ZIP 71972 (Vandervoort, AR) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 71972: 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
4 of 164 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Polk County compares with Arkansas
Polk County against Arkansas 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 | Arkansas | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 73.4 | 92.4 | 49.7 | 21% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 7.0 | 3.9 | 3.4 | 1.8× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.49 | 0.45 | 0.49 | 1.1× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.5% | 1.6% | 2.3% | 1.6× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 3.2% | 3.3% | 6.2% | same |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 26.1% | 22.9% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 13.4% | 15.4% | 13.8% | 13% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 38.2% | 40.9% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 19.1% | 22.4% | 24.8% | 15% below the state |
Compared with Arkansas, Polk County is lower on crashes per 100k residents / yr, in rain, sleet or snow and after dark. It runs above Arkansas on deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share.
Polk County at a glance: 1 in 39 crashes involve a garbage truck (4 since 2015), vs 1.6% across Arkansas.
Overview
Since 2015, 164 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Polk County. They injured 82 people and killed 11.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 26 days.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in June (14.0% of the year) and are lowest in September (3.7%).
November through March accounts for 38.2% of truck crashes here, compared with 40.9% in Arkansas.
By time of day, 1–2 pm stands out with 10.4% of truck crashes.
3.2% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 3.3% across Arkansas.
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks within 10 miles of ZIP 71972 is US-71, with 5 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 4 crashes, 2.4% of the total, against 1.6% across Arkansas.
Route planning tips for ZIP 71972 fleets
- Build extra time into June routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Check whether your routes use US-71, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- The morning rush (6–10 am) holds 26.1% of truck crashes here, more than Arkansas; adjust start times where you can.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
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-71 | 5 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Polk County) |
|---|---|
| US-71 | 42 |
| US-71S | 36 |
| US-71N | 19 |
| Sh246E | 6 |
| US-270 | 6 |
| Sh8E | 5 |
| Sh88E | 5 |
| Sh8W | 3 |
ZIP 71972 at a glance
| Population | 416 |
| Density | 4 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $68,542 |
| Median home value | $86,986 |
| Home ownership | 64% |
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 | 11 | — | 0.8 |
| 2000s | 11 | -1% | 1.0 |
| 2010s | 14 | +33% | 1.2 |
| 2020s | 14 | -2% | 0.8 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 11 a year in the 1990s and 14 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. NHTSA counts 0.8 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 0.8 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 71972
How common are truck crashes in ZIP 71972?
Polk County has had 164 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 82 people and killing 11.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in ZIP 71972?
US-71 had 5 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of ZIP 71972 since 2015, more than any other road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in ZIP 71972?
June has the most truck crashes in Polk County, 14.0% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in ZIP 71972?
Garbage trucks were involved in 4 reported crashes in Polk County since 2015 (2.4% of truck crashes).
How does ZIP 71972 compare with Arkansas for truck crashes?
Polk County records 73.4 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 92.4 across Arkansas.
How can I plan a safer truck route in ZIP 71972?
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.