ZIP 33849 (Kathleen, FL) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 33849: 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. Where it is higher: crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and after dark.
The headline for ZIP 33849: 2.1× fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 33849 per year, 2020–24 vs 2016–19 (3.2 vs 1.5).
Overview
Polk County has recorded 5,582 truck crashes since 2015, with 3,056 people injured and 257 killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly 1 truck crash every day.
When crashes happen
The worst month is March with 10.4% of truck crashes; the quietest is June at 7.2%.
The five winter months (November to March) hold 43.0% of truck crashes, against 42.1% across Florida.
More truck crashes happen at 6–7 am than at any other hour (7.1%).
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 33849 is US-98, with 11 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. After it: US-301 (6), CR-54 (2) and CR-35A (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 138 of the truck crashes here, or 2.5%, compared with 3.8% in Florida.
Their busiest month is February, with 13% of garbage-truck crashes.
Per 100 crashes, garbage trucks recorded 2.3 deaths compared with 4.5 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for ZIP 33849 fleets
- Build extra time into March routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Look at alternatives to US-98 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in February; review collection routes for that month.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
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-98 | 11 |
| US-301 | 6 |
| CR-54 | 2 |
| CR-35A | 1 |
| CR-535 | 1 |
| Copeland Dr | 1 |
| Rock Ridge Rd | 1 |
| SR-39 | 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 33849 at a glance
| Population | 851 |
| Density | 15 per sq mi |
| Median home value | $394,484 |
| Home ownership | 93% |
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. NHTSA counts 18.0 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 21.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 33849
How many truck crashes happen in ZIP 33849?
5,582 truck crashes have been reported in Polk County since 2015, with 257 deaths and 3,056 injuries.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in ZIP 33849?
US-98 had 11 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of ZIP 33849 since 2015, more than any other road.
When do most truck crashes happen in ZIP 33849?
The worst month is March: 10.4% of truck crashes in Polk County happen then.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in ZIP 33849?
Garbage trucks were involved in 138 reported crashes in Polk County since 2015 (2.5% of truck crashes).
How does ZIP 33849 compare with Florida for truck crashes?
Polk County records 56.4 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 37.4 across Florida.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in ZIP 33849?
The free Route Planner takes your stops and returns a route risk score, safer alternatives and low-bridge warnings.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.