ZIP 28405 (Wilmington, NC) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 28405: 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 sits below North Carolina on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash. It runs above North Carolina on garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am).
New Hanover County at a glance: 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.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 4 days.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in March (10.2% of the year) and are lowest in February (6.5%).
November through March accounts for 40.9% of truck crashes here, compared with 41.0% in North Carolina.
By time of day, 11 am–12 pm stands out with 9.7% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 0.4% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (North Carolina: 1.7%).
Where crashes happen
Roads with fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of ZIP 28405 since 2015: US-421 (3), US-74 (3), Ssr-1336 Sidbury Rd (2), US-17 (2) and Covil Ave (1). No single road stands out.
Garbage & waste trucks
41 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 4.4% share (North Carolina: 2.6%).
Garbage-truck crashes peak in October (12% of them).
Per 100 crashes, garbage trucks recorded 2.8 deaths compared with 1.9 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for ZIP 28405 fleets
- Plan March schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in New Hanover County.
- 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.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
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-421 | 3 |
| US-74 | 3 |
| Ssr-1336 Sidbury Rd | 2 |
| US-17 | 2 |
| Covil Ave | 1 |
| I-40 | 1 |
| Morningside Dr | 1 |
| S 17th St | 1 |
| SR-133 | 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 28405 at a glance
| Population | 35,467 |
| Density | 582 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $70,274 |
| Median home value | $369,251 |
| Home ownership | 58% |
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 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 50 to 71. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal large-truck crashes: 2.0 a year in 2016–19, 2.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 28405
How many truck crashes happen in ZIP 28405?
924 truck crashes have been reported in New Hanover County since 2015, with 19 deaths and 500 injuries.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in ZIP 28405?
The worst month is March: 10.2% of truck crashes in New Hanover County happen then.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in ZIP 28405?
41 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in New Hanover County since 2015, 4.4% of all truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in ZIP 28405 compared 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 28405?
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 2025; those years are greyed out and left out of rates. 2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.