NICHOLS TRUCKING COMPANY
Legal: NICHOLS TRANSPORTATION COMPANY INC
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 2026136 inspections · 46 violations (8 OOS) · 17% of inspections had an OOS finding.
Violations by BASIC
click to filter codes
Top cited codes
score = count × severity weight
- 1393.75A3-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
- 2393.9A-LSMLVehicle Maintenance
Lighting - Side marker lamp(s) inoperative
4
2× · sev 2
- 3393.53B-BVehicle Maintenance
Air Brake - CMV manufactured on or after 10/20/1994 has an automatic airbrake adjustment system that fails to compensate for wear
4
1× · sev 4
- 4392.2-SLLIRP
State/Local Laws - IRP apportioned tag or registration violation
2
2×
- 5393.23-LEUVehicle Maintenance1 OOS
Lighting - All electrical systems on towed vehicle(s) inoperative due to no electrical connection (e.g., unplugged or loose pigtail)
2
1× · sev 2
- 6392.2-SLLEWA3
State/Local Laws - Excessive weight - More than 5000 lbs over on an axle/axle groups
1
1×
- 7393.47E
Brake Out of Adjustment - Roto, Clamp (Short & Long), DD-3, or Bolt
1
1×
- 8392.2-SLLED
State/Local Laws - Excessive dimension (width/height/length)
1
1×
- 9392.2-SLLTL
State/Local Laws - Misc. traffic law violation
1
1×
- 10387.301ANot in SMS
Carrier -Motor carrier shall not engage in interstate or foreign commerce without proof of public liability and property damage insurance as required in 49 CFR 38
1
1×
Most inspected in · top 4 states
- WA20
- CA5
- OR4
- ID1
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 34.6% 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 King County, WA
Medium impact21 of 115 violations in the last 12 months (18%) came from inspections in King County, WA. 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 King County, WA to spot recurring issues
- Brief drivers running that lane; consider rerouting around the toughest enforcement corridors where practical
Following / lane / reckless violations are the leading contributor to Unsafe Driving
Low impactEstimated Unsafe Driving percentile of 22% is under the 65% line. In decent shape, but here's what's driving it.
- 392.2-SLLLRState/Local Laws - Lane restriction violation5× · 26%
- 392.2-SLLILCState/Local Laws - Improper lane change1× · 13%
- 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× · 9%
- 392.2-SLLS3State/Local Laws - Speeding 11-14 miles per hour over the speed limit1× · 18%
- 392.2-SLLSWZState/Local Laws - Speeding work/construction zone1× · 17%
- 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 44% 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 Tim2× · 45%
- 395.3A3I-HOSPDITHOS (Property) - Driving more than 11 hours following 10 consecutive hours off duty at the time of inspection. Time2× · 18%
- 395.30B1-ELDDFRHOS (ELD) - Driver failing to review records and certify the accuracy of the information.4× · 16%
- 395.24HOS (ELD) - ELD Form and Manner4× · 13%
- 395.22H3-ELDMFHOS (ELD) - In-Vehicle Information - Failing to have an instruction sheet for the driver describing ELD malfunction reporting requirements and recordkeeping proce1× · 4%
- 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
Tires violations are the leading contributor to Vehicle Maintenance
Low impactEstimated Vehicle Maintenance percentile of 64% 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 ATIS8× · 16%
- 393.75A1-TAOBETATires - All others, more than one ply is exposed in the sidewall and the area exceeds 2 square inches.1× · 3%
- 393.75C-TAOTD-LT1/32Tires - Less than 1/32 inch tread depth at 3 locations/2 adjacent tread grooves1× · 3%
- 393.9A-LSLILighting - Stop lamps - Any inoperative.3× · 6%
- 393.9B-LTSOLighting - Turn signal - Any obscured on the rearmost vehicle.1× · 3%
- 393.9A-LILLighting - Identification lamp(s) inoperative5× · 2%
- 393.55E-BAir Brake - ABS malfunction lamp defective on trailers manufactured on or after March 1, 19985× · 5%
- 393.55C2-BAir Brake - CMV other than truck-tractor manufactured on or after March 1, 1998 not equipped with an antilock brake system. System does not function or indicates3× · 4%
- 393.45B2-BHTDAir Brake - Hose/tubing damage into the outer reinforcement ply.3× · 3%
- 393.100B-CCargo - Cargo not secured to prevent leaking/spilling/blowing/falling from CMV5× · 7%
- 393.110B2I-CCargo - Insufficient tiedowns (w/o headerboard/blocking) for article(s) of cargo 5 feet or less and more than 1,100 lbs2× · 2%
- 393.110B3-CCargo - Insufficient tiedowns (w/o headerboard/blocking) for article(s) of cargo longer than 10 feet2× · 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-LSLI×2Lighting - Stop lamps - Any inoperative.
- 393.55E-B×2Air Brake - ABS malfunction lamp defective on trailers manufactured on or after March 1, 1998
- 393.9A-LSML×2Lighting - Side marker lamp(s) inoperative
- Walk the lights every pre-trip and carry spare bulbs/fuses
- Clean lenses and check the trailer plug for corrosion
- 392.2-SLLEWA2×3State/Local Laws - Excessive weight - 2501-5000 lbs over on an axle/axle groups
- 392.2-SLLIRP×2State/Local Laws - IRP apportioned tag or registration violation
- 393.47E×2Brake Out of Adjustment - Roto, Clamp (Short & Long), DD-3, or Bolt
- Look under the truck for shifted axles and broken/leaking suspension parts
- Include suspension in scheduled maintenance
- 395.30B1-ELDDFR×4HOS (ELD) - Driver failing to review records and certify the accuracy of the information.
- 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 NHTSA89 distinct vehicles seen in this carrier’s roadside inspections.
+ 59 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
4
Injury
0
Fatal
0
Company profile
FMCSA censusAUTHORIZED FOR HIRE
- Interstate · 100+ mi10 drivers
- Interstate · <100 mi117 drivers
- Company officer
- JOHN PLAVAN
- Operation
- Interstate
- Registered since
- 2020-07-30
- Last MCS-150 update
- 2025-10-23
- Census status
- Active
Fleet: 72 trucks · 66 owned tractors · 266 owned trailers · 6 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, phone numbers or officers with 29 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
9 events- 09/09/2026Insurance filed — Sentry Select Insurance Company
Liability (BIPD) — BMC-91X · policy A0193981001
- 10/23/2025MCS-150 update filed
3.4M mi reported (2024)
- 10/01/2024Insurance replaced — GREAT WEST CASUALTY CO.
BIPD/Primary · policy MCP39688C
- 04/05/2022COMMON — INVOLUNTARY REVOCATION
DISCONTINUED REVOCATION (05/16/2022)
- 01/25/2021Insurance name changed — GREAT WEST CASUALTY CO.
BIPD/Primary · policy MCP39688C
- 12/21/2020COMMON — INVOLUNTARY REVOCATION
DISCONTINUED REVOCATION (12/18/2020)
- 12/17/2020Insurance replaced — GREAT WEST CASUALTY CO.
BIPD/Primary · policy MCP39688C
- 09/09/2020MOTOR PROPERTY COMMON CARRIER — GRANTED
- 07/30/2020Registered 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
- —
- Rated
- —
- Last review
- —
MCS-150 registration
- Form date
- 2025-10-23
- Reported mileage
- 3,376,103 mi (2024)
Got a violation you want to contest?
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