Polk County, TN 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
0 of 136 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Polk County compares with Tennessee
Polk County against Tennessee 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 | Tennessee | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 61.5 | 60.1 | 49.7 | same |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.4 | 3.9 | 3.4 | 38% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.35 | 0.48 | 0.49 | 27% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.0% | 1.9% | 2.3% | 100% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 4.0% | 2.3% | 6.2% | 1.7× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 18.6% | 21.8% | 23.7% | 15% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 5.7% | 14.9% | 13.8% | 62% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 37.9% | 40.5% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 25.8% | 25.9% | 24.8% | same |
Polk County sits below Tennessee on deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share. It stands out for higher on snow, slush or ice.
What stands out in Polk County: 0 of truck crashes here involve garbage trucks: 0.0%, vs 1.9% in Tennessee.
Overview
Since 2015, 136 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Polk County. They injured 49 people and killed 3.
That averages about one truck crash every 32 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in June (11.8% of the year) and are lowest in August (5.1%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 37.9% of truck crashes, against 40.5% across Tennessee.
By time of day, 11 am–12 pm stands out with 8.8% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 4.0% of truck crashes, compared with 2.3% in Tennessee.
Where crashes happen
Fatal large-truck crashes in Polk County since 2015 were spread across roads: US-411 (2) and US-64 (2).
Garbage & waste trucks
Since 2015, no garbage-truck crashes were reported for Polk County.
Route planning tips for Polk County fleets
- Plan June schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Polk County.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 4.0% of truck crashes here, more than Tennessee; schedule winter checks early.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
About the data
Crash counts come from the FMCSA crash file (police-reported crashes involving trucks over 10,000 lb); fatal-crash locations come from NHTSA FARS. Text on this page states only what these numbers show.
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-411 | 2 |
| US-64 | 2 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Polk County) |
|---|---|
| SR-64 | 40 |
| US-64 | 29 |
| SR-411 | 16 |
| US-411 | 12 |
| Tn-68 | 6 |
| SR-68 | 5 |
| SR-30 | 3 |
| Magnolia Dr | 2 |
Polk County at a glance
| Population | 18,338 |
| Land area | 434.6 sq mi |
| Density | 42 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $65,194 |
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 | 14 | — | 0.8 |
| 2000s | 12 | -14% | 0.1 |
| 2010s | 11 | -6% | 0.5 |
| 2020s | 14 | +30% | 0.2 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 14 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. Fatal large-truck crashes: 0.5 a year in 2016–19, 0.2 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?
136 truck crashes have been reported in Polk County since 2015, with 3 deaths and 49 injuries.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Polk County?
Truck crashes in Polk County peak in June, with 11.8% of the year's crashes.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Polk County?
Since 2015, Polk County has reported 0 garbage-truck crashes, or 0.0% of its truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in Polk County compared with Tennessee?
Polk County records 61.5 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 60.1 across Tennessee.
How can I plan a safer 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.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.