ZIP 28273 (Charlotte, NC) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 28273: 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 stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr.
The headline for ZIP 28273: I-77 deadliest road: 15 fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 28273 since 2015.
Overview
Mecklenburg County has recorded 9,717 truck crashes since 2015, with 6,305 people injured and 150 killed.
That averages about 2 truck crashes a day in fully reported years.
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.
Road surface: 0.7% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (North Carolina: 1.7%).
Where crashes happen
Within this area, I-77 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (15). Next come I-485 (6), I-85 (5) and US-29 (4).
Garbage & waste trucks
187 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 1.9% share (North Carolina: 2.6%).
Their busiest month is April, with 14% of garbage-truck crashes.
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 3.0, vs 1.5 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for ZIP 28273 fleets
- Review driver schedules for June, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Where you can, review stops along I-77; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- Waste haulers: April is the peak month for garbage-truck crashes in Mecklenburg County.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
About the data
Crash counts come from the FMCSA crash file (police-reported crashes involving trucks over 10,000 lb); fatal-crash locations come from NHTSA FARS. Text on this page states only what these numbers show.
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 | 15 |
| I-485 | 6 |
| I-85 | 5 |
| US-29 | 4 |
| SR-49 | 2 |
| Steele Creek Rd | 2 |
| Carmel Rd | 1 |
| Mu-S Mint St | 1 |
| Old Pineville Rd | 1 |
| Quail Hollow 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 28273 at a glance
| Population | 50,966 |
| Density | 874 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $87,350 |
| Median home value | $340,860 |
| Home ownership | 50% |
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 |
In the 1990s about 175 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 765. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal large-truck crashes: 12.0 a year in 2016–19, 11.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 28273
How many truck accidents are there in ZIP 28273?
Since 2015, 9,717 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Mecklenburg County (6,305 injured, 150 killed).
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in ZIP 28273?
Since 2015, I-77 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 28273: 15.
When do most truck crashes happen in ZIP 28273?
The worst month is June: 9.3% of truck crashes in Mecklenburg County happen then.
Are garbage truck crashes common in ZIP 28273?
Garbage trucks were involved in 187 reported crashes in Mecklenburg County since 2015 (1.9% of truck crashes).
How do truck crashes in ZIP 28273 compare with North Carolina?
Per 100,000 residents, Mecklenburg County has 73.1 truck crashes a year; North Carolina has 61.3.
How can I plan a safer truck route in ZIP 28273?
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.