ZIP 28704 (Arden, NC) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 28704: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Buncombe 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
1.3 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 1.4 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Buncombe County compares with North Carolina
Buncombe County against North Carolina and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Buncombe County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Buncombe County | North Carolina | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 69.0 | 61.3 | 49.7 | 1.1× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 1.4 | 2.5 | 3.4 | 44% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.51 | 0.66 | 0.49 | 23% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 3.6% | 2.6% | 2.3% | 1.4× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 2.5% | 1.7% | 6.2% | 1.5× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 20.2% | 24.0% | 23.7% | 16% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 11.9% | 10.5% | 13.8% | 1.1× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 41.4% | 41.0% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 19.1% | 20.4% | 24.8% | same |
Compared with North Carolina, Buncombe County is lower on deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and morning rush (6–10 am). It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr, garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice.
Buncombe County at a glance: 2.5% of truck crashes happened on snow, slush or ice, vs 1.7% in North Carolina.
Overview
Police reported 2,209 crashes involving commercial trucks in Buncombe County since 2015: 1,125 people were injured and 31 were killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 2 days.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in May (9.4% of the year) and are lowest in February (7.0%).
November through March accounts for 41.4% of truck crashes here, compared with 41.0% in North Carolina.
By time of day, 3–4 pm stands out with 8.3% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 2.5% of truck crashes, compared with 1.7% in North Carolina.
Where crashes happen
Fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 28704 since 2015 were spread across roads: I-26 (6), I-40 (6), US-25 (4), US-19 (3) and SR-191 (2).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 78 of the truck crashes here, or 3.5%, compared with 2.6% in North Carolina.
Garbage-truck crashes peak in October (12% of them).
They recorded 1.3 deaths per 100 crashes, against 1.4 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for ZIP 28704 fleets
- Build extra time into May routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- For residential and commercial waste routes, look again at October schedules: garbage-truck crashes peak then.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 2.5% 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 Buncombe County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-26 | 6 |
| I-40 | 6 |
| US-25 | 4 |
| US-19 | 3 |
| SR-191 | 2 |
| I-240 | 1 |
| SR-280 | 1 |
| SR-63 | 1 |
| SR-81 | 1 |
| Ssr-1006 Howard Gap Rd | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Buncombe County) |
|---|---|
| I-40 | 17 |
| Biltmore Ave | 10 |
| I-26 | 10 |
| Ta Truck Stop | 10 |
| Sand Hill Rd | 8 |
| Hendersonville Rd | 8 |
| US-25 | 6 |
| T/A Truck Stop | 6 |
ZIP 28704 at a glance
| Population | 24,138 |
| Density | 309 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $81,096 |
| Median home value | $387,715 |
| Home ownership | 59% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Buncombe 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 | 37 | — | 1.4 |
| 2000s | 115 | +207% | 2.4 |
| 2010s | 169 | +47% | 2.5 |
| 2020s | 182 | +8% | 2.8 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 37 a year in the 1990s and 182 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. NHTSA counts 2.2 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 2.8 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 28704
How many truck accidents are there in ZIP 28704?
Buncombe County has had 2,209 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 1,125 people and killing 31.
When do most truck crashes happen in ZIP 28704?
Truck crashes in Buncombe County peak in May, with 9.4% of the year's crashes.
Are garbage truck crashes common in ZIP 28704?
Since 2015, Buncombe County has reported 78 garbage-truck crashes, or 3.5% of its truck crashes.
How does ZIP 28704 compare with North Carolina for truck crashes?
The yearly rate is 69.0 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Buncombe County, vs 61.3 for North Carolina.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in ZIP 28704?
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.