ZIP 28167 (Union Mills, NC) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 28167: 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 |
Compared with North Carolina, Rutherford County is lower on crashes per 100k residents / yr, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share. It runs above North Carolina on deaths per 100 crashes.
The headline for Rutherford County: 1 in 143 crashes involve a garbage truck (2 since 2015), vs 2.6% across North Carolina.
Overview
Since 2015, 309 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Rutherford County. They injured 180 people and killed 9.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 14 days.
When crashes happen
September has the most truck crashes, 13.3% of the yearly total, while February has the fewest (4.9%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 37.3% of truck crashes, vs 41.0% for North Carolina.
More truck crashes happen at 10–11 am than at any other hour (10.4%).
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 28167 is US-221, with 3 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. It is followed by US-64 (2) and Ssr-1510 Hudlow Rd (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
2 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 0.6% share (North Carolina: 2.6%).
Route planning tips for ZIP 28167 fleets
- Review driver schedules for September, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Where you can, review stops along US-221; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- 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 Rutherford County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-221 | 3 |
| US-64 | 2 |
| Ssr-1510 Hudlow Rd | 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 28167 at a glance
| Population | 2,253 |
| Density | 12 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $59,732 |
| Median home value | $252,395 |
| Home ownership | 99% |
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. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 0.8 a year in 2016–19 and 1.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 28167
How many truck crashes happen in ZIP 28167?
Since 2015, 309 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Rutherford County (180 injured, 9 killed).
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in ZIP 28167?
US-221 had 3 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of ZIP 28167 since 2015, more than any other road.
When do most truck crashes happen in ZIP 28167?
Truck crashes in Rutherford County peak in September, with 13.3% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in ZIP 28167?
2 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Rutherford County since 2015, 0.6% of all truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in ZIP 28167 compare with North Carolina?
Rutherford County records 39.4 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 61.3 across North Carolina.
How can I plan a safer truck route in ZIP 28167?
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.