ZIP 28421 (Atkinson, NC) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 28421: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Pender 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
11 of 535 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Pender County compares with North Carolina
Pender County against North Carolina and the US, 2015–2024 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Pender County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2024) | Pender County | North Carolina | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 68.5 | 61.3 | 49.7 | 1.1× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 4.2 | 2.5 | 3.4 | 1.7× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.74 | 0.66 | 0.49 | 1.1× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.1% | 2.6% | 2.3% | 19% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 0.8% | 1.7% | 6.2% | 52% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 22.3% | 24.0% | 23.7% | 7% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 8.1% | 10.5% | 13.8% | 23% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 41.0% | 41.0% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 17.3% | 20.4% | 24.8% | 15% below the state |
Compared with North Carolina, Pender County is lower on garbage-truck share, on snow, slush or ice and morning rush (6–10 am). It runs above North Carolina on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash.
What stands out in ZIP 28421: US-421 most fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 28421: 4 since 2015.
Overview
Pender County has recorded 535 truck crashes since 2015, with 392 people injured and 23 killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 8 days.
When crashes happen
The worst month is August with 10.1% of truck crashes; the quietest is July at 7.1%.
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 41.0% of truck crashes, vs 41.0% for North Carolina.
The busiest hour is 1–2 pm, with 10.5% of truck crashes.
0.8% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 1.7% across North Carolina.
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks within 10 miles of ZIP 28421 is US-421, with 4 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. After it: SR-210 (2), SR-11 (1) and Ssr-1206 Tuckahoe Rd (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
11 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 2.1% share (North Carolina: 2.6%).
Route planning tips for ZIP 28421 fleets
- Plan August schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Pender County.
- Where you can, review stops along US-421; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
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.
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 Pender County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-421 | 4 |
| SR-210 | 2 |
| SR-11 | 1 |
| Ssr-1206 Tuckahoe Rd | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Pender County) |
|---|---|
| Nc Hwy 53 | 3 |
| Private Property | 3 |
| Alderman St | 2 |
| E Bridgers St | 2 |
| Phoenix Travel Mart | 2 |
| W Wilmington St | 2 |
| Berkshire Dr. | 1 |
| Coastal Car Care Pva | 1 |
ZIP 28421 at a glance
| Population | 2,010 |
| Density | 14 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $60,025 |
| Median home value | $118,447 |
| Home ownership | 77% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Pender 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 | 27 | — | 2.1 |
| 2000s | 29 | +8% | 0.9 |
| 2010s | 43 | +47% | 1.6 |
| 2020s | 43 | +0% | 1.6 |
In the 1990s about 27 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 43. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 2.0 a year in 2016–19 and 1.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 28421
How many truck crashes happen in ZIP 28421?
535 truck crashes have been reported in Pender County since 2015, with 23 deaths and 392 injuries.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in ZIP 28421?
US-421 had 4 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of ZIP 28421 since 2015, more than any other road.
When do most truck crashes happen in ZIP 28421?
The worst month is August: 10.1% of truck crashes in Pender County happen then.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in ZIP 28421?
11 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Pender County since 2015, 2.1% of all truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in ZIP 28421 compared with North Carolina?
Pender County records 68.5 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 61.3 across North Carolina.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in ZIP 28421?
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.