Polk, WI truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Polk: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Polk and Washington County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Washington County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
9 of 767 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Washington County compares with Wisconsin
Washington County against Wisconsin and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Washington County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Washington County | Wisconsin | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 47.4 | 42.6 | 49.7 | 1.1× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.5 | 3.4 | 3.4 | same |
| Injuries per crash | 0.67 | 0.46 | 0.49 | 1.5× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.0% | 2.7% | 2.3% | 65% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 12.9% | 13.4% | 6.2% | same |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 24.3% | 26.9% | 23.7% | 10% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 20.8% | 16.5% | 13.8% | 1.3× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 37.8% | 44.9% | 41.9% | 16% below the state |
| After dark | 15.1% | 20.9% | 24.8% | 28% below the state |
Compared with Wisconsin, Washington County is lower on garbage-truck share, morning rush (6–10 am) and winter months (nov–mar). It runs above Wisconsin on crashes per 100k residents / yr, injuries per crash and in rain, sleet or snow.
Washington County at a glance: 1 in 103 crashes involve a garbage truck (9 since 2015), vs 2.7% across Wisconsin.
Overview
Since 2015, 767 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Washington County. They injured 520 people and killed 25.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 6 days.
Polk had 95 reported truck crashes since 2015, too few for reliable patterns, so the charts and findings on this page use Washington County numbers.
When crashes happen
April has the most truck crashes, 11.3% of the yearly total, while February has the fewest (6.3%).
November through March accounts for 37.8% of truck crashes here, compared with 44.9% in Wisconsin.
By time of day, 11 am–12 pm stands out with 13.2% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 12.9% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Wisconsin: 13.4%).
Where crashes happen
SR-33 leads within 10 miles of Polk with 3 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. Next come I-41 (2), US-41 (2) and Bridge St (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 9 of the truck crashes here, or 1.2%, compared with 2.7% in Wisconsin.
Route planning tips for Polk fleets
- Build extra time into April routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Look at alternatives to SR-33 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- 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 Washington County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-33 | 3 |
| I-41 | 2 |
| US-41 | 2 |
| Bridge St | 1 |
| SR-144 | 1 |
| SR-175 | 1 |
| SR-60 | 1 |
| US-45 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Washington County) |
|---|---|
| I-041 | 284 |
| Sth 033 | 54 |
| Sth 060 | 36 |
| Ush 045 | 21 |
| SR-041 | 19 |
| Sth 167 | 17 |
| Cth Q | 16 |
| Sth 145 | 16 |
Polk at a glance
| Population | 3,989 |
| Land area | 30.8 sq mi |
| Density | 129 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 53086) | $103,426 |
| Median home value (ZIP 53086) | $386,800 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Washington 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 | 52 | — | 1.4 |
| 2000s | 60 | +14% | 1.4 |
| 2010s | 62 | +4% | 1.5 |
| 2020s | 66 | +7% | 1.8 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 52 to 66. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. NHTSA counts 1.0 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 1.8 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Polk
How many truck crashes happen in Polk?
Since 2015, 767 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Washington County (520 injured, 25 killed).
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Polk?
SR-33 had 3 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Polk since 2015, more than any other road.
When do most truck crashes happen in Polk?
April has the most truck crashes in Washington County, 11.3% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Polk?
9 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Washington County since 2015, 1.2% of all truck crashes.
How does Polk compare with Wisconsin for truck crashes?
The yearly rate is 47.4 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Washington County, vs 42.6 for Wisconsin.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Polk?
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.