ZIP 28409 (Wilmington, NC) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 28409: 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 runs above North Carolina on garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am).
New Hanover County at a glance: 1 in 23 garbage-truck share of crashes is 4.3%, against 2.6% for 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%.
November through March accounts for 40.9% of truck crashes here, compared with 41.0% in North Carolina.
The busiest hour is 11 am–12 pm, 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 28409 since 2015: US-17 (2), US-74 (2), Covil Ave (1), Morningside Dr (1) and S 17th St (1). No single road stands out.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 41 crashes, 4.4% of the total, against 2.6% across North Carolina.
Garbage-truck crashes peak in October (12% of them).
They recorded 2.8 deaths per 100 crashes, against 1.9 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for ZIP 28409 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.
- The morning rush (6–10 am) holds 25.9% of truck crashes here, more than North Carolina; adjust start times where you can.
- 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.
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-17 | 2 |
| US-74 | 2 |
| Covil Ave | 1 |
| Morningside Dr | 1 |
| S 17th St | 1 |
| Ssr-1175 N Kerr Ave | 1 |
| Ssr-1302 N 23rd St | 1 |
| Ssr-2048 Gordon Rd | 1 |
| US-117 | 1 |
| US-76 | 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 28409 at a glance
| Population | 36,163 |
| Density | 623 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $111,048 |
| Median home value | $421,609 |
| Home ownership | 84% |
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 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 28409
How many truck accidents are there in ZIP 28409?
924 truck crashes have been reported in New Hanover County since 2015, with 19 deaths and 500 injuries.
When do most truck crashes happen in ZIP 28409?
The worst month is March: 10.2% of truck crashes in New Hanover County happen then.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in ZIP 28409?
Garbage trucks were involved in 41 reported crashes in New Hanover County since 2015 (4.4% of truck crashes).
How does ZIP 28409 compare with North Carolina for truck crashes?
Per 100,000 residents, New Hanover County has 34.4 truck crashes a year; North Carolina has 61.3.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in ZIP 28409?
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.