ZIP 28278 (Charlotte, NC) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 28278: 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. It runs above North Carolina on crashes per 100k residents / yr.
ZIP 28278 at a glance: I-77 15 fatal truck crashes since 2015, more than any other road within 10 miles of ZIP 28278.
Overview
Mecklenburg County has recorded 9,717 truck crashes since 2015, with 6,305 people injured and 150 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%.
The five winter months (November to March) hold 41.0% of truck crashes, against 41.0% across North Carolina.
More truck crashes happen at 8–9 am than at any other hour (7.6%).
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 0.7% of truck crashes, compared with 1.7% in North Carolina.
Where crashes happen
I-77 leads within 10 miles of ZIP 28278 with 15 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. Next come I-85 (7), I-485 (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 28278 fleets
- Review driver schedules for June, the month with the most truck crashes.
- 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.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
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.
Crash reporting for 2024 is incomplete; those years are shown in grey and not used for rates.
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 | 7 |
| I-485 | 5 |
| US-29 | 4 |
| SR-49 | 2 |
| Steele Creek Rd | 2 |
| Carmel Rd | 1 |
| Old Pineville Rd | 1 |
| SR-160 | 1 |
| SR-273 | 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 28278 at a glance
| Population | 37,420 |
| Density | 502 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $125,470 |
| Median home value | $461,566 |
| Home ownership | 74% |
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. 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 28278
How many truck crashes happen in ZIP 28278?
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 28278?
Since 2015, I-77 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 28278: 15.
Which month has the most truck crashes in ZIP 28278?
Truck crashes in Mecklenburg County peak in June, with 9.3% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in ZIP 28278?
Since 2015, Mecklenburg County has reported 187 garbage-truck crashes, or 1.9% of its truck crashes.
How does ZIP 28278 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.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in ZIP 28278?
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.