CSA
Authorized · PropertyUSDOT 1190564· MC475426· CARRIER· EIN 83-1254910
⬇ PDF report

KOUNKEL TRUCKING INC

29792 280TH ST, MERRILL, IA, 51038(721) 251-5615cskounkel@netzero.netDEREK KOUNKEL
Vetting snapshot
Authority
Active
operating authority
Insurance
$750K BIPD
United States Fire Insurance Company
Vehicle OOS
33.3%
above 22% national avg
Driver OOS
6.8%
above 6.7% national avg
Crashes 24mo
5
none fatal
Red flags
None
nothing flagged
65
/ 100

Risk factors

Moderate riskVioCodes score
Vehicle OOS 33.3% — well above the 22% national average5 crashes in the last 24 months

A 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.

Authority & insurance

MC475426

Operating authority and insurance on file — from FMCSA Licensing & Insurance (L&I).

Common
None
Contract
Active
Broker
None
Authorized for: Property
Liability (BIPD)
$750K on file
$750K required
Cargo
Not on file
not required
Bond / surety
Not on file
not required
Insurance filings
ON FILELiability (BIPD) — BMC-91X$750K coverageeff 01/01/2026
United States Fire Insurance Company· policy 133-7760081
Authority history (9) ▾
12/05/2025CONTRACTINVOLUNTARY REVOCATIONDISCONTINUED REVOCATION (12/30/2025)
04/05/2022CONTRACTINVOLUNTARY REVOCATIONDISCONTINUED REVOCATION (05/16/2022)
12/05/2019CONTRACTINVOLUNTARY REVOCATIONDISCONTINUED REVOCATION (12/27/2019)
12/05/2018CONTRACTINVOLUNTARY REVOCATIONDISCONTINUED REVOCATION (12/28/2018)
08/22/2018CONTRACTINVOLUNTARY REVOCATIONDISCONTINUED REVOCATION (09/13/2018)
04/20/2018CONTRACTINVOLUNTARY REVOCATIONDISCONTINUED REVOCATION (05/01/2018)
12/05/2017CONTRACTINVOLUNTARY REVOCATIONDISCONTINUED REVOCATION (01/02/2018)
02/14/2007CONTRACTINVOLUNTARY REVOCATIONDISCONTINUED REVOCATION (03/09/2007)
12/29/2003MOTOR PROPERTY CONTRACT CARRIERGRANTED
Insurance history5 insurers on record 1 rejected filing
Filing timeline (13)
  1. BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY HOMESTATE INSURANCE COMPAN$750KCancelled
    BIPD/Primary · eff 01/01/202501/01/2026
  2. PROGRESSIVE NORTHERN INSURANCE COMPANY$750KReplaced
    BIPD/Primary · eff 01/01/202101/01/2025
  3. NORTHLAND INSURANCE COMPANY$750KCancelled
    BIPD/Primary · eff 01/01/202001/28/2021
  4. NORTHLAND INSURANCE COMPANY$750KReplaced
    BIPD/Primary · eff 01/01/202001/01/2021
  5. BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY HOMESTATE INSURANCE COMPAN$750KCancelled
    BIPD/Primary · eff 01/01/201901/01/2020
  6. BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY HOMESTATE INSURANCE COMPAN$750KCancelled
    BIPD/Primary · eff 09/12/201801/01/2019
  7. BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY HOMESTATE INSURANCE COMPAN$750KName Changed
    BIPD/Primary · eff 04/30/201809/24/2018
  8. BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY HOMESTATE INSURANCE COMPAN$750KReplaced
    BIPD/Primary · eff 04/30/201809/12/2018
  9. BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY HOMESTATE INSURANCE COMPAN$750KCancelled
    BIPD/Primary · eff 01/01/201805/17/2018
  10. BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY HOMESTATE INSURANCE COMPAN$750KReplaced
    BIPD/Primary · eff 01/01/201804/30/2018
  11. GREAT WEST CASUALTY CO.$1MCancelled
    BIPD/Primary · eff 03/08/200701/01/2018
  12. GREAT WEST CASUALTY CO.$1MName Changed
    BIPD/Primary · eff 12/18/200303/19/2007
  13. GREAT WEST CASUALTY CO.$1MReplaced
    BIPD/Primary · eff 12/18/200303/08/2007
Rejected filings (1) ▾
  • 11/18/2025BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY HOMESTATE INSURANCE COMPANPolicy is not in System.

