ZIP 28671 (Rutherford College, NC) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 28671: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Burke 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
16 of 652 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Burke County compares with North Carolina
Burke County against North Carolina and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Burke County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Burke County | North Carolina | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 64.3 | 61.3 | 49.7 | same |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.2 | 2.5 | 3.4 | 12% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.61 | 0.66 | 0.49 | 8% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.6% | 2.6% | 2.3% | same |
| On snow, slush or ice | 1.9% | 1.7% | 6.2% | 1.1× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 20.9% | 24.0% | 23.7% | 13% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 12.8% | 10.5% | 13.8% | 1.2× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 39.0% | 41.0% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 21.1% | 20.4% | 24.8% | same |
Burke County sits below North Carolina on deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and morning rush (6–10 am). Where it is higher: on snow, slush or ice and in rain, sleet or snow.
What stands out in ZIP 28671: I-40 most fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 28671: 7 since 2015.
Overview
Police reported 652 crashes involving commercial trucks in Burke County since 2015: 400 people were injured and 14 were killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 6 days.
When crashes happen
The worst month is October with 11.7% of truck crashes; the quietest is April at 5.1%.
November through March accounts for 39.0% of truck crashes here, compared with 41.0% in North Carolina.
The busiest hour is 3–4 pm, with 9.8% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 1.9% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (North Carolina: 1.7%).
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks within 10 miles of ZIP 28671 is I-40, with 7 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. It is followed by US-321 (3), Ssr-1933 Southwest Blvd (2) and US-64 (2).
Garbage & waste trucks
16 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 2.5% share (North Carolina: 2.6%).
Route planning tips for ZIP 28671 fleets
- Plan October schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Burke County.
- Check whether your routes use I-40, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 1.9% of truck crashes here, more than North Carolina; schedule winter checks early.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
About the data
Crash counts come from the FMCSA crash file (police-reported crashes involving trucks over 10,000 lb); fatal-crash locations come from NHTSA FARS. Text on this page states only what these numbers show.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Burke County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-40 | 7 |
| US-321 | 3 |
| Ssr-1933 Southwest Blvd | 2 |
| US-64 | 2 |
| SR-1159 | 1 |
| SR-18 | 1 |
| Ssr-1001 Connelly Springs Rd | 1 |
| Ssr-1145 Virginia St | 1 |
| Ssr-1786 Miller Bridge Rd | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Burke County) |
|---|---|
| Burkemont Ave | 11 |
| W Fleming Dr | 10 |
| Sanford Dr | 8 |
| S Sterling St | 7 |
| N Green St | 7 |
| Main St | 7 |
| Kirksey Dr | 5 |
| Carbon City Rd | 4 |
ZIP 28671 at a glance
| Population | 375 |
| Density | 351 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $73,929 |
| Median home value | $290,218 |
| Home ownership | 56% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Burke 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 | 40 | — | 2.7 |
| 2000s | 47 | +17% | 1.5 |
| 2010s | 54 | +15% | 1.2 |
| 2020s | 50 | -8% | 1.0 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 40 to 50. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal large-truck crashes: 2.0 a year in 2016–19, 1.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 28671
How common are truck crashes in ZIP 28671?
652 truck crashes have been reported in Burke County since 2015, with 14 deaths and 400 injuries.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in ZIP 28671?
Since 2015, I-40 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 28671: 7.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in ZIP 28671?
Truck crashes in Burke County peak in October, with 11.7% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in ZIP 28671?
Since 2015, Burke County has reported 16 garbage-truck crashes, or 2.5% of its truck crashes.
How does ZIP 28671 compare with North Carolina for truck crashes?
The yearly rate is 64.3 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Burke County, vs 61.3 for North Carolina.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in ZIP 28671?
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.