ZIP 28609 (Catawba, NC) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 28609: 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.
The headline for ZIP 28609: I-40 5 fatal truck crashes since 2015, more than any other road within 10 miles of ZIP 28609.
Overview
Since 2015, 1,434 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Catawba County. They injured 844 people and killed 27.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 3 days.
When crashes happen
The worst month is November with 9.1% of truck crashes; the quietest is December at 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 28609 with 5 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. After it: SR-16 (3), US-70 (3) and SR-150 (2).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 53 crashes, 3.7% of the total, against 2.6% across North Carolina.
Garbage-truck crashes peak in July (13% of them).
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 0.0, vs 1.9 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for ZIP 28609 fleets
- Review driver schedules for November, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Check whether your routes use I-40, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- 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.
- 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.
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 | 5 |
| SR-16 | 3 |
| US-70 | 3 |
| SR-150 | 2 |
| SR-10 | 1 |
| Ssr-1003 Buffaloe Shoals Rd | 1 |
| Ssr-1374 | 1 |
| Ssr-1861 Caleb Rd | 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 28609 at a glance
| Population | 6,615 |
| Density | 56 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $77,679 |
| Median home value | $235,084 |
| Home ownership | 85% |
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 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 68 to 111. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. 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 28609
How many truck accidents are there in ZIP 28609?
Since 2015, 1,434 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Catawba County (844 injured, 27 killed).
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in ZIP 28609?
NHTSA data shows I-40 with 5 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 28609 since 2015, the highest of any road.
When do most truck crashes happen in ZIP 28609?
The worst month is November: 9.1% of truck crashes in Catawba County happen then.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in ZIP 28609?
Garbage trucks were involved in 53 reported crashes in Catawba County since 2015 (3.7% of truck crashes).
What is the truck crash rate in ZIP 28609 compared with North Carolina?
Per 100,000 residents, Catawba County has 73.7 truck crashes a year; North Carolina has 61.3.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in ZIP 28609?
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.