Source: FMCSA Licensing & Insurance (L&I), public data. This shows the carrier’s federal insurance filings (BMC-91X liability, BMC-34 cargo) — the federally-required minimums on file for operating authority — not the carrier’s full commercial policy (its actual auto combined-single-limit, general liability, cargo, or workers’ comp, which appear on the carrier’s ACORD certificate of insurance). Always confirm current coverage with a COI from the carrier’s agent before making a vetting decision.

Roadside inspection performance

Out-of-service rate vs national average. Lower is better.

Vehicle6 inspections · 33.3% OOS · National 22%
Driver44 inspections · 6.8% OOS · National 6.7%

CSA performance breakdown

FMCSA · Sep 2026

44 inspections · 44 violations (3 OOS) · 7% of inspections had an OOS finding.

44
Inspections
44
Violations
3
OOS violations
10
Distinct codes

Violations by BASIC

click to filter codes

10
total

Most inspected in · top 8 states

  • IA12
  • NE4
  • WI4
  • IN3
  • IL2
  • CA1
  • TN1
  • KS1

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.

Recommendations

What’s driving each score, what to do about it, and where it could go.

Speeding violations are the leading contributor to Unsafe Driving

High impact

Estimated Unsafe Driving percentile of 72% is at/over the 65% intervention line. Carriers with a BASIC in alert are prioritized for enforcement (warning letters, audits) and inspected more often — which tends to generate still more violations.

What’s contributing12 violations (24 mo)
Speeding6 viol55%
  • 392.2-SLLSWZState/Local Laws - Speeding work/construction zone1× · 28%
  • 392.2-SLLS2State/Local Laws - Speeding 6-10 miles per hour over the speed limit5× · 26%
Phone / texting1 viol19%
  • 392.82DUMTDriver - Using a hand-held mobile telephone1× · 19%
Following / lane / reckless3 viol17%
  • 392.2-SLLLRState/Local Laws - Lane restriction violation3× · 17%
Other2 viol9%
  • 392.2CFailure to obey traffic control device2× · 9%
What to do
  • 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
Projected estimatecould improve up to 38 pts in ~12 mo
nowin 12 months
Current trend 50% followed 100% followed 65% line

Vehicle and driver out-of-service rate exceeds the national average

High impact

Vehicle OOS rate is 40% vs the 22% national average. Driver OOS rate is 7.1% vs the 6.7% national average. Carriers above the national OOS average draw more enforcement attention (audits, roadside stops) and can see higher insurance premiums.

What to do
  • 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

A high share of violations are occurring in IA

Medium impact

9 of 20 violations in the last 12 months (45%) came from inspections in IA. That can mean tougher enforcement there or simply more of your miles run through it — either way it's worth a look.

What to do
  • Review the inspections from IA to spot recurring issues
  • Brief drivers running that lane; consider rerouting around the toughest enforcement corridors where practical

False log / RODS violations are the leading contributor to Hours-of-Service Compliance

Low impact

Estimated Hours-of-Service Compliance percentile of 28% is under the 65% line. In decent shape, but here's what's driving it.

What’s contributing2 violations · 2 OOS (24 mo)
False log / RODS2 OOS2 viol100%
  • 395.8A1-HOSPHOS (Property) - Failing to have a record of duty status using the method prescribed1× · 50%
  • 395.8A-ELDELD - No record of duty status (ELD Required)1× · 50%
What to do
  • Audit ELD edits and duty-status annotations weekly; a false log is a high-severity, high-visibility violation
  • Retrain on correct logging and never letting a load pressure a driver into a false entry
  • Prioritize the out-of-service items — they carry the heaviest weight
Projected estimatecould improve up to 14 pts in ~12 mo
nowin 12 months
Current trend 50% followed 100% followed 65% line

Controlled Substances/Alcohol needs attention

Low impact

Estimated Controlled Substances/Alcohol percentile of 0% is under the 80% line. In decent shape, but here's what's driving it.

What to do
  • 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.

Trending worse
2
Inspections
2
Violations
0
Out-of-service
0
Clean
Where the violations are
Unsafe Driving 50%Vehicle Maintenance 50%
Focus here first
1Unsafe Driving
1 violation · 50% of recent
  • 392.2-SLLSWZState/Local Laws - Speeding work/construction zone
Do this
  • Coach speed and following distance — Unsafe Driving points are weighted heavily
  • Hands off the phone; always belt up
2Vehicle Maintenance
1 violation · 50% of recent
  • 396.17C-PIOperating a CMV without documentation of a periodic inspection
Do this
  • Do — and document — a real pre-trip and post-trip DVIR
  • Keep the annual inspection current and records in the truck
🎓
Turn these into driver coaching — and prove it
FleetTrained (my companion project) makes branded, multilingual training videos for these exact violations — your driver watches and gets a completion certificate for the file.

