ZIP 33841 (Fort Meade, FL) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 33841: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Polk County, 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
2.3 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 4.5 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Polk County compares with Florida
Polk County against Florida 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 | Florida | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 56.4 | 37.4 | 49.7 | 1.5× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 4.5 | 4.1 | 3.4 | 1.1× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.54 | 0.51 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.5% | 3.8% | 2.3% | 34% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 0.0% | 0.1% | 6.2% | 50% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 25.2% | 25.2% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 7.9% | 8.9% | 13.8% | 11% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 43.0% | 42.1% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 27.4% | 24.2% | 24.8% | 1.1× the state |
Polk County sits below Florida on garbage-truck share, on snow, slush or ice and in rain, sleet or snow. It runs above Florida on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and after dark.
The headline for ZIP 33841: US-17 most fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 33841: 8 since 2015.
Overview
Polk County has recorded 5,582 truck crashes since 2015, with 3,056 people injured and 257 killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about 1 truck crash a day.
When crashes happen
The worst month is March with 10.4% of truck crashes; the quietest is June at 7.2%.
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 43.0% of truck crashes, vs 42.1% for Florida.
The busiest hour is 6–7 am, with 7.1% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 0.0% of truck crashes, compared with 0.1% in Florida.
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks within 10 miles of ZIP 33841 is US-17, with 8 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. Next come 14th St (1), Alturas Babson Park Rd (1) and CR-630 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 138 crashes, 2.5% of the total, against 3.8% across Florida.
Their busiest month is February, with 13% of garbage-truck crashes.
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 2.3, vs 4.5 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for ZIP 33841 fleets
- Review driver schedules for March, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Look at alternatives to US-17 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in February; review collection routes for that month.
- 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 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-17 | 8 |
| 14th St | 1 |
| Alturas Babson Park Rd | 1 |
| CR-630 | 1 |
| CR-640 | 1 |
| US-27 | 1 |
| US-98 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Polk County) |
|---|---|
| SR-60 | 431 |
| SR-27 | 354 |
| US-27 | 160 |
| US-98 | 158 |
| Sr25 (Highway 27) | 139 |
| US-92 | 128 |
| I-4 | 115 |
| SR-98 | 92 |
ZIP 33841 at a glance
| Population | 8,005 |
| Density | 18 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $39,384 |
| Median home value | $193,785 |
| Home ownership | 69% |
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 | 96 | — | 18.1 |
| 2000s | 258 | +167% | 19.4 |
| 2010s | 319 | +24% | 14.2 |
| 2020s | 539 | +69% | 21.4 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 96 to 539. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal large-truck crashes: 18.0 a year in 2016–19, 21.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 33841
How many truck accidents are there in ZIP 33841?
Since 2015, 5,582 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Polk County (3,056 injured, 257 killed).
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in ZIP 33841?
NHTSA data shows US-17 with 8 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 33841 since 2015, the highest of any road.
Which month has the most truck crashes in ZIP 33841?
March has the most truck crashes in Polk County, 10.4% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in ZIP 33841?
138 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Polk County since 2015, 2.5% of all truck crashes.
How does ZIP 33841 compare with Florida for truck crashes?
Per 100,000 residents, Polk County has 56.4 truck crashes a year; Florida has 37.4.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in ZIP 33841?
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.