ZIP 33850 (Lake Alfred, FL) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 33850: 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 has lower values than Florida for 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.
Polk County at a glance: February more garbage-truck crashes happen in February than in any other month (13%).
Overview
Polk County has recorded 5,582 truck crashes since 2015, with 3,056 people injured and 257 killed.
That averages about 1 truck crash a day in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
The worst month is March with 10.4% of truck crashes; the quietest is June at 7.2%.
November through March accounts for 43.0% of truck crashes here, compared with 42.1% in Florida.
The busiest hour is 6–7 am, with 7.1% of truck crashes.
0.0% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 0.1% across Florida.
Where crashes happen
Fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 33850 since 2015 were spread across roads: US-17 (8), US-27 (8), US-92 (7), I-4 (6) and SR-544 (3).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 138 crashes, 2.5% of the total, against 3.8% across Florida.
Garbage-truck crashes peak in February (13% of them).
Per 100 crashes, garbage trucks recorded 2.3 deaths compared with 4.5 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for ZIP 33850 fleets
- Build extra time into March routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- For residential and commercial waste routes, look again at February schedules: garbage-truck crashes peak then.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
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 Polk County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-17 | 8 |
| US-27 | 8 |
| US-92 | 7 |
| I-4 | 6 |
| SR-544 | 3 |
| CR-557 | 2 |
| Deen Still Rd | 2 |
| SR-33 | 2 |
| CR-546 | 1 |
| CR-557A | 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 33850 at a glance
| Population | 9,757 |
| Density | 225 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $61,622 |
| Median home value | $177,002 |
| Home ownership | 73% |
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 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 96 a year in the 1990s and 539 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. 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 33850
How common are truck crashes in ZIP 33850?
Since 2015, 5,582 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Polk County (3,056 injured, 257 killed).
What is the worst month for truck crashes in ZIP 33850?
March has the most truck crashes in Polk County, 10.4% of the yearly total.
Are garbage truck crashes common in ZIP 33850?
138 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Polk County since 2015, 2.5% of all truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in ZIP 33850 compare with Florida?
Per 100,000 residents, Polk County has 56.4 truck crashes a year; Florida has 37.4.
How can I plan a safer truck route in ZIP 33850?
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.