ZIP 28778 (Swannanoa, NC) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 28778: 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 |
Buncombe 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 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
Since 2015, 2,209 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Buncombe County. They injured 1,125 people and killed 31.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 2 days.
When crashes happen
May has the most truck crashes, 9.4% of the yearly total, while February has the fewest (7.0%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 41.4% of truck crashes, vs 41.0% for North Carolina.
The busiest hour is 3–4 pm, 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
Since 2015, fatal crashes with a large truck within 10 miles of ZIP 28778 happened on I-40 (3), US-70 (3), I-240 (1), I-26 (1) and SR-81 (1); no road leads clearly.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 78 crashes, 3.5% of the total, against 2.6% across North Carolina.
The most garbage-truck crashes happen in October (12%).
Per 100 crashes, garbage trucks recorded 1.3 deaths compared with 1.4 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for ZIP 28778 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.
- 2.5% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice, above North Carolina; plan winter equipment checks before the season.
- 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 Buncombe County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-40 | 3 |
| US-70 | 3 |
| I-240 | 1 |
| I-26 | 1 |
| SR-81 | 1 |
| Ssr-2416 Bee Tree Rd | 1 |
| US-25 | 1 |
| US-74 | 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 28778 at a glance
| Population | 13,536 |
| Density | 161 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $73,408 |
| Median home value | $300,141 |
| Home ownership | 77% |
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. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 2.2 a year in 2016–19 and 2.8 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 28778
How many truck accidents are there in ZIP 28778?
2,209 truck crashes have been reported in Buncombe County since 2015, with 31 deaths and 1,125 injuries.
When do most truck crashes happen in ZIP 28778?
May has the most truck crashes in Buncombe County, 9.4% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in ZIP 28778?
Since 2015, Buncombe County has reported 78 garbage-truck crashes, or 3.5% of its truck crashes.
How does ZIP 28778 compare with North Carolina for truck crashes?
Buncombe County records 69.0 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 28778?
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.