Wauchula, FL truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Wauchula: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Wauchula 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 |
Hardee County has lower values than Florida for 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.
The headline for Hardee County: 0.3% on snowy, slushy or icy roads, against 0.1% across Florida.
Overview
Police reported 403 crashes involving commercial trucks in Hardee County since 2015: 214 people were injured and 34 were killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 10 days in fully reported years.
Wauchula had 69 reported truck crashes since 2015, too few for reliable patterns, so the charts and findings on this page use Hardee County numbers.
When crashes happen
April has the most truck crashes, 11.2% of the yearly total, while September has the fewest (4.5%).
November through March accounts for 46.9% of truck crashes here, compared with 42.1% in Florida.
The busiest hour is 2–3 pm, with 9.4% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 0.3% of truck crashes, compared with 0.1% in Florida.
Where crashes happen
SR-64 leads within 10 miles of Wauchula with 8 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. It is followed by US-17 (6), SR-66 (4) and SR-62 (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 Wauchula fleets
- Review driver schedules for April, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Look at alternatives to SR-64 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- With 0.3% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above Florida), plan winter equipment checks early.
- 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 Hardee County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-64 | 8 |
| US-17 | 6 |
| SR-66 | 4 |
| SR-62 | 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 |
Wauchula at a glance
| Population | 4,984 |
| Land area | 3.3 sq mi |
| Density | 1,526 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 33873) | $54,444 |
| Median home value (ZIP 33873) | $165,667 |
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 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 7 a year in the 1990s and 36 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal large-truck crashes: 2.0 a year in 2016–19, 3.8 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Wauchula
How common are truck crashes in Wauchula?
Since 2015, 403 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Hardee County (214 injured, 34 killed).
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Wauchula?
SR-64 had 8 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Wauchula since 2015, more than any other road.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Wauchula?
April has the most truck crashes in Hardee County, 11.2% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Wauchula?
7 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Hardee County since 2015, 1.7% of all truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in Wauchula compared with Florida?
Per 100,000 residents, Hardee County has 133.9 truck crashes a year; Florida has 37.4.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Wauchula?
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.