KNIGHTS TRUCKING
Legal: EXTREME MATERIALS INC
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 202698 inspections · 45 violations (3 OOS) · 3% of inspections had an OOS finding.
Violations by BASIC
click to filter codes
Top cited codes
score = count × severity weight
- 1393.48A-BIBDVehicle Maintenance
Drum Brake - Inoperative other than a steering axle
12
3× · sev 4
- 2393.45D-BVehicle Maintenance
Air Brake - Audible air leak at a proper connection
8
2× · sev 4
- 3396.3A1-OALVehicle Maintenance
Other - Any air leak not attributed to the brake or suspension system.
4
1× · sev 4
- 4396.3A1-BALRVehicle Maintenance1 OOS
Air Brake - Fails air loss rate test
4
1× · sev 4
- 5393.45B2-B-AIRVehicle Maintenance
Air Brake - Hose/tubing damaged or not secured
4
1× · sev 4
- 6393.70B1II-CDBLVehicle Maintenance
Coupling - Bolted upper coupler has any loose bolt
3
1× · sev 3
- 7392.2-SLLEWG2
State/Local Laws - Excessive weight - 2501-5000 lbs over on allowable gross weight
2
2×
- 8392.2-SLLIFTA
State/Local Laws - State tax/International Fuel Tax (IFTA) violation
1
1×
- 9392.2-SLLEWG3
State/Local Laws - Excessive weight - More than 5000 lbs over on allowable gross weight
1
1×
- 10393.47E
Brake Out of Adjustment - Roto, Clamp (Short & Long), DD-3, or Bolt
1
1×
Most inspected in · top 2 states
- SC29
- GA1
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.
Brakes 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.
- 393.48A-BIBDDrum Brake - Inoperative other than a steering axle3× · 11%
- 393.45D-BAir Brake - Audible air leak at a proper connection2× · 7%
- 396.3A1-BALRAir Brake - Fails air loss rate test1× · 5%
- 393.75A3-TAOLTires - All others, leaking or inflation less than 50% of the maximum inflation pressure on tire not equipped with ATIS4× · 15%
- 393.9A-LSLIWRLighting - Stop lamps - Both inoperative when required to be on1× · 5%
- 393.11A1-CSLRRConspicuity Systems - Truck tractor, lower rear retro reflective sheeting missing on vehicle manufactured on or after July 1, 19971× · 3%
- 393.11A1-CSURRConspicuity Systems - Truck tractor, upper rear retro reflective sheeting missing on vehicle manufactured on or after July 1, 19971× · 3%
- 396.17C-PIOperating a CMV without documentation of a periodic inspection6× · 12%
- Check brake adjustment and listen for air leaks every pre-trip; put brakes on the PM schedule
- Fix air-loss and warning-light faults before dispatch — don’t “drive it in”
- 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 46.7% 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 Dorchester County, SC
Medium impact40 of 73 violations in the last 12 months (55%) came from inspections in Dorchester County, SC. 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 Dorchester County, SC 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 14% is under the 65% line. In decent shape, but here's what's driving it.
- 392.2-SLLTCDState/Local Laws - Failed to obey a traffic control device - Permanent or Temporary - e.g., safety official, signal, sign, light, lane marking, other2× · 38%
- 392.2-SLLLRState/Local Laws - Lane restriction violation3× · 34%
- 392.2-SLLMLState/Local Laws - Failure to maintain lane1× · 28%
- Defensive-driving refresher on following distance and lane discipline
Hours-of-Service Compliance needs attention
Low impactEstimated Hours-of-Service Compliance percentile of 0% is under the 65% 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
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.
- 393.48A-BIBD×3Drum Brake - Inoperative other than a steering axle
- 393.45D-B×2Air Brake - Audible air leak at a proper connection
- 393.209E-SPSLASteering - Power steering leaking anywhere.
- 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
- 392.2-SLLEWG2×2State/Local Laws - Excessive weight - 2501-5000 lbs over on allowable gross weight
- 392.2-SLLS1State/Local Laws - Speeding 1-5 miles per hour over the speed limit
- 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
- 392.2-SLLMLState/Local Laws - Failure to maintain lane
- Coach speed and following distance — Unsafe Driving points are weighted heavily
- Hands off the phone; always belt up
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 NHTSA43 distinct vehicles seen in this carrier’s roadside inspections.
+ 13 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
1
Fatal
0
Company profile
FMCSA censusAUTHORIZED FOR HIRE
- Interstate · 100+ mi23 drivers
- Intrastate · <100 mi15 drivers
- Company officer
- THAD WHARTON
- Operation
- Interstate
- Registered since
- 2009-06-23
- Last MCS-150 update
- 2025-02-10
- Census status
- Active
Fleet: 38 trucks · 23 owned tractors · 30 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, addresses, phone numbers, officers or emails with 8 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
8 events- 02/10/2025MCS-150 update filed
2.1M mi reported (2025)
- 09/29/2023COMMON — INVOLUNTARY REVOCATION
DISCONTINUED REVOCATION (11/22/2023)
- 03/01/2017Insurance filed — ZURICH AMERICAN INSURANCE COMPANY
Liability (BIPD) — BMC-91X · policy BAP 0081053
- 03/01/2017Insurance replaced — PENNSYLVANIA NATIONAL MUTUAL CAS. INS. CO.
BIPD/Primary · policy AX90664059
- 02/03/2012MOTOR PROPERTY COMMON CARRIER — GRANTED
- 11/27/2010Insurance cancelled — PENNSYLVANIA NATIONAL MUTUAL CAS. INS. CO.
BIPD/Primary · policy AX9 0664059
- 01/27/2010MOTOR PROPERTY CONTRACT CARRIER — DISMISSED
- 06/23/2009Registered 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
- 2017-04-11
MCS-150 registration
- Form date
- 2025-02-10
- Reported mileage
- 2,143,000 mi (2025)
Changes on file
FMCSA census historyApril, 2021
- Drivers grew to 32
January, 2021
First on-record entry — EXTREME MATERIALS INC, SUMMERVILLE, SC
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