Polk County, OR 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
5 of 291 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Polk County compares with Oregon
Polk County against Oregon and the US, 2016–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Polk County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2016–2025) | Polk County | Oregon | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 29.2 | 41.0 | 49.7 | 29% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 6.1 | 3.9 | 3.4 | 1.6× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.45 | 0.35 | 0.49 | 1.3× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.9% | 2.0% | 2.3% | same |
| On snow, slush or ice | 4.5% | 13.3% | 6.2% | 66% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 33.3% | 24.2% | 23.7% | 1.4× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 11.7% | 18.8% | 13.8% | 38% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 36.4% | 45.1% | 41.9% | 19% below the state |
| After dark | 15.5% | 25.3% | 24.8% | 39% below the state |
Polk County has lower values than Oregon for crashes per 100k residents / yr, on snow, slush or ice and in rain, sleet or snow. Where it is higher: deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and morning rush (6–10 am).
The headline for Polk County: 6.1 deaths per 100 truck crashes, vs 3.9 in Oregon.
Overview
Police reported 291 crashes involving commercial trucks in Polk County since 2015: 127 people were injured and 16 were killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 14 days.
When crashes happen
The worst month is January with 11.0% of truck crashes; the quietest is November at 4.1%.
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 36.4% of truck crashes, vs 45.1% for Oregon.
By time of day, 7–8 am stands out with 11.7% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 4.5% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Oregon: 13.3%).
Where crashes happen
Roads with fatal crashes involving a large truck in Polk County since 2015: SR-22 (2), SR-22W (2), SR-99 (2), SR-99W (2) and CR-CORVALLIS Rd (1). No single road stands out.
Garbage & waste trucks
5 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 1.7% share (Oregon: 2.0%).
Route planning tips for Polk County fleets
- Build extra time into January routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Morning starts matter: 33.3% of truck crashes fall between 6 and 10 am, higher than Oregon.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
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.
Crash reporting for 2015 is incomplete; those years are shown in grey and not used for rates.
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) |
|---|---|
| SR-22 | 2 |
| SR-22W | 2 |
| SR-99 | 2 |
| SR-99W | 2 |
| CR-CORVALLIS Rd | 1 |
| SR-221 | 1 |
| SR-223 | 1 |
| SR-51 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Polk County) |
|---|---|
| Hwy 99W & Bethel Rd | 5 |
| Clow Corner Rd & Riddell Rd | 3 |
| Hwy 22 & Perrydale Rd | 3 |
| Hwy 22 .45 E Hwy 99W On Ramp | 3 |
| Hwy 99 & Clow Corner Rd | 3 |
| Hwy 99 & Rickreall Rd | 3 |
| Hwy 99W & Clow Corner | 3 |
| Hwy 99W & Parker Rd | 3 |
Polk County at a glance
| Population | 90,549 |
| Land area | 740.9 sq mi |
| Density | 122 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $86,010 |
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 | 76 | — | 1.2 |
| 2000s | 17 | -78% | 0.7 |
| 2010s | 22 | +35% | 1.0 |
| 2020s | 23 | +4% | 1.6 |
In the 1990s about 76 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 23. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 1.0 a year in 2016–19 and 1.6 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 many truck crashes happen in Polk County?
Polk County has had 291 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 127 people and killing 16.
When do most truck crashes happen in Polk County?
Truck crashes in Polk County peak in January, with 11.0% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Polk County?
Garbage trucks were involved in 5 reported crashes in Polk County since 2015 (1.7% of truck crashes).
How do truck crashes in Polk County compare with Oregon?
Per 100,000 residents, Polk County has 29.2 truck crashes a year; Oregon has 41.0.
How do I plan a garbage truck route 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.
Crash reporting to FMCSA was incomplete in 2015; those years are greyed out and left out of rates. 2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.