ZIP 28645 (Lenoir, NC) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 28645: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Caldwell 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 345 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Caldwell County compares with North Carolina
Caldwell County against North Carolina and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Caldwell County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Caldwell County | North Carolina | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 36.6 | 61.3 | 49.7 | 40% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.7 | 2.5 | 3.4 | 1.5× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.61 | 0.66 | 0.49 | 8% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 3.1% | 2.6% | 2.3% | 1.2× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 2.5% | 1.7% | 6.2% | 1.4× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 25.9% | 24.0% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 9.2% | 10.5% | 13.8% | 12% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 41.2% | 41.0% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 12.6% | 20.4% | 24.8% | 38% below the state |
Caldwell County sits below North Carolina on crashes per 100k residents / yr, injuries per crash and in rain, sleet or snow. Where it is higher: deaths per 100 crashes, garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice.
ZIP 28645 at a glance: US-321 3 fatal truck crashes since 2015, more than any other road within 10 miles of ZIP 28645.
Overview
Caldwell County has recorded 345 truck crashes since 2015, with 211 people injured and 13 killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 12 days.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in March (12.8% of the year) and are lowest in May (5.8%).
November through March accounts for 41.2% of truck crashes here, compared with 41.0% in North Carolina.
More truck crashes happen at 7–8 am than at any other hour (8.7%).
Road surface: 2.5% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (North Carolina: 1.7%).
Where crashes happen
Within this area, US-321 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (3). It is followed by Ssr-1933 Southwest Blvd (2), SR-1159 (1) and SR-18 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
11 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 3.2% share (North Carolina: 2.6%).
Route planning tips for ZIP 28645 fleets
- Build extra time into March routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Check whether your routes use US-321, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- 25.9% of truck crashes happen between 6 and 10 am, above North Carolina; consider earlier or later starts where possible.
- With 2.5% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above North Carolina), plan winter equipment checks early.
- 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 Caldwell County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-321 | 3 |
| Ssr-1933 Southwest Blvd | 2 |
| SR-1159 | 1 |
| SR-18 | 1 |
| Ssr-1001 Connelly Springs Rd | 1 |
| Ssr-1145 Virginia St | 1 |
| Ssr-1404 Beecher Anderson Rd | 1 |
| US-64 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Caldwell County) |
|---|---|
| Morganton Blvd | 14 |
| Blowing Rock Blvd | 9 |
| Hickory Blvd | 6 |
| Southwest Blvd | 4 |
| Harper Ave | 3 |
| Norwood St | 3 |
| Wilkesboro Blvd | 3 |
| Falls Avenue | 2 |
ZIP 28645 at a glance
| Population | 45,997 |
| Density | 54 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $51,650 |
| Median home value | $178,906 |
| Home ownership | 71% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Caldwell 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 | 21 | — | 1.9 |
| 2000s | 28 | +35% | 1.4 |
| 2010s | 32 | +14% | 0.9 |
| 2020s | 26 | -20% | 1.8 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 21 a year in the 1990s and 26 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal large-truck crashes: 1.0 a year in 2016–19, 1.8 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 28645
How common are truck crashes in ZIP 28645?
345 truck crashes have been reported in Caldwell County since 2015, with 13 deaths and 211 injuries.
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in ZIP 28645?
NHTSA data shows US-321 with 3 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 28645 since 2015, the highest of any road.
When do most truck crashes happen in ZIP 28645?
March has the most truck crashes in Caldwell County, 12.8% of the yearly total.
Are garbage truck crashes common in ZIP 28645?
Garbage trucks were involved in 11 reported crashes in Caldwell County since 2015 (3.2% of truck crashes).
How does ZIP 28645 compare with North Carolina for truck crashes?
The yearly rate is 36.6 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Caldwell County, vs 61.3 for North Carolina.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in ZIP 28645?
The free Route Planner takes your stops and returns a route risk score, safer alternatives and low-bridge warnings.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.