HOWARD'S WRECKER SERVICE
Legal: HOWARD & SONS AUTOMOTIVE SERVICES INC
Risk factors
High 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 202627 inspections · 50 violations (12 OOS) · 30% of inspections had an OOS finding.
Violations by BASIC
click to filter codes
Top cited codes
score = count × severity weight
- 1393.75A3-TAOLVehicle Maintenance3 OOS
Tires - All others, leaking or inflation less than 50% of the maximum inflation pressure on tire not equipped with ATIS
24
3× · sev 8
- 2392.16-DUnsafe Driving
Driver - Failed to use seat belt while operating a CMV
7
1× · sev 7
- 3392.2-SLLLRUnsafe Driving
State/Local Laws - Lane restriction violation
6
2× · sev 3
- 4393.45B2-B-AIRVehicle Maintenance
Air Brake - Hose/tubing damaged or not secured
4
1× · sev 4
- 5393.11B-CSLRRVehicle Maintenance
Conspicuity Systems - Trailers, lower rear retro reflective sheeting inadequate on vehicle manufactured on or after December 1, 1993
3
1× · sev 3
- 6393.11A1-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
- 7392.2-SLL
State/Local Laws -
2
2×
- 8393.78A-WSVehicle Maintenance
Washers - Inoperative washing system.
1
1× · sev 1
- 9392.2-SLLTL
State/Local Laws - Misc. traffic law violation
1
1×
- 10393.9A-LTSIR
Lighting - Turn signal -Any inoperative on a unit that is not the rearmost unit
1
1×
Most inspected in · top 4 states
- GA20
- AL7
- SC2
- KY1
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.
Tires violations are the leading contributor to Vehicle Maintenance
High impactEstimated Vehicle Maintenance percentile of 96% 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.
- 393.75A3-TAOLTires - All others, leaking or inflation less than 50% of the maximum inflation pressure on tire not equipped with ATIS3× · 29%
- 393.11A1-LCHLLighting - Lamps improper color, height, location.1× · 9%
- 393.17B2-LTSDMLighting - Turn signal - Driveaway - any missing.1× · 4%
- 393.11B-CSLRRConspicuity Systems - Trailers, lower rear retro reflective sheeting inadequate on vehicle manufactured on or after December 1, 19931× · 3%
- 393.130C-CHVEHeavy Vehicles/Equipment - Improper securement of heavy vehicles, equipment or machinery with crawler tracks or wheels2× · 17%
- 393.104B-CCargo - Damaged securement devices/tiedowns1× · 1%
- 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× · 6%
- 393.45B2-B-AIRAir Brake - Hose/tubing damaged or not secured1× · 4%
- 393.45D-BAir Brake - Audible air leak at a proper connection1× · 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
Vehicle out-of-service rate exceeds the national average
High impactVehicle OOS rate is 77.8% 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
Phone / texting violations are the leading contributor to Unsafe Driving
Low impactEstimated Unsafe Driving percentile of 54% is under the 65% line. In decent shape, but here's what's driving it.
- 392.82DUMTDriver - Using a hand-held mobile telephone2× · 22%
- 392.2-SLLCPState/Local Laws - Operate a CMV while using a cellular phone2× · 22%
- 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× · 16%
- 392.2-SLLLRState/Local Laws - Lane restriction violation2× · 10%
- 392.2-SLLS3State/Local Laws - Speeding 11-14 miles per hour over the speed limit1× · 8%
- Hands-off-the-phone policy with real consequences; provide a mount and a do-not-disturb setup
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.
- 393.130C-CHVEHeavy Vehicles/Equipment - Improper securement of heavy vehicles, equipment or machinery with crawler tracks or wheels · OOS
- 393.11A1-LCHLLighting - Lamps improper color, height, location.
- 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.
- Carry extra straps/chains and know the working-load-limit math
- Re-check securement in the first 50 miles and at every stop
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 NHTSA24 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.
Crash record (US, last 24 months)
Total
5
Tow-away
5
Injury
2
Fatal
0
Company profile
FMCSA censusAUTHORIZED FOR HIRE
- Interstate · 100+ mi9 drivers
- Interstate · <100 mi14 drivers
- Company officer
- PHILIP E HOWARD
- Operation
- Interstate
- D-U-N-S
- 77165017
- Registered since
- 1974-06-01
- Last MCS-150 update
- 2026-04-17
- Census status
- Active
Fleet: 28 trucks · 7 owned tractors · 6 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 graphThis carrier shares VINs or addresses with 3 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
49 events- 04/17/2026MCS-150 update filed
1.1M mi reported (2023)
- 06/16/2025Insurance filed — National Interstate Insurance Company
Liability (BIPD) — BMC-91X · policy GFA 4430101-03
- 06/16/2025Insurance replaced — NEW HAMPSHIRE INSURANCE CO.
