Polk County, AR truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Polk County: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes, 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
4 of 164 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Polk County compares with Arkansas
Polk County against Arkansas 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 | Arkansas | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 73.4 | 92.4 | 49.7 | 21% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 7.0 | 3.9 | 3.4 | 1.8× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.49 | 0.45 | 0.49 | 1.1× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.5% | 1.6% | 2.3% | 1.6× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 3.2% | 3.3% | 6.2% | same |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 26.1% | 22.9% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 13.4% | 15.4% | 13.8% | 13% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 38.2% | 40.9% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 19.1% | 22.4% | 24.8% | 15% below the state |
Polk County sits below Arkansas on crashes per 100k residents / yr, in rain, sleet or snow and after dark. It runs above Arkansas on deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share.
What stands out in Polk County: 1 in 39 crashes involve a garbage truck (4 since 2015), vs 1.6% across Arkansas.
Overview
Since 2015, 164 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Polk County. They injured 82 people and killed 11.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 26 days.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in June (14.0% of the year) and are lowest in September (3.7%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 38.2% of truck crashes, vs 40.9% for Arkansas.
The busiest hour is 1–2 pm, with 10.4% of truck crashes.
3.2% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 3.3% across Arkansas.
Where crashes happen
US-71 leads in Polk County with 6 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. Next come CR-39 (1), SR-8 (1) and SR-88 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 4 crashes, 2.4% of the total, against 1.6% across Arkansas.
Route planning tips for Polk County fleets
- Review driver schedules for June, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Look at alternatives to US-71 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- 26.1% of truck crashes happen between 6 and 10 am, above Arkansas; consider earlier or later starts where possible.
- 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 Polk County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Polk County) |
|---|---|
| US-71 | 6 |
| CR-39 | 1 |
| SR-8 | 1 |
| SR-88 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Polk County) |
|---|---|
| US-71 | 42 |
| US-71S | 36 |
| US-71N | 19 |
| Sh246E | 6 |
| US-270 | 6 |
| Sh8E | 5 |
| Sh88E | 5 |
| Sh8W | 3 |
Polk County at a glance
| Population | 19,434 |
| Land area | 856.8 sq mi |
| Density | 23 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $52,321 |
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 | 11 | — | 0.8 |
| 2000s | 11 | -1% | 1.0 |
| 2010s | 14 | +33% | 1.2 |
| 2020s | 14 | -2% | 0.8 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 11 a year in the 1990s and 14 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. NHTSA counts 0.8 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 0.8 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in Polk County
ZIP codes in Polk County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Polk County
How common are truck crashes in Polk County?
Polk County has had 164 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 82 people and killing 11.
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in Polk County?
Since 2015, US-71 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes in Polk County: 6.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Polk County?
June has the most truck crashes in Polk County, 14.0% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Polk County?
4 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Polk County since 2015, 2.4% of all truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in Polk County compared with Arkansas?
Per 100,000 residents, Polk County has 73.4 truck crashes a year; Arkansas has 92.4.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Polk County?
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.