ZIP 28723 (Cullowhee, NC) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 28723: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Jackson 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
3 of 263 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Jackson County compares with North Carolina
Jackson County against North Carolina and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Jackson County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Jackson County | North Carolina | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 49.8 | 61.3 | 49.7 | 19% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 4.0 | 2.5 | 3.4 | 1.6× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.51 | 0.66 | 0.49 | 23% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.2% | 2.6% | 2.3% | 53% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 1.6% | 1.7% | 6.2% | same |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 28.2% | 24.0% | 23.7% | 1.2× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 16.5% | 10.5% | 13.8% | 1.6× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 33.9% | 41.0% | 41.9% | 17% below the state |
| After dark | 14.9% | 20.4% | 24.8% | 27% below the state |
Jackson County has lower values than North Carolina for crashes per 100k residents / yr, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share. It runs above North Carolina on deaths per 100 crashes, morning rush (6–10 am) and in rain, sleet or snow.
Jackson County at a glance: 16.5% in rain, sleet or snow, against 10.5% across North Carolina.
Overview
Since 2015, 263 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Jackson County. They injured 136 people and killed 10.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 16 days.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in August (12.2% of the year) and are lowest in March (5.7%).
November through March accounts for 33.9% of truck crashes here, compared with 41.0% in North Carolina.
The busiest hour is 9–10 am, with 9.5% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 1.6% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (North Carolina: 1.7%).
Where crashes happen
Since 2015, fatal crashes with a large truck within 10 miles of ZIP 28723 happened on SR-107 (2) and US-23 (1); no road leads clearly.
Garbage & waste trucks
3 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 1.1% share (North Carolina: 2.6%).
Route planning tips for ZIP 28723 fleets
- Review driver schedules for August, the month with the most truck crashes.
- 28.2% of truck crashes happen between 6 and 10 am, above North Carolina; consider earlier or later starts where possible.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
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 Jackson County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-107 | 2 |
| US-23 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Jackson County) |
|---|---|
| Andy Shaw Ford | 1 |
| Blanton Branch Rd | 1 |
| Buckberry Dr South | 1 |
| Cedar Creek Club | 1 |
| Central Dr | 1 |
| Cope Creek | 1 |
| E Sylva Shopping Ctr | 1 |
| First Presbyt Church | 1 |
ZIP 28723 at a glance
| Population | 12,756 |
| Density | 44 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $45,568 |
| Median home value | $359,586 |
| Home ownership | 36% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Jackson 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 | 5 | — | 0.4 |
| 2000s | 19 | +248% | 0.3 |
| 2010s | 23 | +20% | 0.4 |
| 2020s | 20 | -14% | 1.0 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 5 to 20. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 0.5 a year in 2016–19 and 1.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 28723
How common are truck crashes in ZIP 28723?
Since 2015, 263 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Jackson County (136 injured, 10 killed).
Which month has the most truck crashes in ZIP 28723?
Truck crashes in Jackson County peak in August, with 12.2% of the year's crashes.
Are garbage truck crashes common in ZIP 28723?
Since 2015, Jackson County has reported 3 garbage-truck crashes, or 1.1% of its truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in ZIP 28723 compare with North Carolina?
The yearly rate is 49.8 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Jackson County, vs 61.3 for North Carolina.
How can I plan a safer truck route in ZIP 28723?
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.