DARKSIDE TRUCKING LTD
Risk factors
Low 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 202625 inspections · 44 violations (6 OOS) · 17% of inspections had an OOS finding.
Violations by BASIC
click to filter codes
Top cited codes
score = count × severity weight
- 1395.8E-HOSPDHours-of-Service Compliance
HOS (Property) - No driver may make a false report in connection with a duty status. Explain
14
2× · sev 7
- 2392.16-DUnsafe Driving
Driver - Failed to use seat belt while operating a CMV
7
1× · sev 7
- 3393.9A-LRLIVehicle Maintenance
Lighting - Tail lamp - Any inoperative
6
1× · sev 6
- 4393.9B-LRLIWRVehicle Maintenance1 OOS
Lighting - Tail lamp - Both lamps on rearmost vehicle inoperative when required to be on
6
1× · sev 6
- 5392.2-SLLFCUnsafe Driving
State/Local Laws - Following too closely
5
1× · sev 5
- 6393.55D1-BVehicle Maintenance
Air Brake - ABS malfunction lamp defective on truck-tractor manufactured on or after March 1, 1997 and each single unit CMV on or after 1998.
4
1× · sev 4
- 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-SLLLRUnsafe Driving
State/Local Laws - Lane restriction violation
3
1× · sev 3
- 9392.2-SLLSR
State/Local Laws - State registration/tag violation
1
1×
- 10392.2-SLLEWG3
State/Local Laws - Excessive weight - More than 5000 lbs over on allowable gross weight
1
1×
Most inspected in · top 6 states
- OH16
- IL4
- MO4
- KY2
- IN2
- PA2
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.
Lighting / lamps violations are the leading contributor to Vehicle Maintenance
High impactEstimated Vehicle Maintenance percentile of 85% is at/over the 80% 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.
- 393.9A-LRLILighting - Tail lamp - Any inoperative2× · 11%
- 393.9A-LTSILighting - Turn signal - Any inoperative on the rearmost vehicle.1× · 9%
- 393.9B-LRLIWRLighting - Tail lamp - Both lamps on rearmost vehicle inoperative when required to be on1× · 9%
- 393.9BRKLAMPInoperative Brake Lamps1× · 11%
- 393.55E-BAir Brake - ABS malfunction lamp defective on trailers manufactured on or after March 1, 19982× · 9%
- 393.53B-BAir Brake - CMV manufactured on or after 10/20/1994 has an automatic airbrake adjustment system that fails to compensate for wear1× · 7%
- 393.75A1-TAOBETATires - All others, more than one ply is exposed in the sidewall and the area exceeds 2 square inches.1× · 12%
- Walk the lights every pre-trip and carry spare bulbs/fuses; clean lenses and check the trailer plug
- Prioritize the out-of-service items — they carry the heaviest weight
Vehicle out-of-service rate exceeds the national average
High impactVehicle OOS rate is 23.1% 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
A high share of violations are occurring in Guernsey County, OH
Medium impact10 of 22 violations in the last 12 months (45%) came from inspections in Guernsey County, OH. 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 Guernsey County, OH to spot recurring issues
- Brief drivers running that lane; consider rerouting around the toughest enforcement corridors where practical
Following / lane / reckless violations are the leading contributor to Unsafe Driving
Low impactEstimated Unsafe Driving percentile of 47% is under the 65% line. In decent shape, but here's what's driving it.
- 392.2-SLLFCState/Local Laws - Following too closely1× · 24%
- 392.2-SLLLRState/Local Laws - Lane restriction violation1× · 14%
- 392.2-SLLS2State/Local Laws - Speeding 6-10 miles per hour over the speed limit1× · 29%
- Defensive-driving refresher on following distance and lane discipline
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.
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 NHTSA30 distinct vehicles seen in this carrier’s roadside inspections.
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.
Company profile
FMCSA censusAUTHORIZED FOR HIRE
- Interstate · 100+ mi5 drivers
- Interstate · <100 mi4 drivers
- Company officer
- VANCE S CARPENTER
- Operation
- Interstate
- Registered since
- 2004-05-03
- Last MCS-150 update
- 2025-12-30
- Census status
- Active
Fleet: 10 trucks · 7 owned tractors · 9 owned trailers · 3 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 with 1 other carrier — 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
24 events- 12/30/2025MCS-150 update filed
0.8M mi reported (2024)
- 03/26/2025Insurance filed — PROGRESSIVE PREFERRED INSURANCE CO.
Liability (BIPD) — BMC-91X · policy CA994600810
- 03/26/2025Insurance cancelled — SENTRY SELECT INSURANCE COMPANY
BIPD/Primary · policy A0005364001
- 02/27/2025COMMON — INVOLUNTARY REVOCATION
DISCONTINUED REVOCATION (03/17/2025)
- 11/28/2023MOTOR PROPERTY COMMON CARRIER — REINSTATED
- 04/22/2023Insurance cancelled — CENTRAL MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY
BIPD/Primary · policy 9768290
- 03/26/2023Insurance replaced — CENTRAL MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY
BIPD/Primary · policy 9768290
- 03/26/2016Insurance replaced — ZURICH AMERICAN INSURANCE COMPANY
BIPD/Primary · policy PRA 9460199
- 03/26/2015Insurance replaced — NATIONAL CASUALTY COMPANY
BIPD/Primary · policy LTO0006542
- 04/25/2012Insurance cancelled — LANCER INSURANCE COMPANY
CARGO · policy CM0050754
- 03/26/2012Insurance replaced — LANCER INSURANCE COMPANY
BIPD/Primary · policy CM0050754
- 03/26/2010Insurance cancelled — NATIONAL CASUALTY COMPANY
BIPD/Primary · policy OPO0028359
- 03/01/2010COMMON — INVOLUNTARY REVOCATION
DISCONTINUED REVOCATION (03/24/2010)
- 03/27/2009Insurance cancelled — SAGAMORE INSURANCE COMPANY
BIPD/Primary · policy ST121284
- 03/27/2009Insurance cancelled — UNDERWRITERS AT LLOYDS LONDON
CARGO · policy 0510ZRCR802950-MTC083
- 03/26/2009Insurance replaced — SAGAMORE INSURANCE COMPANY
BIPD/Primary · policy ST121284
- 03/26/2009Insurance replaced — UNDERWRITERS AT LLOYDS LONDON
CARGO · policy 0510ZRCR802950-MTC083
- 03/02/2009COMMON — INVOLUNTARY REVOCATION
DISCONTINUED REVOCATION (03/18/2009)
- 07/24/2008MOTOR PROPERTY COMMON CARRIER — REINSTATED
REVOKED (11/22/2023)
- 07/07/2008Insurance name changed — UNDERWRITERS AT LLOYDS LONDON
CARGO · policy 0510ZRCR802950-MTC083
- 07/07/2008Insurance name changed — SAGAMORE INSURANCE COMPANY
BIPD/Primary · policy ST121284
- 05/22/2008Insurance cancelled — SAGAMORE INSURANCE COMPANY
BIPD/Primary · policy ST121284
- 04/09/2008MOTOR PROPERTY COMMON CARRIER — GRANTED
REVOKED (07/07/2008)
- 05/03/2004Registered 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
- 2010-11-03
- Last review
- 2024-02-29
MCS-150 registration
- Form date
- 2025-12-30
- Reported mileage
- 817,404 mi (2024)
Changes on file
FMCSA census historyMarch, 2021
- Drivers grew to 10
January, 2021
First on-record entry — DARKSIDE TRUCKING LTD, ZANESVILLE, OH
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