ZIP 28722 (Columbus, NC) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 28722: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Polk 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 of 306 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Polk County compares with North Carolina
Polk County against North Carolina and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Polk County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Polk County | North Carolina | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 129.3 | 61.3 | 49.7 | 2.1× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 1.7 | 2.5 | 3.4 | 32% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.64 | 0.66 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.4% | 2.6% | 2.3% | 86% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 2.4% | 1.7% | 6.2% | 1.4× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 24.9% | 24.0% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 14.5% | 10.5% | 13.8% | 1.4× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 41.9% | 41.0% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 31.1% | 20.4% | 24.8% | 1.5× the state |
Compared with North Carolina, Polk County is lower on deaths per 100 crashes and garbage-truck share. It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr, on snow, slush or ice and in rain, sleet or snow.
Polk County at a glance: 1 in 286 of truck crashes here involve garbage trucks: 0.4%, vs 2.6% in North Carolina.
Overview
Since 2015, 306 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Polk County. They injured 186 people and killed 5.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 14 days.
When crashes happen
The worst month is February with 10.1% of truck crashes; the quietest is November at 3.6%.
The five winter months (November to March) hold 41.9% of truck crashes, against 41.0% across North Carolina.
By time of day, 1–2 pm stands out with 7.8% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 2.4% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (North Carolina: 1.7%).
Where crashes happen
Within this area, I-26 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (4). Next come SR-108 (1), SR-14 (1) and SR-186 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 1 of the truck crashes here, or 0.3%, compared with 2.6% in North Carolina.
Route planning tips for ZIP 28722 fleets
- Plan February schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Polk County.
- Look at alternatives to I-26 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- With 2.4% 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
Sources: the FMCSA crash file for all reported truck crashes and NHTSA FARS for fatal crashes with a large truck. Every statement here comes straight from those numbers.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Polk County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-26 | 4 |
| SR-108 | 1 |
| SR-14 | 1 |
| SR-186 | 1 |
| US-74 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Polk County) |
|---|---|
| Rest Area | 2 |
| Welcome Center | 2 |
| (3423 Holbert Cove Rd) | 1 |
| Mountain Pkwy | 1 |
| South Pointe Rd | 1 |
| Tyron Equestrian Cente | 1 |
ZIP 28722 at a glance
| Population | 6,086 |
| Density | 54 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $67,760 |
| Median home value | $308,546 |
| Home ownership | 69% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Polk 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 | 12 | — | 0.6 |
| 2000s | 16 | +32% | 0.1 |
| 2010s | 24 | +48% | 0.9 |
| 2020s | 26 | +5% | 0.4 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 12 to 26. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. NHTSA counts 0.8 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 0.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 28722
How many truck crashes happen in ZIP 28722?
Polk County has had 306 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 186 people and killing 5.
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in ZIP 28722?
Since 2015, I-26 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 28722: 4.
When do most truck crashes happen in ZIP 28722?
Truck crashes in Polk County peak in February, with 10.1% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in ZIP 28722?
Since 2015, Polk County has reported 1 garbage-truck crash, or 0.3% of its truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in ZIP 28722 compare with North Carolina?
Polk County records 129.3 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 61.3 across North Carolina.
How can I plan a safer truck route in ZIP 28722?
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.