
| Home ownership | 79% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Rutherford 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 | 18 | — | 1.4 |
| 2000s | 26 | +44% | 1.0 |
| 2010s | 28 | +5% | 0.7 |
| 2020s | 24 | -14% | 1.0 |
In the 1990s about 18 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 24. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. NHTSA counts 0.8 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 1.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 28139
How many truck accidents are there in ZIP 28139?
Since 2015, 309 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Rutherford County (180 injured, 9 killed).
Which month has the most truck crashes in ZIP 28139?
The worst month is September: 13.3% of truck crashes in Rutherford County happen then.
Are garbage truck crashes common in ZIP 28139?
Garbage trucks were involved in 2 reported crashes in Rutherford County since 2015 (0.6% of truck crashes).
What is the truck crash rate in ZIP 28139 compared with North Carolina?
The yearly rate is 39.4 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Rutherford County, vs 61.3 for North Carolina.
How can I plan a safer truck route in ZIP 28139?
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.