MERCHANTS METALS LLC
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 2026129 inspections · 13 violations (5 OOS) · 7% of inspections had an OOS finding.
Violations by BASIC
click to filter codes
Top cited codes
score = count × severity weight
- 1392.2-SLLTCDUnsafe Driving
State/Local Laws - Failed to obey a traffic control device - Permanent or Temporary - e.g., safety official, signal, sign, light, lane marking, other
10
2× · sev 5
- 2393.75A3-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
- 3393.110B2II-CVehicle Maintenance2 OOS
Cargo - Insufficient tiedowns (w/o headerboard/blocking) for article(s) of cargo longer than 5 feet and no more than 10 feet
6
2× · sev 3
- 4392.2-SLLS2Unsafe Driving
State/Local Laws - Speeding 6-10 miles per hour over the speed limit
4
1× · sev 4
- 5396.3A1-ALBVVehicle Maintenance
Air Brake - Any leak from a brake valve
4
1× · sev 4
- 6393.110B3-CVehicle Maintenance1 OOS
Cargo - Insufficient tiedowns (w/o headerboard/blocking) for article(s) of cargo longer than 10 feet
3
1× · sev 3
- 7393.110B2I-CVehicle Maintenance1 OOS
Cargo - Insufficient tiedowns (w/o headerboard/blocking) for article(s) of cargo 5 feet or less and more than 1,100 lbs
3
1× · sev 3
- 8395.8F12-HOSM
HOS (Manner) - Driver's record of duty status failed to record shipping document number(s) or name of shipper and commodity for each 24 hour period. Date:
1
1×
- 9392.2-SLLTR
State/Local Laws - Truck restriction
1
1×
- 10383.71HDriver Fitness
License (CDL) - CDL or CLP holder possesses a valid medical certificate but is not on file with the issuing state driver's licensing agency as required
1
1× · sev 1
Most inspected in · top 8 states
- CA6
- MD3
- TX3
- FL3
- IN3
- NC3
- PA2
- AZ2
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.
Following / lane / reckless violations are the leading contributor to Unsafe Driving
Low impactEstimated Unsafe Driving percentile of 13% 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, other4× · 34%
- 392.2-SLLIPState/Local Laws - Improper passing1× · 9%
- 392.2-SLLMLState/Local Laws - Failure to maintain lane1× · 4%
- 392.2-SLLS2State/Local Laws - Speeding 6-10 miles per hour over the speed limit2× · 14%
- 392.2-INATDriver- Inattentive or Distracted Driving1× · 9%
- 392.2SLIMPTState/Local Laws - General impeding traffic.1× · 4%
- Defensive-driving refresher on following distance and lane discipline
Following / lane / reckless violations are the leading contributor to Hours-of-Service Compliance
Low impactEstimated Hours-of-Service Compliance percentile of 15% is under the 65% line. In decent shape, but here's what's driving it.
- 395.3A2-HOSPDHOS (Property) - Driving beyond the 14 hour after coming on duty following 10 consecutive hours off duty during the current 8 consecutive day period. Date and Tim1× · 78%
- 395.22H1-ELDNUMHOS (ELD) - In-Vehicle Information - No user's manual for the driver describing how to operate the ELD. (May be electronic)1× · 6%
- 395.22G-ELDMFVHOS (ELD) - A portable ELD is not mounted in a fixed position and visible to the driver when seated in the normal driving position.1× · 6%
- 395.30B1-ELDDFRHOS (ELD) - Driver failing to review records and certify the accuracy of the information.1× · 6%
- 395.22H4-ELDBRODSHOS (ELD) - In-Vehicle Information - Failing to have a supply of blank driver's records of duty status graph-grids sufficient to record the driver's duty status a1× · 6%
- Defensive-driving refresher on following distance and lane discipline
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
Load securement violations are the leading contributor to Vehicle Maintenance
Low impactEstimated Vehicle Maintenance percentile of 33% is under the 80% line. In decent shape, but here's what's driving it.
- 393.110B2II-CCargo - Insufficient tiedowns (w/o headerboard/blocking) for article(s) of cargo longer than 5 feet and no more than 10 feet3× · 11%
- 393.100B-CCargo - Cargo not secured to prevent leaking/spilling/blowing/falling from CMV2× · 7%
- 393.110B2I-CCargo - Insufficient tiedowns (w/o headerboard/blocking) for article(s) of cargo 5 feet or less and more than 1,100 lbs3× · 6%
- 393.75A3-TAOLTires - All others, leaking or inflation less than 50% of the maximum inflation pressure on tire not equipped with ATIS4× · 20%
- 393.75C-TAOTD-LT2/32Tires - Less than 2/32 inch tread depth1× · 2%
- 393.9A-LFTSILighting - Front - Turn signal - inoperative3× · 6%
- 393.9A-LHWSLighting - Hazard warning signal(s) inoperative1× · 3%
- 393.9HInoperable head lamps1× · 3%
- 396.3A1-ALBVAir Brake - Any leak from a brake valve1× · 3%
- 393.53B-BAir Brake - CMV manufactured on or after 10/20/1994 has an automatic airbrake adjustment system that fails to compensate for wear2× · 3%
- 393.45B2PCBrake Hose or Tubing Chafing and/or Kinking - Connection to Power Unit1× · 2%
- Carry extra straps/chains and know the working-load-limit math; re-check in the first 50 miles
- 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-TAOLTires - All others, leaking or inflation less than 50% of the maximum inflation pressure on tire not equipped with ATIS · OOS
- 393.110B2I-CCargo - Insufficient tiedowns (w/o headerboard/blocking) for article(s) of cargo 5 feet or less and more than 1,100 lbs · OOS
- 393.95A4-EENAEmergency Equipment - Fire Extinguishers - not readily accessible or filled
- Gauge/thump every tire on the walk-around, including inner duals
- Replace before tread hits the limit and correct low pressure immediately
- 392.2-SLLTCD×2State/Local Laws - Failed to obey a traffic control device - Permanent or Temporary - e.g., safety official, signal, sign, light, lane marking, other
- Walk the lights every pre-trip and carry spare bulbs/fuses
- Clean lenses and check the trailer plug for corrosion
- 383.71HLicense (CDL) - CDL or CLP holder possesses a valid medical certificate but is not on file with the issuing state driver's licensing agency as required
- Track CDL, medical card, and endorsement expirations ahead of time
- Keep the DQ file complete and the medical card on the driver
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 NHTSA64 distinct vehicles seen in this carrier’s roadside inspections.
+ 34 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
4
Tow-away
3
Injury
3
Fatal
0
Company profile
FMCSA censusPRIVATE PROPERTY
- Interstate · 100+ mi82 drivers
- Company officer
- MICHAEL PADGETT
- Operation
- Interstate
- D-U-N-S
- 37232337
- Registered since
- 1986-12-08
- Last MCS-150 update
- 2026-01-05
- Census status
- Active
Fleet: 80 trucks · 32 owned trailers · 74 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, addresses, officers or emails with 22 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
2 events- 01/05/2026MCS-150 update filed
3.4M mi reported (2025)
- 12/08/1986Registered with FMCSA
PRIVATE PROPERTY
Merged from FMCSA authority, insurance, out-of-service, and census records.
Operations
Classification
- PRIVATE PROPERTY
Area served
- Interstate
FMCSA safety rating
- Rating
- Satisfactory
- Type
- Safety audit
- Rated
- 1988-06-08
- Last review
- 1988-03-28
MCS-150 registration
- Form date
- 2026-01-05
- Reported mileage
- 3,433,514 mi (2025)
Got a violation you want to contest?
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