KOVAC EXPRESS INC
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 202653 inspections · 25 violations (2 OOS) · 7% of inspections had an OOS finding.
Violations by BASIC
click to filter codes
Top cited codes
score = count × severity weight
- 1392.2-SLLCPUnsafe Driving
State/Local Laws - Operate a CMV while using a cellular phone
10
1× · sev 10
- 2392.2-SLLS2Unsafe Driving
State/Local Laws - Speeding 6-10 miles per hour over the speed limit
8
2× · sev 4
- 3393.75A3-TAOLVehicle Maintenance1 OOS
Tires - All others, leaking or inflation less than 50% of the maximum inflation pressure on tire not equipped with ATIS
8
1× · sev 8
- 4392.2-SLLILCUnsafe Driving
State/Local Laws - Improper lane change
5
1× · sev 5
- 5396.17C-PIVehicle Maintenance
Operating a CMV without documentation of a periodic inspection
4
1× · sev 4
- 6393.45B2PCVehicle Maintenance
Brake Hose or Tubing Chafing and/or Kinking - Connection to Power Unit
4
1× · sev 4
- 7392.2-SLLTL
State/Local Laws - Misc. traffic law violation
1
1×
- 8393.75A
Flat tire or fabric exposed
1
1×
- 9392.2-SLLSR
State/Local Laws - State registration/tag violation
1
1×
- 10395.24Hours-of-Service Compliance
HOS (ELD) - ELD Form and Manner
1
1× · sev 1
Most inspected in · top 8 states
- IN8
- MO4
- IL3
- MI2
- NM2
- CA2
- SD1
- MT1
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.
Speeding violations are the leading contributor to Unsafe Driving
High impactEstimated Unsafe Driving percentile of 68% 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.
- 392.2-SLLS2State/Local Laws - Speeding 6-10 miles per hour over the speed limit3× · 19%
- 392.2-SLLS3State/Local Laws - Speeding 11-14 miles per hour over the speed limit1× · 11%
- 392.2-SLLSWZState/Local Laws - Speeding work/construction zone1× · 8%
- 392.2-SLLTCDState/Local Laws - Failed to obey a traffic control device - Permanent or Temporary - e.g., safety official, signal, sign, light, lane marking, other1× · 12%
- 392.2-SLLILCState/Local Laws - Improper lane change2× · 12%
- 392.2-SLLLRState/Local Laws - Lane restriction violation2× · 5%
- 392.2-SLLCPState/Local Laws - Operate a CMV while using a cellular phone1× · 16%
- 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
A high share of violations are occurring in IN
Medium impact11 of 16 violations in the last 12 months (69%) came from inspections in IN. 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 IN to spot recurring issues
- Brief drivers running that lane; consider rerouting around the toughest enforcement corridors where practical
Log / ELD device violations are the leading contributor to Hours-of-Service Compliance
Low impactEstimated Hours-of-Service Compliance percentile of 16% is under the 65% line. In decent shape, but here's what's driving it.
- 395.24HOS (ELD) - ELD Form and Manner11× · 72%
- 395.20BELDNVHOS (ELD) - The ELD display screen is not viewable by an authorized official without entering the CMV1× · 28%
- Make sure the ELD is registered, working, and drivers know how to log in and certify daily
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
Tires violations are the leading contributor to Vehicle Maintenance
Low impactEstimated Vehicle Maintenance percentile of 70% is under the 80% line. In decent shape, but here's what's driving it.
- 393.75A3-TAOLTires - All others, leaking or inflation less than 50% of the maximum inflation pressure on tire not equipped with ATIS3× · 26%
- 393.75A3-ATISTires - All others, leaking in tread area with inflation more than 50% of the maximum inflation pressure on tire equipped with ATIS1× · 13%
- 393.45B2PCBrake Hose or Tubing Chafing and/or Kinking - Connection to Power Unit1× · 6%
- 393.45B2-B-AIRAir Brake - Hose/tubing damaged or not secured3× · 6%
- 393.53B-BAir Brake - CMV manufactured on or after 10/20/1994 has an automatic airbrake adjustment system that fails to compensate for wear2× · 4%
- 393.9A-LSLILighting - Stop lamps - Any inoperative.2× · 6%
- 393.9A-LBLLighting - Backup lamp inoperative1× · 3%
- 393.9A-LFTSILighting - Front - Turn signal - inoperative1× · 3%
- 396.17C-PIOperating a CMV without documentation of a periodic inspection1× · 4%
- 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
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-ATISTires - All others, leaking in tread area with inflation more than 50% of the maximum inflation pressure on tire equipped with ATIS
- Gauge/thump every tire on the walk-around, including inner duals
- Replace before tread hits the limit and correct low pressure immediately
- 392.16-DDriver - Failed to use seat belt while operating a CMV
- Coach speed and following distance — Unsafe Driving points are weighted heavily
- Hands off the phone; always belt up
- 392.2-SLLIRPState/Local Laws - IRP apportioned tag or registration violation
- Review these violations with drivers and add the fix to your pre-trip and PM routine
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 NHTSA59 distinct vehicles seen in this carrier’s roadside inspections.
