ZIP 28785 (Waynesville, NC) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 28785: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Haywood 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
5 of 967 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Haywood County compares with North Carolina
Haywood County against North Carolina and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Haywood County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Haywood County | North Carolina | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 130.9 | 61.3 | 49.7 | 2.1× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 1.1 | 2.5 | 3.4 | 56% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.55 | 0.66 | 0.49 | 17% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.4% | 2.6% | 2.3% | 83% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 2.3% | 1.7% | 6.2% | 1.3× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 15.9% | 24.0% | 23.7% | 34% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 17.2% | 10.5% | 13.8% | 1.6× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 38.7% | 41.0% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 29.6% | 20.4% | 24.8% | 1.5× the state |
Haywood County has lower values than North Carolina for deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash 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.
Haywood County at a glance: 1 in 227 crashes involve a garbage truck (5 since 2015), vs 2.6% across North Carolina.
Overview
Haywood County has recorded 967 truck crashes since 2015, with 525 people injured and 10 killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 4 days.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in September (10.8% of the year) and are lowest in December (6.6%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 38.7% of truck crashes, vs 41.0% for North Carolina.
The busiest hour is 4–5 pm, with 7.4% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 2.3% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (North Carolina: 1.7%).
Where crashes happen
Fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 28785 since 2015 were spread across roads: I-40 (2) and US-276 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 5 of the truck crashes here, or 0.5%, compared with 2.6% in North Carolina.
Route planning tips for ZIP 28785 fleets
- Review driver schedules for September, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 2.3% 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
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 Haywood County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-40 | 2 |
| US-276 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Haywood County) |
|---|---|
| Pilot Truck Stop | 19 |
| Champion Drive | 9 |
| Russ Ave | 5 |
| Champion Dr | 4 |
| Brown Ave | 3 |
| Cold Springs Creek Rd | 2 |
| Commerce Street | 2 |
| Crabtree Rd | 2 |
ZIP 28785 at a glance
| Population | 8,311 |
| Density | 19 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $61,769 |
| Median home value | $302,707 |
| Home ownership | 83% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Haywood 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 | 51 | — | 1.7 |
| 2000s | 56 | +9% | 1.2 |
| 2010s | 65 | +16% | 0.7 |
| 2020s | 84 | +29% | 0.2 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 51 a year in the 1990s and 84 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 1.2 a year in 2016–19 and 0.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 28785
How common are truck crashes in ZIP 28785?
967 truck crashes have been reported in Haywood County since 2015, with 10 deaths and 525 injuries.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in ZIP 28785?
September has the most truck crashes in Haywood County, 10.8% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in ZIP 28785?
5 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Haywood County since 2015, 0.5% of all truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in ZIP 28785 compare with North Carolina?
The yearly rate is 130.9 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Haywood County, vs 61.3 for North Carolina.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in ZIP 28785?
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.