KANGAROO EXPRESS
Legal: KEX DISTRIBUTION 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 202626 inspections · 40 violations (9 OOS) · 19% of inspections had an OOS finding.
Violations by BASIC
click to filter codes
Top cited codes
score = count × severity weight
- 1393.75A3-TAOLVehicle Maintenance4 OOS
Tires - All others, leaking or inflation less than 50% of the maximum inflation pressure on tire not equipped with ATIS
32
4× · sev 8
- 2393.9A-HLLHVehicle Maintenance
Lighting - Headlamp(s) fail to operate on low and high beam
12
2× · sev 6
- 3393.9B-LFTSOVehicle Maintenance
Lighting - Front - Turn signal - obscured
6
1× · sev 6
- 4395.8A1-HOSPHours-of-Service Compliance
HOS (Property) - Failing to have a record of duty status using the method prescribed
5
1× · sev 5
- 5392.2-SLLSR
State/Local Laws - State registration/tag violation
3
3×
- 6395.8A
HOS (Form) - Paper Log/Logging Programs Form and Manner
2
2×
- 7390.21TC-MC
Required CMV marking(s) not legible from 50 feet while stationary due to improper size/location/color
1
1×
- 8395.22H1-ELDNUMHours-of-Service Compliance
HOS (ELD) - In-Vehicle Information - No user's manual for the driver describing how to operate the ELD. (May be electronic)
1
1× · sev 1
- 9395.22G-ELDMFVHours-of-Service Compliance
HOS (ELD) - A portable ELD is not mounted in a fixed position and visible to the driver when seated in the normal driving position.
1
1× · sev 1
- 10393.60D
Windshield / Windows - Tinting permits less than 70% of light transmittance
1
1×
Most inspected in · top 4 states
- MT14
- WA8
- WY4
- CO1
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.
False log / RODS violations are the leading contributor to Hours-of-Service Compliance
High impactEstimated Hours-of-Service Compliance percentile of 67% is at/over the 60% 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.
- 395.8A1-HOSPHOS (Property) - Failing to have a record of duty status using the method prescribed2× · 34%
- 395.8E-HOSPDHOS (Property) - No driver may make a false report in connection with a duty status. Explain1× · 20%
- 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× · 40%
- 395.22H1-ELDNUMHOS (ELD) - In-Vehicle Information - No user's manual for the driver describing how to operate the ELD. (May be electronic)1× · 3%
- 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× · 3%
- 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
- Prioritize the out-of-service items — they carry the heaviest weight
Vehicle and driver out-of-service rate exceeds the national average
High impactVehicle OOS rate is 25% vs the 22% national average. Driver OOS rate is 7.4% vs the 6.7% 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 Yellowstone County, MT
Medium impact9 of 19 violations in the last 12 months (47%) came from inspections in Yellowstone County, MT. 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 Yellowstone County, MT to spot recurring issues
- Brief drivers running that lane; consider rerouting around the toughest enforcement corridors where practical
Unsafe Driving needs attention
Low impactEstimated Unsafe Driving percentile of 0% is under the 60% 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
Tires violations are the leading contributor to Vehicle Maintenance
Low impactEstimated Vehicle Maintenance percentile of 59% is under the 75% 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 ATIS4× · 49%
- 393.53B-BAir Brake - CMV manufactured on or after 10/20/1994 has an automatic airbrake adjustment system that fails to compensate for wear1× · 7%
- 393.45D-BAir Brake - Audible air leak at a proper connection2× · 7%
- 393.43DBMABrake - Breakaway not attached to the towing vehicle1× · 3%
- 393.9A-HLLHLighting - Headlamp(s) fail to operate on low and high beam2× · 13%
- 393.9A-LLPLLighting - License plate lamp inoperative1× · 3%
- 393.9B-LFTSOLighting - Front - Turn signal - obscured1× · 3%
- 396.17C-PIOperating a CMV without documentation of a periodic inspection1× · 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
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
- 393.53B-BAir Brake - CMV manufactured on or after 10/20/1994 has an automatic airbrake adjustment system that fails to compensate for wear
- 393.9A-LLPLLighting - License plate lamp inoperative
- Gauge/thump every tire on the walk-around, including inner duals
- Replace before tread hits the limit and correct low pressure immediately
- 395.8A×2HOS (Form) - Paper Log/Logging Programs Form and Manner
- 393.47EBrake Out of Adjustment - Roto, Clamp (Short & Long), DD-3, or Bolt
- 392.2-SLLState/Local Laws -
- 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 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
1
Tow-away
1
Injury
1
Fatal
0
Company profile
FMCSA censusAUTHORIZED FOR HIRE
- Interstate · 100+ mi33 drivers
- Interstate · <100 mi49 drivers
- Company officer
- GARY HAMILTON
- Operation
- Interstate
- D-U-N-S
- 102556503
- Registered since
- 1988-07-29
- Last MCS-150 update
- 2026-03-31
- Census status
- Active
Fleet: 63 trucks · 15 owned tractors · 11 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, officers or emails with 21 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
64 events- 03/31/2026MCS-150 update filed
0.2M mi reported (2025)
- 10/18/2025Insurance cancelled — ZURICH AMERICAN INSURANCE COMPANY
BIPD/Primary · policy BAP 3959052
- 08/01/2025Insurance filed — ZURICH AMERICAN INSURANCE COMPANY
Liability (BIPD) — BMC-91X · policy BAP 3959052
- 08/01/2025Insurance replaced — ZURICH AMERICAN INSURANCE COMPANY
BIPD/Primary · policy BAP 3959052
- 07/15/2020Insurance cancelled — EMPLOYERS MUTUAL CASUALTY CO.
