ZIP 28601 (Hickory, NC) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 28601: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Catawba 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
0.0 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 1.9 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Catawba County compares with North Carolina
Catawba County against North Carolina and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Catawba County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Catawba County | North Carolina | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 73.7 | 61.3 | 49.7 | 1.2× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 1.9 | 2.5 | 3.4 | 24% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.59 | 0.66 | 0.49 | 11% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 3.6% | 2.6% | 2.3% | 1.4× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 1.9% | 1.7% | 6.2% | 1.1× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 24.3% | 24.0% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 10.9% | 10.5% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 42.5% | 41.0% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 17.1% | 20.4% | 24.8% | 16% below the state |
Catawba County has lower values than North Carolina for deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and after dark. Where it is higher: crashes per 100k residents / yr, garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice.
What stands out in ZIP 28601: I-40 7 fatal truck crashes since 2015, more than any other road within 10 miles of ZIP 28601.
Overview
Police reported 1,434 crashes involving commercial trucks in Catawba County since 2015: 844 people were injured and 27 were killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 3 days.
When crashes happen
November has the most truck crashes, 9.1% of the yearly total, while December has the fewest (7.5%).
November through March accounts for 42.5% of truck crashes here, compared with 41.0% in North Carolina.
The busiest hour is 1–2 pm, with 8.0% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 1.9% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (North Carolina: 1.7%).
Where crashes happen
I-40 leads within 10 miles of ZIP 28601 with 7 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. Next come SR-1400 (2), US-321 (2) and 9th Ave (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 53 of the truck crashes here, or 3.7%, compared with 2.6% in North Carolina.
The most garbage-truck crashes happen in July (13%).
They recorded 0.0 deaths per 100 crashes, against 1.9 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for ZIP 28601 fleets
- Review driver schedules for November, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Look at alternatives to I-40 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- For residential and commercial waste routes, look again at July schedules: garbage-truck crashes peak then.
- 1.9% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice, above North Carolina; plan winter equipment checks before the season.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
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.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Catawba County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-40 | 7 |
| SR-1400 | 2 |
| US-321 | 2 |
| 9th Ave | 1 |
| SR-127 | 1 |
| Ssr-1005 Mcdonald Pkwy Ne | 1 |
| Ssr-1005 Startown Rd | 1 |
| Ssr-1128 Barrett Mountain Rd | 1 |
| Ssr-127 | 1 |
| Ssr-1491 Section House Rd Nw | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Catawba County) |
|---|---|
| Rock Barn Rd Ne | 40 |
| Conover Blvd | 25 |
| Thornburg Dr Ne | 19 |
| 1St St | 15 |
| Startown Rd | 14 |
| 1St Ave Sw | 11 |
| 8Th St Dr Se | 11 |
| Mcdonald Pkwy Se | 11 |
ZIP 28601 at a glance
| Population | 53,329 |
| Density | 438 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $67,817 |
| Median home value | $264,697 |
| Home ownership | 68% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Catawba 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 | 68 | — | 3.5 |
| 2000s | 89 | +30% | 2.0 |
| 2010s | 116 | +30% | 2.0 |
| 2020s | 111 | -4% | 2.2 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 68 a year in the 1990s and 111 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal large-truck crashes: 1.8 a year in 2016–19, 2.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 28601
How common are truck crashes in ZIP 28601?
1,434 truck crashes have been reported in Catawba County since 2015, with 27 deaths and 844 injuries.
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in ZIP 28601?
Since 2015, I-40 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 28601: 7.
When do most truck crashes happen in ZIP 28601?
Truck crashes in Catawba County peak in November, with 9.1% of the year's crashes.
Are garbage truck crashes common in ZIP 28601?
Garbage trucks were involved in 53 reported crashes in Catawba County since 2015 (3.7% of truck crashes).
How do truck crashes in ZIP 28601 compare with North Carolina?
The yearly rate is 73.7 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Catawba County, vs 61.3 for North Carolina.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in ZIP 28601?
Paste your stops into the free CurbWaste Route Planner: it scores your route against fatal-crash locations, suggests safer alternatives and flags low bridges.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.