ZIP 28472 (Whiteville, NC) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 28472: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Columbus 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
4.5 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 6.2 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Columbus County compares with North Carolina
Columbus County against North Carolina and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Columbus County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Columbus County | North Carolina | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 105.3 | 61.3 | 49.7 | 1.7× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 6.2 | 2.5 | 3.4 | 2.5× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.87 | 0.66 | 0.49 | 1.3× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 3.8% | 2.6% | 2.3% | 1.5× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 0.2% | 1.7% | 6.2% | 90% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 23.3% | 24.0% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 6.9% | 10.5% | 13.8% | 34% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 41.5% | 41.0% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 24.5% | 20.4% | 24.8% | 1.2× the state |
Columbus County has lower values than North Carolina for on snow, slush or ice and in rain, sleet or snow. It runs above North Carolina on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash.
The headline for Columbus County: 6.2 deaths for every 100 truck crashes, against 2.5 across North Carolina.
Overview
Since 2015, 611 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Columbus County. They injured 526 people and killed 36.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 7 days.
When crashes happen
July has the most truck crashes, 10.5% of the yearly total, while January has the fewest (7.0%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 41.5% of truck crashes, vs 41.0% for North Carolina.
More truck crashes happen at 12–1 pm than at any other hour (9.7%).
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 0.2% of truck crashes, compared with 1.7% in North Carolina.
Where crashes happen
US-74 leads within 10 miles of ZIP 28472 with 3 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. After it: SR-410 (1) and Ssr-1004 Rough And Ready Rd (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 26 crashes, 4.3% of the total, against 2.6% across North Carolina.
Garbage-truck crashes peak in February (23% of them).
They recorded 4.5 deaths per 100 crashes, against 6.2 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for ZIP 28472 fleets
- Build extra time into July routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Where you can, review stops along US-74; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- For residential and commercial waste routes, look again at February schedules: garbage-truck crashes peak then.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
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.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Columbus County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-74 | 3 |
| SR-410 | 1 |
| Ssr-1004 Rough And Ready Rd | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Columbus County) |
|---|---|
| International Paper | 7 |
| Love Mill Rd | 6 |
| Jk Powell Blvd | 5 |
| Joe Brown Hwy | 3 |
| N Brown St | 3 |
| N Jk Powell Blvd | 3 |
| Han-Dee Hugo | 2 |
| Hickman Rd | 2 |
ZIP 28472 at a glance
| Population | 16,780 |
| Density | 33 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $42,003 |
| Median home value | $143,641 |
| Home ownership | 71% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Columbus 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 | — | 3.6 |
| 2000s | 35 | +30% | 2.3 |
| 2010s | 52 | +49% | 2.5 |
| 2020s | 47 | -11% | 2.6 |
In the 1990s about 27 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 47. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. NHTSA counts 3.2 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 2.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 28472
How many truck crashes happen in ZIP 28472?
Columbus County has had 611 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 526 people and killing 36.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in ZIP 28472?
NHTSA data shows US-74 with 3 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 28472 since 2015, the highest of any road.
When do most truck crashes happen in ZIP 28472?
Truck crashes in Columbus County peak in July, with 10.5% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in ZIP 28472?
26 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Columbus County since 2015, 4.3% of all truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in ZIP 28472 compare with North Carolina?
Per 100,000 residents, Columbus County has 105.3 truck crashes a year; North Carolina has 61.3.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in ZIP 28472?
Use the free Route Planner: enter your stops to get a risk score, safer alternatives and the low bridges on your route.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.