Gardner, FL truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Gardner: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Gardner and Hardee County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Hardee County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
7 of 403 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Hardee County compares with Florida
Hardee County against Florida and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Hardee County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Hardee County | Florida | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 133.9 | 37.4 | 49.7 | 3.6× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 7.6 | 4.1 | 3.4 | 1.9× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.53 | 0.51 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.3% | 3.8% | 2.3% | 66% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 0.3% | 0.1% | 6.2% | 3.2× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 26.6% | 25.2% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 5.5% | 8.9% | 13.8% | 39% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 46.9% | 42.1% | 41.9% | 1.1× the state |
| After dark | 25.0% | 24.2% | 24.8% | same |
Compared with Florida, Hardee County is lower on garbage-truck share and in rain, sleet or snow. It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and on snow, slush or ice.
Hardee County at a glance: 0.3% share of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (Florida: 0.1%).
Overview
Since 2015, 403 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Hardee County. They injured 214 people and killed 34.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 10 days.
With 0 truck crashes reported in Gardner since 2015, this page uses Hardee County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in April (11.2% of the year) and are lowest in September (4.5%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 46.9% of truck crashes, vs 42.1% for Florida.
The busiest hour is 2–3 pm, with 9.4% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 0.3% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Florida: 0.1%).
Where crashes happen
US-17 leads within 10 miles of Gardner with 6 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. It is followed by SR-66 (5), SR-64 (4) and CR-663 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 7 crashes, 1.7% of the total, against 3.8% across Florida.
Route planning tips for Gardner fleets
- Plan April schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Hardee County.
- Check whether your routes use US-17, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 0.3% of truck crashes here, more than Florida; 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 Hardee County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-17 | 6 |
| SR-66 | 5 |
| SR-64 | 4 |
| CR-663 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Hardee County) |
|---|---|
| US-17 | 51 |
| SR-64 | 35 |
| SR-66 | 33 |
| State Road 64 | 28 |
| SR-35 | 26 |
| SR-62 | 21 |
| State Road 66 | 21 |
| Us 17 (Sr 35) | 15 |
Gardner at a glance
| Land area | 7.7 sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 33890) | $86,831 |
| Median home value (ZIP 33890) | $174,257 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Hardee 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 | 7 | — | 2.0 |
| 2000s | 18 | +170% | 1.7 |
| 2010s | 27 | +51% | 2.0 |
| 2020s | 36 | +32% | 3.8 |
In the 1990s about 7 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 36. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal large-truck crashes: 2.0 a year in 2016–19, 3.8 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Gardner
How many truck accidents are there in Gardner?
Hardee County has had 403 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 214 people and killing 34.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in Gardner?
US-17 had 6 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Gardner since 2015, more than any other road.
When do most truck crashes happen in Gardner?
April has the most truck crashes in Hardee County, 11.2% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Gardner?
Garbage trucks were involved in 7 reported crashes in Hardee County since 2015 (1.7% of truck crashes).
How do truck crashes in Gardner compare with Florida?
Hardee County records 133.9 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 37.4 across Florida.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Gardner?
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.