Based on roadside inspections in the last 90 days, ranked by what recurs most. Informational, not legal advice.

Inspection & crash map

live · FMCSA MCMIS

Every inspection and crash on record — hover a point for the summary, click for full detail (codes, severity, CSA points).

58
Inspections
93
Violations
6
Out-of-service
168
CSA points
31
Crashes
17
States
cleanviolOOS

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 NHTSA

46 distinct vehicles seen in this carrier’s roadside inspections.

25 trailer 14 incomplete vehicle 7 truck
PETERBILT 389seen 9×
1NPXGGGG70D664481· FY8408 IA
2019 WILSON Wilsonseen 7×
1W16533A7K5554956· JA1293 IA
PETERBILT 389seen 6×
1NPXGGGG40D485590· FH6202 IA
PETERBILT 389seen 6×
1NPXGGGG50D387295· FH6206 IA
2019 PETERBILT 579seen 5×
1XPBD49X2KD612232· FX7194 UK
2022 WILSON Wilsonseen 4×
1W1K65338N5562769· LIX278 IA
PETERBILT 389seen 4×
1NPXGGGG30D676210· FV6922 IA
2020 PETERBILT 389seen 4×
1XPXD49X0LD657760· FP3892 IA
1988 GREAT DANE TRAILERS Great Dane Trailersseen 4×
1GRAA0629JW103903· IU6171 IA
2024 PETERBILT 389seen 4×
1NPXD49X1RD669029· FH6204 IA
2005 WILSON TRAILER CO. Wilson Trailer Co.seen 4×
1W1533A2H5552251· DJ2409 IA
2018 MERRITT Merrittseen 4×
1MT2N5333JH025904· IF0608 IA
2024 WILSON Wilsonseen 3×
1W1K6533XR5566621· NVC488 IA
PETERBILT 389seen 3×
1NPXGGGG50D664480· FR6482 IA
2001 WESTERN STAR 4900Eseen 3×
2WKEDD3J41K969646· FW8903 IA
2018 WILSON Wilsonseen 3×
1W16533A4J5554637· EK9825 IA
2022 WILSON Wilsonseen 3×
1W1K65335N5561496· HZ4997 IA
2017 GREAT DANE TRAILERS Great Dane Trailersseen 3×
1GRAA0620HW108546· HV5506 IA
2023 WILSON Wilsonseen 2×
1W1K65333P5563542· OET626 IA
2023 MERRITT Merrittseen 2×
1MT2N5333PH030075· MYU677 IA
2001 WESTERN STAR 4900Eseen 2×
2WKEDD3J41K959646· FW9410 IA
2017 GREAT DANE TRAILERS Great Dane Trailersseen 2×
1GRAA0629HW108545· HV5505 IA
2016 WILSON Wilsonseen 2×
1W16533A7G5550588· CV9428 IA
2021 WILSON Wilsonseen 2×
1W1K6533XM5560438· HP3086 IA
2022 PETERBILT 389seen 2×
1NPXD49X3ND782099· FT7173 IA
2023 GREAT DANE TRAILERS Great Dane Trailersseen 2×
1GR1A0623PW457084· KH3842 IA
2020 WILSONseen 2×
1W16533A0L5557943· LP3617 IA
2016 WILSON Wilson
1W16534A0G5550592· EK9868 IA
PETERBILT 389
1NPXGGGG80D367607· FW6670 IA
2024 PETERBILT 389
1NPXD49X9RD683471· FS8420 IA

+ 16 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

5

Tow-away

5

Injury

1

Fatal

0

Company profile

FMCSA census

AUTHORIZED FOR HIRE

Power units
21
on file (MCS-150)
Drivers
21
21 hold a CDL
Annual mileage
1.8M mi
reported 2025
Recordable crash rate
0.00
per million miles
How far they run · drivers by operating lane
  • Interstate · 100+ mi21 drivers
Company officer
DEREK KOUNKEL
Operation
Interstate
Registered since
2003-12-02
Last MCS-150 update
2026-08-12
Census status
Active

Fleet: 21 trucks · 21 owned tractors · 19 owned trailers.

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 graph

This carrier shares VINs, officers or emails with 9 other carriers — review the connections below as part of your vetting.

