ZIP 28203 (Charlotte, NC) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 28203: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Mecklenburg 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
3.0 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 1.5 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Mecklenburg County compares with North Carolina
Mecklenburg County against North Carolina and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Mecklenburg County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Mecklenburg County | North Carolina | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 73.1 | 61.3 | 49.7 | 1.2× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 1.5 | 2.5 | 3.4 | 40% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.66 | 0.66 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.9% | 2.6% | 2.3% | 28% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 0.7% | 1.7% | 6.2% | 59% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 24.6% | 24.0% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 10.3% | 10.5% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 41.0% | 41.0% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 21.4% | 20.4% | 24.8% | same |
Compared with North Carolina, Mecklenburg County is lower on deaths per 100 crashes, garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice. It runs above North Carolina on crashes per 100k residents / yr.
Mecklenburg County at a glance: April garbage-truck crashes peak in April (14% of the year's total).
Overview
Since 2015, 9,717 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Mecklenburg County. They injured 6,305 people and killed 150.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly 2 truck crashes every day.
When crashes happen
June has the most truck crashes, 9.3% of the yearly total, while December has the fewest (7.7%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 41.0% of truck crashes, vs 41.0% for North Carolina.
By time of day, 8–9 am stands out with 7.6% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 0.7% of truck crashes, compared with 1.7% in North Carolina.
Where crashes happen
Roads with fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of ZIP 28203 since 2015: I-77 (15), I-85 (15), I-485 (11), US-29 (5) and SR-16 (4). No single road stands out.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 187 crashes, 1.9% of the total, against 2.6% across North Carolina.
The most garbage-truck crashes happen in April (14%).
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 3.0, vs 1.5 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for ZIP 28203 fleets
- Review driver schedules for June, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Waste haulers: April is the peak month for garbage-truck crashes in Mecklenburg County.
- 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.
Reporting was incomplete in 2024, so those years are greyed out and left out of rates and comparisons.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Mecklenburg County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-77 | 15 |
| I-85 | 15 |
| I-485 | 11 |
| US-29 | 5 |
| SR-16 | 4 |
| SR-24 | 2 |
| SR-49 | 2 |
| Steele Creek Rd | 2 |
| Brookshire Blvd | 1 |
| Carmel Rd | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Mecklenburg County) |
|---|---|
| Brookshire Blvd | 104 |
| N Tryon St | 89 |
| Wilkinson Blvd | 88 |
| Westinghouse Blvd | 79 |
| N Graham St | 77 |
| S Tryon St | 75 |
| Statesville Rd | 70 |
| Albemarle Rd | 69 |
ZIP 28203 at a glance
| Population | 18,823 |
| Density | 2,320 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $104,696 |
| Median home value | $708,344 |
| Home ownership | 29% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Mecklenburg 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 | 175 | — | 7.5 |
| 2000s | 486 | +177% | 8.1 |
| 2010s | 839 | +73% | 9.7 |
| 2020s | 765 | -9% | 11.2 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 175 a year in the 1990s and 765 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 12.0 a year in 2016–19 and 11.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 28203
How many truck crashes happen in ZIP 28203?
Mecklenburg County has had 9,717 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 6,305 people and killing 150.
When do most truck crashes happen in ZIP 28203?
The worst month is June: 9.3% of truck crashes in Mecklenburg County happen then.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in ZIP 28203?
187 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Mecklenburg County since 2015, 1.9% of all truck crashes.
How does ZIP 28203 compare with North Carolina for truck crashes?
Mecklenburg County records 73.1 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 61.3 across North Carolina.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in ZIP 28203?
Use the free Route Planner: enter your stops to get a risk score, safer alternatives and the low bridges on your route.
Crash reporting to FMCSA was incomplete in 2024; those years are greyed out and left out of rates. 2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.