KNUCKLEHEAD CHOOCHOO EXPRESS LTD
Risk factors
Moderate riskVioCodes scoreA weighted read of the public FMCSA signals below — authority, insurance, out-of-service, crashes, roadside OOS rates, and carrier connections. A starting point for vetting, not a guarantee.
Roadside inspection performance
Out-of-service rate vs national average. Lower is better.
CSA performance breakdown
FMCSA · Sep 202639 inspections · 22 violations (8 OOS) · 23% of inspections had an OOS finding.
Violations by BASIC
click to filter codes
Top cited codes
score = count × severity weight
- 1393.75A3-TAOLVehicle Maintenance2 OOS
Tires - All others, leaking or inflation less than 50% of the maximum inflation pressure on tire not equipped with ATIS
16
2× · sev 8
- 2393.75A3-TAOLTISVehicle Maintenance1 OOS
Tires - All others, leaking in tread area and inflation less than 50% of the maximum inflation pressure on tire equipped with ATIS
8
1× · sev 8
- 3392.16-DUnsafe Driving
Driver - Failed to use seat belt while operating a CMV
7
1× · sev 7
- 4392.2-SLLS3Unsafe Driving
State/Local Laws - Speeding 11-14 miles per hour over the speed limit
7
1× · sev 7
- 5393.9A-LHWSVehicle Maintenance
Lighting - Hazard warning signal(s) inoperative
6
1× · sev 6
- 6393.9A-LFTSIVehicle Maintenance
Lighting - Front - Turn signal - inoperative
6
1× · sev 6
- 7393.55C1-BVehicle Maintenance
Air Brake - Truck-tractor manufactured on or after March 1, 1997, not equipped with an ABS system. System does not function or indicates a fault.
4
1× · sev 4
- 8392.2-SLLS2Unsafe Driving
State/Local Laws - Speeding 6-10 miles per hour over the speed limit
4
1× · sev 4
- 9393.55D2-BVehicle Maintenance
Air Brake - ABS malfunction lamp defective on truck-tractor manufactured on or after March 1, 2001 for towed vehicle.
4
1× · sev 4
- 10393.11A1-CSLRRVehicle Maintenance
Conspicuity Systems - Truck tractor, lower rear retro reflective sheeting missing on vehicle manufactured on or after July 1, 1997
3
1× · sev 3
Most inspected in · top 6 states
- OH10
- IN9
- KY5
- TN4
- MD1
- AL1
Latest FMCSA SMS snapshot. Codes link to the lookup — severity weighting, contest angles, and the DataQs Drafter for each. Click a BASIC to filter the codes.
Safety trends & next-run projection
Where each BASIC sits today, how it ranks against peers, and where it’s heading at the next monthly SMS run.
FMCSA keeps the Crash Indicator percentile private, and its measure needs a power-unit history public data doesn’t expose — so it can’t be estimated yet. VioCodes now records power units monthly, so a calibrated Crash estimate should light up over time. These are the public crash facts (all state-reportable crashes count, regardless of fault).
“Projected” estimates the next monthly SMS run from inspections on record now. FMCSA marks the BASIC percentile itself “Not Public,” so the percentile shown is a VioCodes estimate of how the carrier ranks against its peers, presented as a likely range (shaded on the gauge) and calibrated against real carriers. Crash Indicator has no public estimate — FMCSA keeps its measures fully private. Estimates, not official FMCSA figures. Not affiliated with FMCSA.
Recommendations
What’s driving each score, what to do about it, and where it could go.
Vehicle out-of-service rate exceeds the national average
High impactVehicle OOS rate is 34.8% vs the 22% national average. Carriers above the national OOS average draw more enforcement attention (audits, roadside stops) and can see higher insurance premiums.
- Review recent inspections with out-of-service violations and fix the root causes with equipment and drivers
- Run a preventative-maintenance program; periodically inspect tires, brakes and lights
- Reinforce thorough pre-trip and post-trip inspections; retrain where needed
Tires violations are the leading contributor to Vehicle Maintenance
Medium impactEstimated Vehicle Maintenance percentile of 76% is close to the 80% intervention line — worth getting ahead of before it crosses.
