ZIP 28401 (Wilmington, NC) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 28401: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in New Hanover 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
2.8 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 1.9 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How New Hanover County compares with North Carolina
New Hanover County against North Carolina and the US, 2015–2024 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where New Hanover County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2024) | New Hanover County | North Carolina | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 34.4 | 61.3 | 49.7 | 44% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 1.9 | 2.5 | 3.4 | 24% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.54 | 0.66 | 0.49 | 18% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 4.3% | 2.6% | 2.3% | 1.7× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 0.4% | 1.7% | 6.2% | 79% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 25.9% | 24.0% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 8.6% | 10.5% | 13.8% | 18% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 40.9% | 41.0% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 11.3% | 20.4% | 24.8% | 44% below the state |
New Hanover County has lower values than North Carolina for crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash. It stands out for higher garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am).
The headline for New Hanover County: 1 in 23 of truck crashes here involve garbage trucks: 4.3%, vs 2.6% in North Carolina.
Overview
New Hanover County has recorded 924 truck crashes since 2015, with 500 people injured and 19 killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 4 days.
When crashes happen
The worst month is March with 10.2% of truck crashes; the quietest is February at 6.5%.
The five winter months (November to March) hold 40.9% of truck crashes, against 41.0% across North Carolina.
The busiest hour is 11 am–12 pm, with 9.7% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 0.4% of truck crashes, compared with 1.7% in North Carolina.
Where crashes happen
Within this area, US-74 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (4). It is followed by US-17 (3), US-421 (3) and Covil Ave (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 41 of the truck crashes here, or 4.4%, compared with 2.6% in North Carolina.
Their busiest month is October, with 12% of garbage-truck crashes.
They recorded 2.8 deaths per 100 crashes, against 1.9 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for ZIP 28401 fleets
- Review driver schedules for March, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Look at alternatives to US-74 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- For residential and commercial waste routes, look again at October schedules: garbage-truck crashes peak then.
- Morning starts matter: 25.9% of truck crashes fall between 6 and 10 am, higher than North Carolina.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
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.
Crash reporting for 2025 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 New Hanover County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-74 | 4 |
| US-17 | 3 |
| US-421 | 3 |
| Covil Ave | 1 |
| I-40 | 1 |
| Morningside Dr | 1 |
| S 17th St | 1 |
| SR-133 | 1 |
| SR-87 | 1 |
| Ssr-1002 Holly Shelter Rd | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (New Hanover County) |
|---|---|
| Market St | 54 |
| Carolina Beach Rd | 54 |
| S College Rd | 33 |
| S 17Th St | 17 |
| Oleander Dr | 14 |
| Shipyard Blvd | 13 |
| Eastwood Rd | 12 |
| Martin Luther King Jr | 12 |
ZIP 28401 at a glance
| Population | 22,007 |
| Density | 274 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $57,968 |
| Median home value | $296,410 |
| Home ownership | 41% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in New Hanover 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 | 50 | — | 1.6 |
| 2000s | 62 | +23% | 1.2 |
| 2010s | 84 | +37% | 1.5 |
| 2020s | 71 | -16% | 2.2 |
In the 1990s about 50 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 71. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 2.0 a year in 2016–19 and 2.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 28401
How common are truck crashes in ZIP 28401?
924 truck crashes have been reported in New Hanover County since 2015, with 19 deaths and 500 injuries.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in ZIP 28401?
US-74 had 4 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of ZIP 28401 since 2015, more than any other road.
When do most truck crashes happen in ZIP 28401?
Truck crashes in New Hanover County peak in March, with 10.2% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in ZIP 28401?
Since 2015, New Hanover County has reported 41 garbage-truck crashes, or 4.4% of its truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in ZIP 28401 compare with North Carolina?
The yearly rate is 34.4 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in New Hanover County, vs 61.3 for North Carolina.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in ZIP 28401?
The free Route Planner takes your stops and returns a route risk score, safer alternatives and low-bridge warnings.
Crash reporting to FMCSA was incomplete in 2025; those years are greyed out and left out of rates. 2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.