BIPD/Primary · policy 01-CA-044253332-0
- 09/19/2024MOTOR PROPERTY COMMON CARRIER — REINSTATED
- 08/15/2024Insurance replaced — GRANITE STATE INSURANCE CO.
BIPD/Primary · policy 01-CA-044253332-0
- 08/15/2024Insurance replaced — NEW HAMPSHIRE INSURANCE CO.
BIPD/Primary · policy 01-CA-044253332-0
- 08/15/2024Insurance cancelled — ZURICH AMERICAN INSURANCE COMPANY
BIPD/Primary · policy CPO1642790
- 08/15/2022Insurance replaced — AMGUARD INSURANCE COMPANY
BIPD/Primary · policy K2GP215330
- 08/15/2021Insurance replaced — ZURICH AMERICAN INSURANCE COMPANY
BIPD/Primary · policy CPO1640745
- 08/15/2017Insurance replaced — UNITED SPECIALTY INSURANCE COMPANY
BIPD/Primary · policy UXQ0000402
- 03/27/2017Insurance replaced — UNITED SPECIALTY INSURANCE COMPANY
BIPD/Primary · policy UXQ0000401
- 03/27/2016Insurance cancelled — NATIONAL CASUALTY COMPANY
BIPD/Primary · policy CAO7757319
- 02/29/2016COMMON — INVOLUNTARY REVOCATION
DISCONTINUED REVOCATION (03/25/2016)
- 03/27/2015Insurance cancelled — CANAL INSURANCE CO.
BIPD/Primary · policy PIT00129201
- 03/02/2015COMMON — INVOLUNTARY REVOCATION
DISCONTINUED REVOCATION (03/30/2015)
- 03/27/2014Insurance cancelled — ARCH INSURANCE COMPANY
BIPD/Primary · policy TTPKG0116000
- 02/28/2014COMMON — INVOLUNTARY REVOCATION
DISCONTINUED REVOCATION (03/27/2014)
- 06/01/2013Insurance cancelled — ARCH INSURANCE COMPANY
BIPD/Primary · policy TTPKG0116000
- 03/27/2013Insurance replaced — PROGRESSIVE MOUNTAIN INSURANCE COMPANY OF OHI
BIPD/Primary · policy CA 1512162
- 05/11/2012Insurance cancelled — PROGRESSIVE MOUNTAIN INSURANCE COMPANY OF OHI
CARGO · policy CA 7897020
- 03/27/2012Insurance replaced — PROGRESSIVE MOUNTAIN INSURANCE COMPANY OF OHI
BIPD/Primary · policy CA 7897020
- 03/27/2011Insurance replaced — PROGRESSIVE MOUNTAIN INSURANCE COMPANY OF OHI
BIPD/Primary · policy CA 4621534
- 06/08/2010MOTOR PROPERTY COMMON CARRIER — REINSTATED
REVOKED (08/21/2024)
- 03/27/2010Insurance cancelled — REDLAND INSURANCE CO.
CARGO · policy QSIGA0001209
- 03/27/2009Insurance replaced — REDLAND INSURANCE CO.
BIPD/Primary · policy RICGA0003146
- 03/27/2009Insurance replaced — GRANGE INSURANCE COMPANY.
BIPD/Primary · policy CPP 2611912-00
- 03/27/2009Insurance replaced — QBE SPECIALTY INSURANCE CORPORATION
CARGO · policy QSIGA0001209
- 03/27/2008Insurance cancelled — SUA INSURANCE COMPANY
BIPD/Primary · policy 10AE0TT101021CA02
- 02/29/2008COMMON — INVOLUNTARY REVOCATION
DISCONTINUED REVOCATION (03/27/2008)
- 03/27/2007Insurance cancelled — SPECIALTY UNDERWRITERS ALLIANCE
BIPD/Primary · policy 10AEOTT101021-CA01
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
- 1995-08-02
- Last review
- 1995-07-19
MCS-150 registration
- Form date
- 2026-04-17
- Reported mileage
- 1,133,503 mi (2023)
Changes on file
FMCSA census historyMay, 2022
- Fleet grew to 25 power units
- Drivers grew to 25
January, 2021
First on-record entry — HOWARD & SONS AUTOMOTIVE SERVICES INC, MABLETON, GA
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