- 393.75A3-TAOLTires - All others, leaking or inflation less than 50% of the maximum inflation pressure on tire not equipped with ATIS6× · 40%
- 393.75A3-TAOLTISTires - All others, leaking in tread area and inflation less than 50% of the maximum inflation pressure on tire equipped with ATIS1× · 7%
- 393.75C-TAOTD-LT1/32Tires - Less than 1/32 inch tread depth at 3 locations/2 adjacent tread grooves1× · 7%
- 393.9A-LFTSILighting - Front - Turn signal - inoperative2× · 9%
- 393.9A-LHWSLighting - Hazard warning signal(s) inoperative1× · 7%
- 393.11A1-CSLRRConspicuity Systems - Truck tractor, lower rear retro reflective sheeting missing on vehicle manufactured on or after July 1, 19971× · 3%
- 393.55D2-BAir Brake - ABS malfunction lamp defective on truck-tractor manufactured on or after March 1, 2001 for towed vehicle.1× · 4%
- 396.3A1-BALRAir Brake - Fails air loss rate test1× · 4%
- 393.55C1-BAir Brake - Truck-tractor manufactured on or after March 1, 1997, not equipped with an ABS system. System does not function or indicates a fault.1× · 3%
- Gauge and thump every tire on the walk-around, including inner duals
- Replace before tread hits the limit; correct low pressure immediately
- Prioritize the out-of-service items — they carry the heaviest weight
A high share of violations are occurring in Laurel County, KY
Medium impact6 of 16 violations in the last 12 months (38%) came from inspections in Laurel County, KY. That can mean tougher enforcement there or simply more of your miles run through it — either way it's worth a look.
- Review the inspections from Laurel County, KY to spot recurring issues
- Brief drivers running that lane; consider rerouting around the toughest enforcement corridors where practical
Speeding violations are the leading contributor to Unsafe Driving
Low impactEstimated Unsafe Driving percentile of 37% is under the 65% line. In decent shape, but here's what's driving it.
- 392.2-SLLS2State/Local Laws - Speeding 6-10 miles per hour over the speed limit3× · 31%
- 392.2-SLLS3State/Local Laws - Speeding 11-14 miles per hour over the speed limit1× · 27%
- Coach the drivers with speeding violations directly — Unsafe Driving points are weighted heavily
- Set and enforce a governed road speed; review telematics/dashcam speed events weekly
Driver Fitness needs attention
Low impactEstimated Driver Fitness percentile of 0% is under the 80% line. In decent shape, but here's what's driving it.
- Review recent inspections with violations in this BASIC and take remedial action with drivers/equipment
Controlled Substances/Alcohol needs attention
Low impactEstimated Controlled Substances/Alcohol percentile of 0% is under the 80% line. In decent shape, but here's what's driving it.
- Review recent inspections with violations in this BASIC and take remedial action with drivers/equipment
Recommendations are generated from the carrier’s public FMCSA roadside-inspection record. Percentiles and projections are VioCodes estimates, not official FMCSA figures. Informational, not legal advice.
90-day safety improvement plan
What this carrier has struggled with most in the last 90 days — where to focus now.
- 393.75A3-TAOLTires - All others, leaking or inflation less than 50% of the maximum inflation pressure on tire not equipped with ATIS · OOS
- 393.55D2-BAir Brake - ABS malfunction lamp defective on truck-tractor manufactured on or after March 1, 2001 for towed vehicle.
- 393.11A1-CSLRRConspicuity Systems - Truck tractor, lower rear retro reflective sheeting missing on vehicle manufactured on or after July 1, 1997
- Gauge/thump every tire on the walk-around, including inner duals
- Replace before tread hits the limit and correct low pressure immediately
- 393.47EBrake Out of Adjustment - Roto, Clamp (Short & Long), DD-3, or Bolt
- Check brake adjustment and listen for air leaks every pre-trip
- Fix air-loss and warning-light faults before dispatch; put brakes on the PM schedule
Based on roadside inspections in the last 90 days, ranked by what recurs most. Informational, not legal advice.
