Polk County, WI 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
11 of 155 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Polk County compares with Wisconsin
Polk County against Wisconsin 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 | Wisconsin | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 30.3 | 42.6 | 49.7 | 29% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.9 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 1.1× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.46 | 0.46 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 7.2% | 2.7% | 2.3% | 2.6× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 24.2% | 13.4% | 6.2% | 1.8× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 32.7% | 26.9% | 23.7% | 1.2× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 18.9% | 16.5% | 13.8% | 1.1× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 48.4% | 44.9% | 41.9% | 1.1× the state |
| After dark | 13.7% | 20.9% | 24.8% | 34% below the state |
Polk County sits below Wisconsin on crashes per 100k residents / yr and after dark. It stands out for higher deaths per 100 crashes, garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice.
The headline for Polk County: 1 in 14 of truck crashes here involve garbage trucks: 7.2%, vs 2.7% in Wisconsin.
Overview
Polk County has recorded 155 truck crashes since 2015, with 71 people injured and 6 killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 26 days.
When crashes happen
The worst month is March with 12.3% of truck crashes; the quietest is May at 4.5%.
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 48.4% of truck crashes, vs 44.9% for Wisconsin.
More truck crashes happen at 8–9 am than at any other hour (11.0%).
Road surface: 24.2% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Wisconsin: 13.4%).
Where crashes happen
Fatal large-truck crashes in Polk County since 2015 were spread across roads: SR-46 (2), US-63 (2), CR-K (1), SR-48 (1) and US-8 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 11 crashes, 7.1% of the total, against 2.7% across Wisconsin.
Route planning tips for Polk County fleets
- Review driver schedules for March, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Morning starts matter: 32.7% of truck crashes fall between 6 and 10 am, higher than Wisconsin.
- With 24.2% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above Wisconsin), plan winter equipment checks early.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
About the data
Sources: the FMCSA crash file for all reported truck crashes and NHTSA FARS for fatal crashes with a large truck. Every statement here comes straight from those numbers.
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-46 | 2 |
| US-63 | 2 |
| CR-K | 1 |
| SR-48 | 1 |
| US-8 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Polk County) |
|---|---|
| Ush 008 | 21 |
| Ush 063 | 17 |
| Sth 035 | 11 |
| Sth 046 | 10 |
| Cth M | 6 |
| Sth 048 | 6 |
| Cth Jj | 4 |
| SR-008 | 4 |
Polk County at a glance
| Population | 45,831 |
| Land area | 914.3 sq mi |
| Density | 50 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $77,409 |
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 | 12 | — | 0.9 |
| 2000s | 16 | +39% | 0.9 |
| 2010s | 13 | -18% | 0.8 |
| 2020s | 15 | +12% | 1.0 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 12 to 15. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal large-truck crashes: 0.5 a year in 2016–19, 1.0 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?
Since 2015, 155 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Polk County (71 injured, 6 killed).
When do most truck crashes happen in Polk County?
The worst month is March: 12.3% of truck crashes in Polk County happen then.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Polk County?
Garbage trucks were involved in 11 reported crashes in Polk County since 2015 (7.1% of truck crashes).
What is the truck crash rate in Polk County compared with Wisconsin?
Polk County records 30.3 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 42.6 across Wisconsin.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Polk County?
Paste your stops into the free CurbWaste Route Planner: it scores your route against fatal-crash locations, suggests safer alternatives and flags low bridges.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.