HOWARD SHEPPARD BULK LLC
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 2026337 inspections · 10 violations (2 OOS) · 3% of inspections had an OOS finding.
Violations by BASIC
click to filter codes
Top cited codes
score = count × severity weight
- 1393.75A3-TAOLTISVehicle Maintenance1 OOS
Tires - All others, leaking in tread area and inflation less than 50% of the maximum inflation pressure on tire equipped with ATIS
8
1× · sev 8
- 2393.19Vehicle Maintenance
Inoperative/Defective Hazard Warning Lamp
6
1× · sev 6
- 3393.9B-LTSOVehicle Maintenance1 OOS
Lighting - Turn signal - Any obscured on the rearmost vehicle.
6
1× · sev 6
- 4392.2-SLLS2Unsafe Driving
State/Local Laws - Speeding 6-10 miles per hour over the speed limit
4
1× · sev 4
- 5393.45B2-B-AIRVehicle Maintenance
Air Brake - Hose/tubing damaged or not secured
4
1× · sev 4
- 6393.55E-BVehicle Maintenance
Air Brake - ABS malfunction lamp defective on trailers manufactured on or after March 1, 1998
4
1× · sev 4
- 7393.45D-BVehicle Maintenance
Air Brake - Audible air leak at a proper connection
4
1× · sev 4
- 8395.24Hours-of-Service Compliance
HOS (ELD) - ELD Form and Manner
2
2× · sev 1
- 9393.95A4-EEUSVehicle Maintenance
Emergency Equipment - Fire Extinguishers - unsecured
2
1× · sev 2
Most inspected in · top 7 states
- GA16
- SC9
- IL1
- LA1
- NC1
- US1
- WI1
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.
A high share of violations are occurring in GA
Medium impact33 of 71 violations in the last 12 months (46%) came from inspections in GA. 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 GA 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 5% is under the 60% 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× · 18%
- 392.2-SLLS4State/Local Laws - Speeding 15 or more miles per hour over the speed limit1× · 9%
- 392.2-SLLLRState/Local Laws - Lane restriction violation4× · 21%
- 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× · 4%
- 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
Following / lane / reckless violations are the leading contributor to Hours-of-Service Compliance
Low impactEstimated Hours-of-Service Compliance percentile of 12% is under the 60% 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 Tim2× · 29%
- 395.3A3I-HOSPDITHOS (Property) - Driving more than 11 hours following 10 consecutive hours off duty at the time of inspection. Time1× · 14%
- 395.3A2-HOSPDITHOS (Property) - Driver driving beyond the 14 hour after coming on duty following 10 consecutive hours off duty at the time of inspection. Time1× · 14%
- 395.24HOS (ELD) - ELD Form and Manner10× · 41%
- 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× · 2%
- Defensive-driving refresher on following distance and lane discipline
Driver Fitness needs attention
Low impactEstimated Driver Fitness percentile of 0% is under the 75% 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 75% 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
Lighting / lamps violations are the leading contributor to Vehicle Maintenance
Low impactEstimated Vehicle Maintenance percentile of 25% is under the 75% line. In decent shape, but here's what's driving it.
- 393.9A-LSLIWRLighting - Stop lamps - Both inoperative when required to be on10× · 11%
- 393.9A-LTSILighting - Turn signal - Any inoperative on the rearmost vehicle.5× · 5%
- 393.9A-LSLILighting - Stop lamps - Any inoperative.4× · 4%
- 393.45B2-B-AIRAir Brake - Hose/tubing damaged or not secured10× · 7%
- 393.45D-BAir Brake - Audible air leak at a proper connection11× · 7%
- 393.45B2-BHTDAir Brake - Hose/tubing damage into the outer reinforcement ply.5× · 3%
- 393.75A3-TAOLTISTires - All others, leaking in tread area and inflation less than 50% of the maximum inflation pressure on tire equipped with ATIS8× · 15%
- 393.75C-TAOTD-LT2/32Tires - Less than 2/32 inch tread depth6× · 5%
- 393.75A1-TAOBETATires - All others, more than one ply is exposed in the sidewall and the area exceeds 2 square inches.1× · 2%
- 393.100B-CCargo - Cargo not secured to prevent leaking/spilling/blowing/falling from CMV2× · 4%
- 392.9A2-CCargo - Vehicle components or dunnage not secured2× · 1%
- Walk the lights every pre-trip and carry spare bulbs/fuses; clean lenses and check the trailer plug
- 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-TAOLTISTires - All others, leaking in tread area and inflation less than 50% of the maximum inflation pressure on tire equipped with ATIS · OOS
- 393.19Inoperative/Defective Hazard Warning Lamp
- 393.9B-LTSOLighting - Turn signal - Any obscured on the rearmost vehicle. · OOS
- Gauge/thump every tire on the walk-around, including inner duals
- Replace before tread hits the limit and correct low pressure immediately
- 392.2-SLLS2×2State/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
- 395.24×2HOS (ELD) - ELD Form and Manner
- Log in and annotate the ELD correctly every day; fix edits promptly
- Plan trips around available hours — never falsify a log
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 NHTSA93 distinct vehicles seen in this carrier’s roadside inspections.
+ 63 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
11
Tow-away
11
Injury
3
Fatal
0
Company profile
FMCSA censusAUTHORIZED FOR HIRE
- Interstate · 100+ mi155 drivers
- Company officer
- TRACY GIDDENS
- Operation
- Interstate · Hazmat
- Registered since
- 2017-04-28
- Last MCS-150 update
- 2026-05-11
- Census status
- Active
Fleet: 155 trucks · 155 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.
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 emails with 16 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
6 events- 05/11/2026MCS-150 update filed
11.7M mi reported (2025)
- 06/01/2021Insurance replaced — HUDSON INSURANCE COMPANY
BIPD/Primary · policy HMU200122-01
- 06/01/2019Insurance cancelled — GREAT WEST CASUALTY CO.
BIPD/Primary · policy MCP04493D
- 05/06/2019COMMON — INVOLUNTARY REVOCATION
DISCONTINUED REVOCATION (06/03/2019)
- 05/19/2017MOTOR PROPERTY COMMON CARRIER — GRANTED
- 04/28/2017Registered 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
- Satisfactory
- Type
- Compliance review
- Rated
- 2023-08-02
- Last review
- 2023-07-18
MCS-150 registration
- Form date
- 2026-05-11
- Reported mileage
- 11,674,041 mi (2025)
Got a violation you want to contest?
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