Why this stretch is different
An analysis of NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System data has named I-4 the only interstate in the country averaging more than one fatality per mile, roughly 34 fatal crashes per 100 miles across its 132-mile run from Tampa through Orlando to Daytona Beach. Polk County sits in the middle of that stretch, and among Florida's ten most populous counties it posted the highest traffic death rate per licensed driver in 2022. High truck volume, high speed differential between commuter and freight traffic, and narrow shoulders near the interchanges all feed into that number.
If you break down here, the shoulder is not a safe place to stand and wait. Stay belted inside the vehicle with hazards on if there's no clear path to get well clear of the roadway, and give dispatch your direction of travel and the closest mile marker. We'd rather ask you twice than send a truck to the wrong side of the median.
Mile markers we dispatch to most
Here is the stretch through Polk County, west to east, with the interchanges our drivers use most for staging and access.
Polk Pkwy West (SR 570)
Western Polk Parkway interchange on the Lakeland side, heavy merge traffic during commute hours.
Memorial Blvd (SR 546)
Direct route into central Lakeland, one of our fastest staging points for city-side calls.
Kathleen Road (SR 539)
Diamond interchange, north Lakeland. Narrower shoulder profile in this section.
US 98
Major north-south crossing, frequent backups during Lakeland rush hour.
CR 582 / SR 33
Rural interchange east of Lakeland, longer distance between exits on either side.
Polk Pkwy East (SR 570)
Eastern Polk Parkway interchange, gateway toward Auburndale and Winter Haven.
Polk County Rest Area (EB)
Eastbound rest stop near Auburndale. Common pickup point for drivers who made it off the highway before stopping.
What to do while you wait
- Get off the traffic side. If you can, exit the vehicle from the passenger side away from traffic and stand well back from the shoulder line, behind a guardrail if one is present.
- Hazards on, always. Even during daylight. Trucks on this stretch close distance fast.
- Give us the direction and the mile marker. "Eastbound, just past mile marker 31" gets a truck to you faster than "somewhere near Lakeland."
- If you're near an exit, take it. A stalled car at a rest area or on an exit ramp is a much safer wait than the open highway shoulder.
How it works
- Call and give your direction of travel and nearest mile marker or exit.
- We quote a flat tow or roadside price based on your location and vehicle.
- Dispatch tells you which truck is closest and the real ETA for that truck, not a general estimate.
- Our driver stages safely, usually from the nearest interchange, and approaches once it's safe.
- Tow or fix happens, and you choose the drop-off location.
Which direction of I-4 do you cover?
Both directions through the Polk County stretch, from the Hillsborough County line near Plant City through to the Polk Parkway interchanges toward Auburndale and Winter Haven.
What if I don't know my exact mile marker?
Tell us the last exit you passed and your direction of travel. Dispatch can narrow it down from there, mile markers just make it faster.
Is it safe to wait for you on the I-4 shoulder?
Not ideally. If you can safely reach an exit, a rest area, or get well clear of the traffic side of your vehicle, do it. We'd rather you wait somewhere safer even if it takes you a few extra minutes.