ZIP 28685 (Traphill, NC) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 28685: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Wilkes 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
15 of 431 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Wilkes County compares with North Carolina
Wilkes County against North Carolina and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Wilkes County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Wilkes County | North Carolina | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 57.4 | 61.3 | 49.7 | same |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.9 | 2.5 | 3.4 | 1.2× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.74 | 0.66 | 0.49 | 1.1× 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) | 26.3% | 24.0% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 6.9% | 10.5% | 13.8% | 34% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 46.2% | 41.0% | 41.9% | 1.1× the state |
| After dark | 21.1% | 20.4% | 24.8% | same |
Compared with North Carolina, Wilkes County is lower on in rain, sleet or snow. It stands out for higher deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share.
Wilkes County at a glance: 1 in 28 crashes involve a garbage truck (15 since 2015), vs 2.6% across North Carolina.
Overview
Police reported 431 crashes involving commercial trucks in Wilkes County since 2015: 318 people were injured and 12 were killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 10 days.
When crashes happen
January has the most truck crashes, 11.1% of the yearly total, while July has the fewest (4.4%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 46.2% of truck crashes, against 41.0% across North Carolina.
The busiest hour is 3–4 pm, with 8.4% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 1.9% of truck crashes, compared with 1.7% in North Carolina.
Where crashes happen
Since 2015, fatal crashes with a large truck within 10 miles of ZIP 28685 happened on US-21 (2), CR-1100 (1) and Ssr-1931 Greenhorn Rd (1); no road leads clearly.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 15 of the truck crashes here, or 3.5%, compared with 2.6% in North Carolina.
Route planning tips for ZIP 28685 fleets
- Plan January schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Wilkes County.
- The morning rush (6–10 am) holds 26.3% of truck crashes here, more than North Carolina; adjust start times where you can.
- With 1.9% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above North Carolina), plan winter equipment checks early.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
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 Wilkes County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-21 | 2 |
| CR-1100 | 1 |
| Ssr-1931 Greenhorn Rd | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Wilkes County) |
|---|---|
| Call St | 2 |
| River St | 2 |
| US-421 | 2 |
| Wilkesboro Ave | 2 |
| 2Nd St | 1 |
| 6Th Street | 1 |
| Bojangles | 1 |
| Chatham Street | 1 |
ZIP 28685 at a glance
| Population | 2,181 |
| Density | 18 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $46,406 |
| Home ownership | 84% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Wilkes 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 | 28 | — | 1.8 |
| 2000s | 29 | +3% | 1.8 |
| 2010s | 39 | +35% | 1.0 |
| 2020s | 34 | -13% | 1.8 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 28 to 34. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 1.0 a year in 2016–19 and 1.8 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 28685
How many truck crashes happen in ZIP 28685?
431 truck crashes have been reported in Wilkes County since 2015, with 12 deaths and 318 injuries.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in ZIP 28685?
The worst month is January: 11.1% of truck crashes in Wilkes County happen then.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in ZIP 28685?
Garbage trucks were involved in 15 reported crashes in Wilkes County since 2015 (3.5% of truck crashes).
What is the truck crash rate in ZIP 28685 compared with North Carolina?
Wilkes County records 57.4 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 61.3 across North Carolina.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in ZIP 28685?
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.