ZIP 28205 (Charlotte, NC) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 28205: 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 |
Mecklenburg County sits below North Carolina on deaths per 100 crashes, garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice. Where it is higher: crashes per 100k residents / yr.
ZIP 28205 at a glance: I-77 12 fatal truck crashes since 2015, more than any other road within 10 miles of ZIP 28205.
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
The worst month is June with 9.3% of truck crashes; the quietest is December at 7.7%.
November through March accounts for 41.0% of truck crashes here, compared with 41.0% in North Carolina.
The busiest hour is 8–9 am, 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
Within this area, I-77 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (12). Next come I-85 (11), I-485 (9) and US-29 (4).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 187 of the truck crashes here, or 1.9%, compared with 2.6% in North Carolina.
The most garbage-truck crashes happen in April (14%).
They recorded 3.0 deaths per 100 crashes, against 1.5 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for ZIP 28205 fleets
- Plan June schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Mecklenburg County.
- Look at alternatives to I-77 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in April; review collection routes for that month.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
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.
Reporting to FMCSA was incomplete in 2024; rates and comparisons skip those years.
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 | 12 |
| I-85 | 11 |
| I-485 | 9 |
| US-29 | 4 |
| SR-16 | 3 |
| SR-24 | 3 |
| Blair Rd | 1 |
| Hovis Rd | 1 |
| Matheson Ave | 1 |
| Moores Chapel 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 28205 at a glance
| Population | 51,806 |
| Density | 1,691 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $75,622 |
| Median home value | $456,474 |
| Home ownership | 42% |
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 28205
How many truck crashes happen in ZIP 28205?
9,717 truck crashes have been reported in Mecklenburg County since 2015, with 150 deaths and 6,305 injuries.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in ZIP 28205?
NHTSA data shows I-77 with 12 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 28205 since 2015, the highest of any road.
Which month has the most truck crashes in ZIP 28205?
June has the most truck crashes in Mecklenburg County, 9.3% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in ZIP 28205?
187 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Mecklenburg County since 2015, 1.9% of all truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in ZIP 28205 compared with North Carolina?
Per 100,000 residents, Mecklenburg County has 73.1 truck crashes a year; North Carolina has 61.3.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in ZIP 28205?
Paste your stops into the free CurbWaste Route Planner: it scores your route against fatal-crash locations, suggests safer alternatives and flags low bridges.
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.