ZIP 28690 (Valdese, NC) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 28690: 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). It runs above North Carolina on on snow, slush or ice and in rain, sleet or snow.
The headline for ZIP 28690: I-40 most fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 28690: 8 since 2015.
Overview
Burke County has recorded 652 truck crashes since 2015, with 400 people injured and 14 killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 6 days.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in October (11.7% of the year) and are lowest in April (5.1%).
November through March accounts for 39.0% of truck crashes here, compared with 41.0% in North Carolina.
By time of day, 3–4 pm stands out with 9.8% of truck crashes.
1.9% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 1.7% across North Carolina.
Where crashes happen
I-40 leads within 10 miles of ZIP 28690 with 8 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. After it: US-64 (2), SR-1159 (1) and SR-18 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 16 crashes, 2.5% of the total, against 2.6% across North Carolina.
Route planning tips for ZIP 28690 fleets
- Build extra time into October routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Where you can, review stops along I-40; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- 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 Burke County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-40 | 8 |
| US-64 | 2 |
| SR-1159 | 1 |
| SR-18 | 1 |
| Ssr-1001 Connelly Springs Rd | 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 28690 at a glance
| Population | 9,196 |
| Density | 165 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $67,000 |
| Median home value | $202,312 |
| Home ownership | 79% |
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 28690
How many truck accidents are there in ZIP 28690?
Burke County has had 652 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 400 people and killing 14.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in ZIP 28690?
Since 2015, I-40 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 28690: 8.
Which month has the most truck crashes in ZIP 28690?
The worst month is October: 11.7% of truck crashes in Burke County happen then.
Are garbage truck crashes common in ZIP 28690?
16 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Burke County since 2015, 2.5% of all truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in ZIP 28690 compared with North Carolina?
Burke County records 64.3 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 61.3 across North Carolina.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in ZIP 28690?
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.