BIPD/Primary · policy 5R97994
- 06/21/2020Insurance replaced — EMPLOYERS MUTUAL CASUALTY CO.
BIPD/Primary · policy 5R97994
- 06/18/2020COMMON — INVOLUNTARY REVOCATION
DISCONTINUED REVOCATION (06/23/2020)
- 08/25/2019Insurance cancelled — EMPLOYERS MUTUAL CASUALTY CO.
BIPD/Primary · policy 5E97994
- 06/21/2019Insurance replaced — EMPLOYERS MUTUAL CASUALTY CO.
BIPD/Primary · policy 5E97994
- 06/21/2019Insurance replaced — THE CINCINNATI INSURANCE CO.
BIPD/Primary · policy EBA 046 35 26
- 04/03/2018MOTOR PROPERTY COMMON CARRIER — REINSTATED
- 03/28/2018Insurance name changed — OHIO CASUALTY INSURANCE CO.
CARGO · policy BAO 56243112
- 03/28/2018Insurance name changed — EMPLOYERS MUTUAL CASUALTY CO.
BIPD/Primary · policy 5E56633
- 11/20/2016Insurance cancelled — AMERICAN SOUTHERN HOME INSURANCE COMPANY
BIPD/Primary · policy 3FA6CA0000060-00
- 11/15/2016Insurance replaced — AMERICAN SOUTHERN HOME INSURANCE COMPANY
BIPD/Primary · policy 3FA6CA0000060-00
- 10/24/2016COMMON — INVOLUNTARY REVOCATION
DISCONTINUED REVOCATION (10/26/2016)
- 09/21/2016Insurance cancelled — AMERICAN SOUTHERN HOME INSURANCE COMPANY
BIPD/Primary · policy 3FA6CA0000060-00
- 08/25/2016COMMON — INVOLUNTARY REVOCATION
DISCONTINUED REVOCATION (09/16/2016)
- 08/24/2016Insurance cancelled — OHIO CASUALTY INSURANCE CO.
BIPD/Primary · policy BAO 56243112
- 08/24/2016Insurance cancelled — AMERICAN FIRE AND CASUALTY COMPANY
CARGO · policy BMO 56243112
- 07/23/2016Insurance replaced — OHIO CASUALTY INSURANCE CO.
BIPD/Primary · policy BAO 56243112
- 07/23/2016Insurance replaced — AMERICAN SOUTHERN HOME INSURANCE COMPANY
BIPD/Primary · policy 3FA6CA0000060-00
- 12/02/2015Insurance replaced — AUTO OWNERS INSURANCE COMPANY
CARGO · policy 74568031
- 08/11/2015Insurance replaced — OHIO CASUALTY INSURANCE CO.
CARGO · policy BAO 56243112
- 07/28/2015Insurance replaced — AMERICAN FIRE AND CASUALTY COMPANY
CARGO · policy BMO 56243112
- 07/28/2015Insurance replaced — OHIO CASUALTY INSURANCE CO.
BIPD/Primary · policy BAO 55194615
- 07/28/2015Insurance replaced — AUTO OWNERS INSURANCE COMPANY
CARGO · policy 74568031
- 05/08/2014Insurance replaced — AMERICAN FIRE AND CASUALTY COMPANY
CARGO · policy BAS55194615
- 04/30/2014Insurance replaced — AMERICAN AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY
BIPD/Primary · policy ABC80855297
- 04/30/2014Insurance replaced — TRAVELERS PROPERTY CASUALTY CO. OF AMERICA
CARGO · policy QT 660 5733B261 TIL 09
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
- 2015-05-15
- Last review
- 2015-05-12
MCS-150 registration
- Form date
- 2026-03-31
- Reported mileage
- 224,732 mi (2025)
Got a violation you want to contest?
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