ZIP 33853 (Lake Wales, FL) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 33853: 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. Where it is higher: crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and after dark.
ZIP 33853 at a glance: US-27 deadliest road: 15 fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 33853 since 2015.
Overview
Since 2015, 5,582 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Polk County. They injured 3,056 people and killed 257.
In complete reporting years that works out to about 1 truck crash a day.
When crashes happen
March has the most truck crashes, 10.4% of the yearly total, while June has the fewest (7.2%).
November through March accounts for 43.0% of truck crashes here, compared with 42.1% in 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 33853 is US-27, with 15 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. Next come SR-60 (11), CR-542 (1) and Lake Hatchineha Road (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
138 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 2.5% share (Florida: 3.8%).
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 33853 fleets
- Review driver schedules for March, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Check whether your routes use US-27, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- 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
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-27 | 15 |
| SR-60 | 11 |
| CR-542 | 1 |
| Lake Hatchineha Road | 1 |
| Lake Mabel Loop Rd | 1 |
| Logistics Parkway | 1 |
| St Helena Rd | 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 33853 at a glance
| Population | 12,674 |
| Density | 565 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $44,474 |
| Median home value | $202,494 |
| Home ownership | 53% |
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 |
In the 1990s about 96 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 539. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. 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 33853
How many truck accidents are there in ZIP 33853?
Polk County has had 5,582 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 3,056 people and killing 257.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in ZIP 33853?
Since 2015, US-27 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 33853: 15.
When do most truck crashes happen in ZIP 33853?
The worst month is March: 10.4% of truck crashes in Polk County happen then.
Are garbage truck crashes common in ZIP 33853?
Since 2015, Polk County has reported 138 garbage-truck crashes, or 2.5% of its truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in ZIP 33853 compare with Florida?
The yearly rate is 56.4 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Polk County, vs 37.4 for Florida.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in ZIP 33853?
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.