9
Connected carriers
9
Fleet-transfer links
2
Most shared VINs
1
Strong links
Strong· 1
1
T AND T TRUCKING INC
USDOT 2573120Active· MERRILL, IA
Strong
OfficerEmailShared VIN · 1
1W1K6533XR5566621
Medium· 1
DAA TRUCKING LLC
USDOT 3078729Active· DELL RAPIDS, SD
Medium
Shared VIN · 2
1W1K65338N55627691W1K6533XM5560438

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

25 events
  1. 08/12/2026MCS-150 update filed

    1.8M mi reported (2025)

  2. 01/01/2026Insurance filed — United States Fire Insurance Company

    Liability (BIPD) — BMC-91X · policy 133-7760081

  3. 01/01/2026Insurance cancelled — BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY HOMESTATE INSURANCE COMPAN

    BIPD/Primary · policy 02TRM062054-01

  4. 12/05/2025CONTRACT — INVOLUNTARY REVOCATION

    DISCONTINUED REVOCATION (12/30/2025)

  5. 01/01/2025Insurance replaced — PROGRESSIVE NORTHERN INSURANCE COMPANY

    BIPD/Primary · policy CA3091616

  6. 04/05/2022CONTRACT — INVOLUNTARY REVOCATION

    DISCONTINUED REVOCATION (05/16/2022)

  7. 01/28/2021Insurance cancelled — NORTHLAND INSURANCE COMPANY

    BIPD/Primary · policy WF010465

  8. 01/01/2021Insurance replaced — NORTHLAND INSURANCE COMPANY

    BIPD/Primary · policy WF010465

  9. 01/01/2020Insurance cancelled — BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY HOMESTATE INSURANCE COMPAN

    BIPD/Primary · policy 02TRM026636-02

  10. 12/05/2019CONTRACT — INVOLUNTARY REVOCATION

    DISCONTINUED REVOCATION (12/27/2019)

  11. 01/01/2019Insurance cancelled — BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY HOMESTATE INSURANCE COMPAN

    BIPD/Primary · policy 02TRM026636-01

  12. 12/05/2018CONTRACT — INVOLUNTARY REVOCATION

    DISCONTINUED REVOCATION (12/28/2018)

  13. 09/24/2018Insurance name changed — BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY HOMESTATE INSURANCE COMPAN

    BIPD/Primary · policy 02TRM026636-01

  14. 09/12/2018Insurance replaced — BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY HOMESTATE INSURANCE COMPAN

    BIPD/Primary · policy 02TRM026636-01

  15. 08/22/2018CONTRACT — INVOLUNTARY REVOCATION

    DISCONTINUED REVOCATION (09/13/2018)

  16. 05/17/2018Insurance cancelled — BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY HOMESTATE INSURANCE COMPAN

    BIPD/Primary · policy 02TRM026636-01

  17. 04/30/2018Insurance replaced — BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY HOMESTATE INSURANCE COMPAN

    BIPD/Primary · policy 02TRM026636-01

  18. 04/20/2018CONTRACT — INVOLUNTARY REVOCATION

    DISCONTINUED REVOCATION (05/01/2018)

  19. 01/01/2018Insurance cancelled — GREAT WEST CASUALTY CO.

    BIPD/Primary · policy GWP17998A

  20. 12/05/2017CONTRACT — INVOLUNTARY REVOCATION

    DISCONTINUED REVOCATION (01/02/2018)

  21. 03/19/2007Insurance name changed — GREAT WEST CASUALTY CO.

    BIPD/Primary · policy GWP17998A

  22. 03/08/2007Insurance replaced — GREAT WEST CASUALTY CO.

    BIPD/Primary · policy GWP17998A

  23. 02/14/2007CONTRACT — INVOLUNTARY REVOCATION

    DISCONTINUED REVOCATION (03/09/2007)

  24. 12/29/2003MOTOR PROPERTY CONTRACT CARRIER — GRANTED
  25. 12/02/2003Registered 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
Satisfactory
Type
Non-ratable review
Rated
2012-09-25
Last review
2020-03-18
📄

MCS-150 registration

Form date
2026-08-12
Reported mileage
1,847,969 mi (2025)
📜

Changes on file

FMCSA census history
  1. January, 2021

    First on-record entry — KOUNKEL TRUCKING INC, MERRILL, IA

Got a violation you want to contest?

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Data sourced from public FMCSA records via safer.fmcsa.dot.gov · Latest FMCSA update: Sep 2026 · Page refreshed: Sep 22, 2026, 8:54 PM. VioCodes is not affiliated with FMCSA. To dispute incorrect data, file a DataQs Request for Data Review.