ZIP 33868 (Polk City, FL) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 33868: 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 |
Compared with Florida, Polk County is lower 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.
What stands out in ZIP 33868: I-4 8 fatal truck crashes since 2015, more than any other road within 10 miles of ZIP 33868.
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
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.
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
The deadliest road for trucks within 10 miles of ZIP 33868 is I-4, with 8 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. After it: SR-33 (5), CR-474 (1) and CR-557 (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.
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 2.3, vs 4.5 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for ZIP 33868 fleets
- Build extra time into March routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Look at alternatives to I-4 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) |
|---|---|
| I-4 | 8 |
| SR-33 | 5 |
| CR-474 | 1 |
| CR-557 | 1 |
| CR-557A | 1 |
| Deen Still Rd | 1 |
| Mu-Old Polk City Rd | 1 |
| Rock Ridge Rd | 1 |
| SR-559 | 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 33868 at a glance
| Population | 13,827 |
| Density | 29 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $74,289 |
| Median home value | $245,998 |
| Home ownership | 91% |
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 crashes involving a large truck averaged 18.0 a year in 2016–19 and 21.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 33868
How many truck crashes happen in ZIP 33868?
Polk County has had 5,582 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 3,056 people and killing 257.
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in ZIP 33868?
I-4 had 8 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of ZIP 33868 since 2015, more than any other road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in ZIP 33868?
The worst month is March: 10.4% of truck crashes in Polk County happen then.
Are garbage truck crashes common in ZIP 33868?
138 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Polk County since 2015, 2.5% of all truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in ZIP 33868 compared with Florida?
The yearly rate is 56.4 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Polk County, vs 37.4 for Florida.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in ZIP 33868?
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.