ZIP 28168 (Vale, NC) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 28168: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Lincoln 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
13 of 466 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Lincoln County compares with North Carolina
Lincoln County against North Carolina and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Lincoln County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Lincoln County | North Carolina | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 40.5 | 61.3 | 49.7 | 34% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 4.8 | 2.5 | 3.4 | 1.9× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.51 | 0.66 | 0.49 | 23% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 3.0% | 2.6% | 2.3% | 1.2× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 3.0% | 1.7% | 6.2% | 1.7× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 28.7% | 24.0% | 23.7% | 1.2× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 8.5% | 10.5% | 13.8% | 19% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 38.6% | 41.0% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 17.0% | 20.4% | 24.8% | 17% below the state |
Lincoln County has lower values than North Carolina for crashes per 100k residents / yr, injuries per crash and in rain, sleet or snow. It runs above North Carolina on deaths per 100 crashes, garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice.
The headline for Lincoln County: 3.0% share of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (North Carolina: 1.7%).
Overview
Since 2015, 466 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Lincoln County. They injured 240 people and killed 21.
That averages about one truck crash every 9 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
August has the most truck crashes, 10.9% of the yearly total, while December has the fewest (4.7%).
November through March accounts for 38.6% of truck crashes here, compared with 41.0% in North Carolina.
The busiest hour is 3–4 pm, with 9.4% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 3.0% of truck crashes, compared with 1.7% in North Carolina.
Where crashes happen
Within this area, SR-18 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (2). It is followed by SR-10 (1), SR-182 (1) and SR-27 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 13 of the truck crashes here, or 2.8%, compared with 2.6% in North Carolina.
Route planning tips for ZIP 28168 fleets
- Review driver schedules for August, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Where you can, review stops along SR-18; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- Morning starts matter: 28.7% of truck crashes fall between 6 and 10 am, higher than North Carolina.
- With 3.0% 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
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 Lincoln County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-18 | 2 |
| SR-10 | 1 |
| SR-182 | 1 |
| SR-27 | 1 |
| Ssr-1005 | 1 |
| Ssr-1113 Reeps Grove Church Rd | 1 |
| Ssr-1643 Belwood-Lawndale Rd | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Lincoln County) |
|---|---|
| E Main St | 12 |
| E Main Street | 4 |
| East Main St | 4 |
| S Generals Blvd | 3 |
| Gaston St | 2 |
| N Flint St | 2 |
| Quarry Lane | 2 |
| Sain And Heavner | 2 |
ZIP 28168 at a glance
| Population | 10,484 |
| Density | 46 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $61,220 |
| Median home value | $178,052 |
| Home ownership | 83% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Lincoln 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 | 24 | — | 2.0 |
| 2000s | 27 | +12% | 1.1 |
| 2010s | 34 | +27% | 1.4 |
| 2020s | 39 | +12% | 2.4 |
In the 1990s about 24 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 39. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. NHTSA counts 2.0 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 2.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 28168
How many truck crashes happen in ZIP 28168?
466 truck crashes have been reported in Lincoln County since 2015, with 21 deaths and 240 injuries.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in ZIP 28168?
NHTSA data shows SR-18 with 2 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 28168 since 2015, the highest of any road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in ZIP 28168?
The worst month is August: 10.9% of truck crashes in Lincoln County happen then.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in ZIP 28168?
Since 2015, Lincoln County has reported 13 garbage-truck crashes, or 2.8% of its truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in ZIP 28168 compared with North Carolina?
Lincoln County records 40.5 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 61.3 across North Carolina.
How can I plan a safer truck route in ZIP 28168?
Paste your stops into the free CurbWaste Route Planner: it scores your route against fatal-crash locations, suggests safer alternatives and flags low bridges.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.