LEWIS C HOWARD 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 202648 inspections · 31 violations (7 OOS) · 23% of inspections had an OOS finding.
Violations by BASIC
click to filter codes
Top cited codes
score = count × severity weight
- 1393.75A3-TAOLVehicle Maintenance2 OOS
Tires - All others, leaking or inflation less than 50% of the maximum inflation pressure on tire not equipped with ATIS
16
2× · sev 8
- 2393.9A-LRLIVehicle Maintenance1 OOS
Lighting - Tail lamp - Any inoperative
12
2× · sev 6
- 3393.9A-LTSIVehicle Maintenance1 OOS
Lighting - Turn signal - Any inoperative on the rearmost vehicle.
6
1× · sev 6
- 4393.9A-LHWSVehicle Maintenance
Lighting - Hazard warning signal(s) inoperative
6
1× · sev 6
- 5393.55E-BVehicle Maintenance
Air Brake - ABS malfunction lamp defective on trailers manufactured on or after March 1, 1998
4
1× · sev 4
- 6393.95A1Vehicle Maintenance
Emergency Equipment - Fire Extinguishers - no fire extinguisher present or not properly rated.
2
1× · sev 2
- 7393.9A-LILVehicle Maintenance
Lighting - Identification lamp(s) inoperative
2
1× · sev 2
- 8392.2-SLLEWA1
State/Local Laws - Excessive weight - 1-2500 lbs over on an axle/axle groups
1
1×
- 9392.2-SLL
State/Local Laws -
1
1×
- 10392.2-SLLS1
State/Local Laws - Speeding 1-5 miles per hour over the speed limit
1
1×
Most inspected in · top 3 states
- MI21
- IN6
- OH3
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.
Vehicle out-of-service rate exceeds the national average
High impactVehicle OOS rate is 34.5% 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 Jackson County, MI
Medium impact11 of 26 violations in the last 12 months (42%) came from inspections in Jackson County, MI. 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 Jackson County, MI to spot recurring issues
- Brief drivers running that lane; consider rerouting around the toughest enforcement corridors where practical
Speeding violations are the leading contributor to Unsafe Driving
Low impactEstimated Unsafe Driving percentile of 9% is under the 65% line. In decent shape, but here's what's driving it.
- 392.2-SLLS2State/Local Laws - Speeding 6-10 miles per hour over the speed limit2× · 21%
- 392.2-SLLS3State/Local Laws - Speeding 11-14 miles per hour over the speed limit1× · 15%
- 392.2-SLLSWZState/Local Laws - Speeding work/construction zone1× · 11%
- 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
False log / RODS violations are the leading contributor to Hours-of-Service Compliance
Low impactEstimated Hours-of-Service Compliance percentile of 23% is under the 65% line. In decent shape, but here's what's driving it.
- 395.8E-HOSPDHOS (Property) - No driver may make a false report in connection with a duty status. Explain1× · 47%
- 395.8E-HOSPDOOSHOS (Property) - Driver produces a false record of duty status that concealed an HOS limitation violation after the last rest period. Explain:1× · 47%
- 395.30B1-ELDDFRHOS (ELD) - Driver failing to review records and certify the accuracy of the information.1× · 7%
- 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
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 67% 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 ATIS7× · 42%
- 393.9A-LRLILighting - Tail lamp - Any inoperative2× · 14%
- 393.9A-LTSILighting - Turn signal - Any inoperative on the rearmost vehicle.2× · 10%
- 393.9A-LHWSLighting - Hazard warning signal(s) inoperative1× · 6%
- 393.55E-BAir Brake - ABS malfunction lamp defective on trailers manufactured on or after March 1, 19983× · 6%
- 393.45B2-B-AIRAir Brake - Hose/tubing damaged or not secured2× · 4%
- 393.45B2-BHTDAir Brake - Hose/tubing damage into the outer reinforcement ply.1× · 2%
- 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.
- 393.9A-LRLILighting - Tail lamp - Any inoperative · OOS
- 393.11B-CSLRRConspicuity Systems - Trailers, lower rear retro reflective sheeting inadequate on vehicle manufactured on or after December 1, 1993
- 393.11B-CSURRConspicuity Systems - Trailers, upper rear retro reflective sheeting inadequate on vehicle manufactured on or after December 1, 1993
- Walk the lights every pre-trip and carry spare bulbs/fuses
- Clean lenses and check the trailer plug for corrosion
- 392.2-SLLState/Local Laws -
- 392.2-SLLS1State/Local Laws - Speeding 1-5 miles per hour over the speed limit
- 392.2-SLLEWA1State/Local Laws - Excessive weight - 1-2500 lbs over on an axle/axle groups
- Review these violations with drivers and add the fix to your pre-trip and PM routine
- 392.2-SLLS2State/Local Laws - Speeding 6-10 miles per hour over the speed limit
- 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 NHTSA98 distinct vehicles seen in this carrier’s roadside inspections.
+ 68 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
6
Tow-away
6
Injury
0
Fatal
0
Company profile
FMCSA censusAUTHORIZED FOR HIRE
- Interstate · 100+ mi65 drivers
- Interstate · <100 mi29 drivers
- Intrastate · <100 mi5 drivers
- Company officer
- MICHAEL HOWARD
- Operation
- Interstate
- Registered since
- 2014-02-05
- Last MCS-150 update
- 2026-04-07
- Census status
- Active
Fleet: 93 trucks · 93 owned tractors · 740 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.
Data change history
Every FMCSA record change we’ve detected — address, fleet size, contacts, MCS-150 — newest first.
Connections
carrier graphThis carrier shares VINs, addresses, phone numbers or officers with 36 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
14 events- 04/07/2026MCS-150 update filed
49.8M mi reported (2025)
- 10/24/2025Insurance filed — NATIONAL INTERSTATE INS CO. OF HAWAII, INC.
Liability (BIPD) — BMC-91X · policy MVP 8300014-00
- 10/24/2025Insurance replaced — SUPREME INSURANCE COMPANY
BIPD/Primary · policy A3375676
- 11/17/2022Insurance cancelled — AUTO OWNERS INSURANCE COMPANY
BIPD/Primary · policy 49-060986-01
- 10/24/2022Insurance replaced — AUTO OWNERS INSURANCE COMPANY
BIPD/Primary · policy 49-060986-01
- 10/21/2022CONTRACT — INVOLUNTARY REVOCATION
DISCONTINUED REVOCATION (11/02/2022)
- 01/10/2018Insurance cancelled — AUTO OWNERS INSURANCE COMPANY
BIPD/Primary · policy 50-166931-00
- 01/08/2018Insurance replaced — AUTO OWNERS INSURANCE COMPANY
BIPD/Primary · policy 50-166931-00
- 12/14/2017CONTRACT — INVOLUNTARY REVOCATION
DISCONTINUED REVOCATION (01/09/2018)
- 06/15/2015Insurance name changed — AUTO OWNERS INSURANCE COMPANY
BIPD/Primary · policy 50-166931-00
- 05/11/2015CONTRACT — INVOLUNTARY REVOCATION
DISCONTINUED REVOCATION (05/07/2015)
- 05/06/2015Insurance replaced — AUTO OWNERS INSURANCE COMPANY
BIPD/Primary · policy 50-166931-00
- 03/02/2015MOTOR PROPERTY CONTRACT CARRIER — GRANTED
- 02/05/2014Registered 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
- 2023-05-17
MCS-150 registration
- Form date
- 2026-04-07
- Reported mileage
- 49,794,640 mi (2025)
Got a violation you want to contest?
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