+ 29 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
2
Tow-away
2
Injury
2
Fatal
0
Company profile
FMCSA censusAUTHORIZED FOR HIRE
- Interstate · 100+ mi28 drivers
- Interstate · <100 mi1 drivers
- Company officer
- ALEN KOVAC
- Operation
- Interstate
- Registered since
- 2004-10-27
- Last MCS-150 update
- 2026-04-15
- Census status
- Active
Fleet: 29 trucks · 4 owned tractors · 10 owned trailers · 25 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 or phone numbers with 9 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
33 events- 04/15/2026MCS-150 update filed
1.8M mi reported (2025)
- 11/26/2021Insurance filed — Sentry Select Insurance Company
Liability (BIPD) — BMC-91X · policy A0014467002
- 11/26/2021Insurance replaced — HARCO NATIONAL INSURANCE CO.
BIPD/Primary · policy GFL0000597
- 11/26/2020Insurance replaced — OCCIDENTAL FIRE AND CASUALTY CO. OF N.C.
BIPD/Primary · policy BA0718357
- 11/26/2019Insurance replaced — SENTRY SELECT INSURANCE COMPANY
BIPD/Primary · policy A0014467001
- 11/07/2018Insurance cancelled — SENTRY SELECT INSURANCE COMPANY
BIPD/Primary · policy A0014467001
- 11/26/2016Insurance cancelled — GREAT DIVIDE INSURANCE COMPANY
BIPD/Primary · policy 8004474
- 10/31/2016COMMON — INVOLUNTARY REVOCATION
DISCONTINUED REVOCATION (11/28/2016)
- 08/18/2016Insurance cancelled — GREAT DIVIDE INSURANCE COMPANY
BIPD/Primary · policy 8004474
- 07/22/2016COMMON — INVOLUNTARY REVOCATION
DISCONTINUED REVOCATION (08/09/2016)
- 11/26/2015Insurance replaced — GREAT DIVIDE INSURANCE COMPANY
BIPD/Primary · policy 8001127
- 11/26/2014Insurance cancelled — AMERICAN ALTERNATIVE INSURANCE CORPORATION
BIPD/Primary · policy T5A2TP0000038-00
- 10/30/2014COMMON — INVOLUNTARY REVOCATION
DISCONTINUED REVOCATION (11/25/2014)
- 12/26/2013Insurance cancelled — NATIONAL CASUALTY COMPANY
BIPD/Primary · policy LTO0002786
- 11/26/2013Insurance replaced — NATIONAL CASUALTY COMPANY
BIPD/Primary · policy LTO0002786
- 11/01/2012Insurance replaced — NATIONAL CASUALTY COMPANY
BIPD/Primary · policy LTO0002786
- 11/01/2012Insurance replaced — PROGRESSIVE SOUTHEASTERN INSURANCE COMPANY
BIPD/Primary · policy CA 1924599
- 11/26/2011Insurance cancelled — OCCIDENTAL FIRE AND CASUALTY CO. OF N.C.
BIPD/Primary · policy BA 069 48 31
- 10/31/2011COMMON — INVOLUNTARY REVOCATION
DISCONTINUED REVOCATION (11/25/2011)
- 02/16/2011Insurance filed — UNITED BROKERS INSURANCE
Cargo — BMC-34 · policy PAC6063235
- 02/16/2011Insurance cancelled — PENN-AMERICA INSURANCE COMPANY
CARGO · policy PAC6063235
- 02/16/2011Insurance cancelled — OCCIDENTAL FIRE AND CASUALTY CO. OF N.C.
BIPD/Primary · policy BA 069 48 31
- 01/27/2011Insurance replaced — OCCIDENTAL FIRE AND CASUALTY CO. OF N.C.
BIPD/Primary · policy BA 069 48 31
- 01/20/2011COMMON — INVOLUNTARY REVOCATION
DISCONTINUED REVOCATION (01/28/2011)
- 11/26/2010Insurance replaced — SENTRY SELECT INSURANCE COMPANY
BIPD/Primary · policy CT751365-3607-071
- 11/26/2007Insurance replaced — LINCOLN GENERAL INSURANCE COMPANY
BIPD/Primary · policy LCW104293
- 11/26/2006Insurance replaced — LINCOLN GENERAL INSURANCE COMPANY
BIPD/Primary · policy LCW104293
- 12/01/2005Insurance cancelled — CANAL INSURANCE CO.
BIPD/Primary · policy 460666
- 11/26/2005Insurance replaced — CANAL INSURANCE CO.
BIPD/Primary · policy 460666
- 11/04/2005COMMON — INVOLUNTARY REVOCATION
DISCONTINUED REVOCATION (11/30/2005)
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
- Compliance review
- Rated
- 2023-07-03
- Last review
- 2023-05-19
MCS-150 registration
- Form date
- 2026-04-15
- Reported mileage
- 1,753,860 mi (2025)
Changes on file
FMCSA census historyJanuary, 2021
First on-record entry — KOVAC EXPRESS INC, MISHAWAKA, IN
Got a violation you want to contest?
Use the free AI-powered DataQs Drafter to generate a polished challenge letter — quotes the relevant 49 CFR, predicts your grant chance.