ZIP 28223 (Charlotte, NC) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 28223: 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. Where it is higher: crashes per 100k residents / yr.
ZIP 28223 at a glance: I-85 deadliest road: 11 fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 28223 since 2015.
Overview
Police reported 9,717 crashes involving commercial trucks in Mecklenburg County since 2015: 6,305 people were injured and 150 were killed.
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%.
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 41.0% of truck crashes, vs 41.0% for 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
The deadliest road for trucks within 10 miles of ZIP 28223 is I-85, with 11 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. After it: I-485 (9), I-77 (9) and SR-24 (3).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 187 crashes, 1.9% of the total, against 2.6% across North Carolina.
Garbage-truck crashes peak in April (14% of them).
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 3.0, vs 1.5 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for ZIP 28223 fleets
- Plan June schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Mecklenburg County.
- Check whether your routes use I-85, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- For residential and commercial waste routes, look again at April schedules: garbage-truck crashes peak then.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
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 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-85 | 11 |
| I-485 | 9 |
| I-77 | 9 |
| SR-24 | 3 |
| US-29 | 2 |
| Alexanderiana Rd | 1 |
| Blair Rd | 1 |
| Hovis Rd | 1 |
| Matheson Ave | 1 |
| Mt. Holly-Huntersville 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 28223 at a glance
| Population | 4,953 |
| Density | 2,810 per sq mi |
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 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 175 to 765. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. NHTSA counts 12.0 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 11.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 28223
How common are truck crashes in ZIP 28223?
Since 2015, 9,717 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Mecklenburg County (6,305 injured, 150 killed).
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in ZIP 28223?
Since 2015, I-85 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 28223: 11.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in ZIP 28223?
June has the most truck crashes in Mecklenburg County, 9.3% of the yearly total.
Are garbage truck crashes common in ZIP 28223?
Since 2015, Mecklenburg County has reported 187 garbage-truck crashes, or 1.9% of its truck crashes.
How does ZIP 28223 compare with North Carolina for truck crashes?
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 28223?
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.