RED KNUCKLE 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 202612 inspections · 76 violations (19 OOS) · 50% of inspections had an OOS finding.
Violations by BASIC
click to filter codes
Top cited codes
score = count × severity weight
- 1396.17C-PIVehicle Maintenance
Operating a CMV without documentation of a periodic inspection
16
4× · sev 4
- 2395.8A1-HOSPHours-of-Service Compliance3 OOS
HOS (Property) - Failing to have a record of duty status using the method prescribed
15
3× · sev 5
- 3392.4A-DOSUControlled Substances/Alcohol1 OOS
Drugs/Other Substances - Operate a CMV while under the influence or evidence of use within the past 24 hours.
10
1× · sev 10
- 4392.3-FHours-of-Service Compliance1 OOS
Fatigue - Operating a commercial motor vehicle while impaired, through fatigue.
10
1× · sev 10
- 5391.11B5-LNCDLNVLDriver Fitness1 OOS
License - Operate a CMV without a valid operators license, issued by one State or jurisdiction
8
1× · sev 8
- 6390.21TB1-MC
Operating a CMV without legal name or trade name displayed
4
4×
- 7392.2-SLLIFTA
State/Local Laws - State tax/International Fuel Tax (IFTA) violation
2
2×
- 8390.21TB2-DOT
Operate a CMV without USDOT number displayed. Must be preceded by the letters USDOT
2
2×
- 9393.9Vehicle Maintenance
Inoperable Required Lamp
2
1× · sev 2
- 10392.2-SLL
State/Local Laws -
1
1×
Most inspected in · top 8 states
- VA2
- PA1
- CO1
- NC1
- AL1
- SC1
- OH1
- WA1
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 92% 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.
- 395.8A1-HOSPHOS (Property) - Failing to have a record of duty status using the method prescribed3× · 49%
- 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× · 2%
- 392.3-FFatigue - Operating a commercial motor vehicle while impaired, through fatigue.1× · 28%
- 395.8E-HOSPDELDTHOS (Property) - Tampering with an ELD so that the device does not accurately record and retain required data. Explain:1× · 21%
- 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
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.2× · 11%
- 393.9Inoperable Required Lamp4× · 5%
- 393.9A-LSLIWRLighting - Stop lamps - Both inoperative when required to be on1× · 5%
- 393.48A-BIHEHydraulic/Electric Brake - Inoperative other than a steering axle.4× · 11%
- 393.43DBMABrake - Breakaway not attached to the towing vehicle1× · 4%
- 393.43D-BBrake - Missing or inoperable breakaway braking system on a trailer(s) or converter dolly1× · 4%
- 393.75B-TFTires - Front, less than 2/32 inch tread depth1× · 7%
- 393.75B-TFVTires - Front, less than 4/32 inch tread depth1× · 5%
- 393.75C-TAOTD-LT2/32Tires - Less than 2/32 inch tread depth1× · 5%
- 396.17C-PIOperating a CMV without documentation of a periodic inspection6× · 16%
- 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 and driver out-of-service rate exceeds the national average
High impactVehicle OOS rate is 50% vs the 22% national average. Driver OOS rate is 42.9% 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 Pope County, AR
Medium impact19 of 76 violations in the last 12 months (25%) came from inspections in Pope County, AR. 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 Pope County, AR to spot recurring issues
- Brief drivers running that lane; consider rerouting around the toughest enforcement corridors where practical
Drugs / alcohol violations are the leading contributor to Controlled Substances/Alcohol
Low impactEstimated Controlled Substances/Alcohol percentile of 51% is under the 80% line. In decent shape, but here's what's driving it.
- 392.4A-DOSUDrugs/Other Substances - Operate a CMV while under the influence or evidence of use within the past 24 hours.1× · 100%
- Reinforce the testing program and zero-tolerance policy
- 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.
- 396.17C-PI×3Operating a CMV without documentation of a periodic inspection
- 393.75B-TFVTires - Front, less than 4/32 inch tread depth
- 393.75B-TFTires - Front, less than 2/32 inch tread depth · OOS
- Do — and document — a real pre-trip and post-trip DVIR
- Keep the annual inspection current and records in the truck
- 390.21TB1-MC×2Operating a CMV without legal name or trade name displayed
- 393.60DWindshield / Windows - Tinting permits less than 70% of light transmittance
- 392.2-SLLSRState/Local Laws - State registration/tag violation
- Review these violations with drivers and add the fix to your pre-trip and PM routine
- 395.8A1-HOSP×2HOS (Property) - Failing to have a record of duty status using the method prescribed · OOS
- 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 a
- 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 NHTSA22 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+ mi2 drivers
- Company officer
- JONATHAN MELLS
- Operation
- Interstate
- Registered since
- 2021-02-05
- Last MCS-150 update
- 2025-11-12
- Census status
- Active
Fleet: 2 trucks · 1 owned tractors · 1 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 with 7 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
14 events- 02/06/2026Insurance filed — GREAT WEST CASUALTY CO.
Liability (BIPD) — BMC-91X · policy GRT51870A
- 02/04/2026Insurance cancelled — BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY DIRECT INSURANCE COMPANY
BIPD/Primary · policy 0071156-01-CA
- 01/08/2026COMMON — INVOLUNTARY REVOCATION
DISCONTINUED REVOCATION (02/09/2026)
- 11/12/2025MCS-150 update filed
0.0M mi reported (2025)
- 11/12/2025MOTOR PROPERTY COMMON CARRIER — REINSTATED
- 02/07/2024Insurance cancelled — GREAT WEST CASUALTY CO.
BIPD/Primary · policy MCP98702A
- 04/29/2023Insurance cancelled — INDEMNITY INSURANCE CO. OF NORTH AMERICA
BIPD/Primary · policy MMT H25549090
- 04/10/2023Insurance replaced — INDEMNITY INSURANCE CO. OF NORTH AMERICA
BIPD/Primary · policy MMT H25549090
- 04/03/2023COMMON — INVOLUNTARY REVOCATION
DISCONTINUED REVOCATION (04/11/2023)
- 12/13/2021Insurance replaced — PROGRESSIVE MOUNTAIN INSURANCE COMPANY OF OHI
BIPD/Primary · policy CA03311227
- 07/12/2021Insurance cancelled — PROGRESSIVE MOUNTAIN INSURANCE COMPANY OF OHI
BIPD/Primary · policy CA3311227
- 06/15/2021COMMON — INVOLUNTARY REVOCATION
DISCONTINUED REVOCATION (07/08/2021)
- 03/05/2021MOTOR PROPERTY COMMON CARRIER — GRANTED
REVOKED (02/13/2024)
- 02/05/2021Registered 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
- 2025-11-12
- Reported mileage
- 40,000 mi (2025)
Got a violation you want to contest?
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