ZIP 28412 (Wilmington, NC) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 28412: 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 |
Compared with North Carolina, New Hanover County is lower on 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).
What stands out in New Hanover County: 1 in 23 of truck crashes here involve garbage trucks: 4.3%, vs 2.6% in North Carolina.
Overview
Police reported 924 crashes involving commercial trucks in New Hanover County since 2015: 500 people were injured and 19 were killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 4 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
March has the most truck crashes, 10.2% of the yearly total, while February has the fewest (6.5%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 40.9% of truck crashes, vs 41.0% for 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
The deadliest road for trucks within 10 miles of ZIP 28412 is US-74, with 3 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. After it: US-17 (2), Covil Ave (1) and Morningside Dr (1).
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).
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 2.8, vs 1.9 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for ZIP 28412 fleets
- Review driver schedules for March, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Check whether your routes use US-74, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- Waste haulers: October is the peak month for garbage-truck crashes in New Hanover County.
- 25.9% of truck crashes happen between 6 and 10 am, above North Carolina; consider earlier or later starts where possible.
- 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.
Reporting was incomplete in 2025, so those years are greyed out and left out of rates and comparisons.
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 | 3 |
| US-17 | 2 |
| Covil Ave | 1 |
| Morningside Dr | 1 |
| S 17th St | 1 |
| SR-133 | 1 |
| SR-87 | 1 |
| Ssr-1302 N 23rd St | 1 |
| US-421 | 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 28412 at a glance
| Population | 44,166 |
| Density | 766 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $71,636 |
| Median home value | $371,785 |
| 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. NHTSA counts 2.0 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 2.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 28412
How many truck crashes happen in ZIP 28412?
924 truck crashes have been reported in New Hanover County since 2015, with 19 deaths and 500 injuries.
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in ZIP 28412?
US-74 had 3 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of ZIP 28412 since 2015, more than any other road.
When do most truck crashes happen in ZIP 28412?
March has the most truck crashes in New Hanover County, 10.2% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in ZIP 28412?
Since 2015, New Hanover County has reported 41 garbage-truck crashes, or 4.4% of its truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in ZIP 28412 compare with North Carolina?
Per 100,000 residents, New Hanover County has 34.4 truck crashes a year; North Carolina has 61.3.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in ZIP 28412?
Use the free Route Planner: enter your stops to get a risk score, safer alternatives and the low bridges on your route.
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.