Inspection & crash map
live · FMCSA MCMISEvery inspection and crash on record — hover a point for the summary, click for full detail (codes, severity, CSA points).
CSA points = violation severity weight × FMCSA time weight (3× in the last 6 months, 2× at 6–12, 1× at 12–24). Points are spread within each state — FMCSA records the inspection state, not an exact location. Source: FMCSA MCMIS.
Equipment
VINs via NHTSA69 distinct vehicles seen in this carrier’s roadside inspections.
+ 39 more.
Equipment is inferred from VINs recorded on roadside inspections (FMCSA MCMIS), decoded via the NHTSA vPIC API — it reflects vehicles inspected, not a current fleet roster.
Crash record (US, last 24 months)
Total
3
Tow-away
3
Injury
1
Fatal
0
Company profile
FMCSA censusAUTHORIZED FOR HIRE
- Interstate · 100+ mi18 drivers
- Company officer
- BRENT WILLIAMSON
- Operation
- Interstate
- Registered since
- 2002-06-10
- Last MCS-150 update
- 2025-12-06
- Census status
- Active
Fleet: 19 trucks · 11 leased/term tractors.
Source: FMCSA Company Census File (data.transportation.gov). Fleet and driver counts are self-reported on the carrier’s most recent MCS-150 filing.
Connections
carrier graphThis carrier shares VINs, addresses, phone numbers or officers with 16 other carriers — review the connections below as part of your vetting.
Shared VINs come from FMCSA roadside-inspection records — a vehicle inspected under more than one carrier, often a fleet transfer or trailer interchange. Other links come from the FMCSA census. Shared identifiers are common and often legitimate — treat these as leads to investigate, not proof of wrongdoing.
Activity history
12 events- 12/06/2025MCS-150 update filed
0.9M mi reported (2024)
- 06/26/2020Insurance filed — AUTO OWNERS INSURANCE COMPANY
Liability (BIPD) — BMC-91X · policy 50-749141-01
- 06/26/2020Insurance replaced — NORTHLAND INSURANCE COMPANY
BIPD/Primary · policy TN503062
- 05/21/2011Insurance cancelled — NORTHLAND INSURANCE COMPANY
CARGO · policy TN503062
- 06/26/2006Insurance cancelled — EMPIRE FIRE & MARINE INSURANCE CO.
BIPD/Primary · policy CL930046
- 05/30/2006COMMON — INVOLUNTARY REVOCATION
DISCONTINUED REVOCATION (06/22/2006)
- 07/28/2005Insurance cancelled — NORTHLAND INSURANCE COMPANY
BIPD/Primary · policy TN362409
- 06/26/2005Insurance replaced — NORTHLAND INSURANCE COMPANY
BIPD/Primary · policy TN362409
- 09/30/2004Insurance replaced — CANAL INSURANCE CO.
BIPD/Primary · policy 448437
- 09/30/2004Insurance replaced — NORTHLAND INSURANCE COMPANY
BIPD/Primary · policy TN362409
- 08/16/2002MOTOR PROPERTY COMMON CARRIER — GRANTED
- 06/10/2002Registered with FMCSA
AUTHORIZED FOR HIRE
Merged from FMCSA authority, insurance, out-of-service, and census records.
Operations
Classification
- AUTHORIZED FOR HIRE
Area served
- Interstate
FMCSA safety rating
- Rating
- Not rated
- Type
- Non-ratable review
- Rated
- —
- Last review
- 2024-12-05
MCS-150 registration
- Form date
- 2025-12-06
- Reported mileage
- 919,682 mi (2024)
Changes on file
FMCSA census historyDecember, 2024
- Fleet grew to 19 power units
- Drivers grew to 18
January, 2022
- Fleet grew to 14 power units
- Drivers grew to 14
January, 2021
First on-record entry — KNUCKLEHEAD CHOOCHOO EXPRESS LTD, BELLEFONTAINE, OH
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