MERRELL TRANSPORTATION LLC
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 202621 inspections · 58 violations (12 OOS) · 29% of inspections had an OOS finding.
Violations by BASIC
click to filter codes
Top cited codes
score = count × severity weight
- 1393.9A-LTSIVehicle Maintenance3 OOS
Lighting - Turn signal - Any inoperative on the rearmost vehicle.
18
3× · sev 6
- 2393.75A3-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
- 3393.55E-BVehicle Maintenance
Air Brake - ABS malfunction lamp defective on trailers manufactured on or after March 1, 1998
12
3× · sev 4
- 4393.9A-LSLIWRVehicle Maintenance2 OOS
Lighting - Stop lamps - Both inoperative when required to be on
12
2× · sev 6
- 5393.45D-BVehicle Maintenance
Air Brake - Audible air leak at a proper connection
8
2× · sev 4
- 6393.53B-BVehicle Maintenance
Air Brake - CMV manufactured on or after 10/20/1994 has an automatic airbrake adjustment system that fails to compensate for wear
8
2× · sev 4
- 7393.48A-BIBDVehicle Maintenance
Drum Brake - Inoperative other than a steering axle
8
2× · sev 4
- 8393.9A-LTSIR
Lighting - Turn signal -Any inoperative on a unit that is not the rearmost unit
2
2×
- 9393.47E
Brake Out of Adjustment - Roto, Clamp (Short & Long), DD-3, or Bolt
2
2×
- 10395.30B1-ELDDFRHours-of-Service Compliance
HOS (ELD) - Driver failing to review records and certify the accuracy of the information.
2
2× · sev 1
Most inspected in · top 8 states
- MO12
- OK3
- IN2
- TN2
- SC2
- IL2
- CO2
- AR1
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 83% is at/over the 65% 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.
- 395.8E-HOSPDOOSHOS (Property) - Driver produces a false record of duty status that concealed an HOS limitation violation after the last rest period. Explain:2× · 39%
- 395.8E-HOSPDHOS (Property) - No driver may make a false report in connection with a duty status. Explain1× · 29%
- 395.8E1PCHOS - False record of duty status driver improper use of Personal Conveyance - Not OOS1× · 10%
- 395.3A1-HOSPDHOS (Property) - Driving more than 11 hours following 10 consecutive hours off duty during the current 8 consecutive day period. Date and Time2× · 19%
- 395.30B1-ELDDFRHOS (ELD) - Driver failing to review records and certify the accuracy of the information.2× · 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
Lighting / lamps violations are the leading contributor to Vehicle Maintenance
High impactEstimated Vehicle Maintenance percentile of 100% 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.
- 393.9A-LTSILighting - Turn signal - Any inoperative on the rearmost vehicle.3× · 23%
- 393.9A-LSLIWRLighting - Stop lamps - Both inoperative when required to be on2× · 10%
- 393.9A-LHLILighting - Headlamp(s) - Any inoperative2× · 5%
- 393.55E-BAir Brake - ABS malfunction lamp defective on trailers manufactured on or after March 1, 19984× · 8%
- 393.53B-BAir Brake - CMV manufactured on or after 10/20/1994 has an automatic airbrake adjustment system that fails to compensate for wear2× · 7%
- 393.48A-BIBDDrum Brake - Inoperative other than a steering axle2× · 3%
- 393.75A3-TAOLTires - All others, leaking or inflation less than 50% of the maximum inflation pressure on tire not equipped with ATIS2× · 8%
- 393.75B-TFVTires - Front, less than 4/32 inch tread depth1× · 3%
- 393.207B-AALPME-OOSMore than 25% of the locking pins are missing or not engaged1× · 11%
- 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
Vehicle out-of-service rate exceeds the national average
High impactVehicle OOS rate is 66.7% 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 Franklin County, MO
Medium impact6 of 13 violations in the last 12 months (46%) came from inspections in Franklin County, MO. 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 Franklin County, MO to spot recurring issues
- Brief drivers running that lane; consider rerouting around the toughest enforcement corridors where practical
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.
- 393.207B-AALPME-OOSMore than 25% of the locking pins are missing or not engaged · OOS
- 393.9A-LTSILighting - Turn signal - Any inoperative on the rearmost vehicle. · 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
- Tighten pre-trip/post-trip DVIR discipline and the PM schedule
- Fix defects before dispatch — don’t “drive it in”
- 393.47EBrake Out of Adjustment - Roto, Clamp (Short & Long), DD-3, or Bolt
- 393.9A-LTSIRLighting - Turn signal -Any inoperative on a unit that is not the rearmost unit
- 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-SLLSWZState/Local Laws - Speeding work/construction zone
- 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 NHTSA30 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.
Company profile
FMCSA censusAUTHORIZED FOR HIRE
- Interstate · 100+ mi6 drivers
- Company officer
- DARRYL SARTWELL
- Operation
- Interstate
- Registered since
- 2019-07-17
- Last MCS-150 update
- 2024-09-13
- Census status
- Active
Fleet: 14 trucks · 44 owned trailers · 14 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 officers with 14 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
17 events- 01/01/2026Insurance filed — Arch Insurance Company
Liability (BIPD) — BMC-91X · policy ZACAT9318702
- 01/01/2026Insurance replaced — ARCH INSURANCE COMPANY
BIPD/Primary · policy ZACAT9318701
- 01/01/2025Insurance replaced — ARCH INSURANCE COMPANY
BIPD/Primary · policy ZACAT9318700
- 09/13/2024MCS-150 update filed
0.4M mi reported (2020)
- 09/01/2024Insurance replaced — GREAT WEST CASUALTY CO.
BIPD/Primary · policy GRT17417A
- 08/28/2024Insurance cancelled — GREAT WEST CASUALTY CO.
BIPD/Primary · policy GRT17417A
- 03/01/2024Insurance replaced — PROGRESSIVE NORTHERN INSURANCE COMPANY
BIPD/Primary · policy CA966862931
- 03/01/2023Insurance cancelled — NORTHLAND INSURANCE COMPANY
BIPD/Primary · policy WN321148
- 02/02/2023COMMON — INVOLUNTARY REVOCATION
DISCONTINUED REVOCATION (03/01/2023)
- 10/19/2022Insurance cancelled — NORTHLAND INSURANCE COMPANY
BIPD/Primary · policy WN321148
- 09/22/2022COMMON — INVOLUNTARY REVOCATION
DISCONTINUED REVOCATION (10/03/2022)
- 02/01/2022Insurance cancelled — GREAT WEST CASUALTY CO.
BIPD/Primary · policy MCP14881F
- 01/05/2022COMMON — INVOLUNTARY REVOCATION
DISCONTINUED REVOCATION (01/27/2022)
- 09/28/2020Insurance replaced — NATIONAL CASUALTY COMPANY
BIPD/Primary · policy LFO0006556
- 01/21/2020PROPERTY BROKER — DISMISSED
- 10/30/2019MOTOR PROPERTY COMMON CARRIER — GRANTED
- 07/17/2019Registered 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
- 2025-05-23
MCS-150 registration
- Form date
- 2024-09-13
- Reported mileage
- 410,000 mi (2020)
Got a violation you want to contest?
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