ELK FREIGHT 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 202657 inspections · 31 violations (4 OOS) · 13% 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
8
2× · sev 4
- 2393.9A-LTSIVehicle Maintenance1 OOS
Lighting - Turn signal - Any inoperative on the rearmost vehicle.
6
1× · sev 6
- 3395.24Hours-of-Service Compliance
HOS (ELD) - ELD Form and Manner
3
3× · sev 1
- 4395.24D-ELDPTHours-of-Service Compliance
HOS (ELD) - On request by an authorized safety official, a driver must produce and transfer from an ELD the driver's hours of service records in accordance with t
3
1× · sev 3
- 5393.30-BVehicle Maintenance
Battery - Not protected
3
1× · sev 3
- 6390.21TB1-MC
Operating a CMV without legal name or trade name displayed
2
2×
- 7392.2-SLLIFTA
State/Local Laws - State tax/International Fuel Tax (IFTA) violation
2
2×
- 8396.5B-HWSLVehicle Maintenance
Hubs - Wheel seal leaking
2
1× · sev 2
- 9393.203B-CBPVehicle Maintenance
Cab and Body Parts - Cab/body mounts loose/broken/missing
2
1× · sev 2
- 10395.30B2-ELDDFC24Hours-of-Service Compliance
HOS (ELD) - Driver failing to certify the record immediately after the final required entry has been made or corrected for the 24 hour period.
1
1× · sev 1
Most inspected in · top 8 states
- CA5
- OH4
- PA4
- AZ3
- IL2
- KS2
- NM2
- TX1
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 30.8% 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 Mohave County, AZ
Medium impact9 of 45 violations in the last 12 months (20%) came from inspections in Mohave County, AZ. 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 Mohave County, AZ 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 65% line. In decent shape, but here's what's driving it.
- 392.2-SLLS3State/Local Laws - Speeding 11-14 miles per hour over the speed limit2× · 29%
- 392.2-SLLS2State/Local Laws - Speeding 6-10 miles per hour over the speed limit1× · 8%
- 392.2-SLLTCDState/Local Laws - Failed to obey a traffic control device - Permanent or Temporary - e.g., safety official, signal, sign, light, lane marking, other2× · 16%
- 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
Log / ELD device violations are the leading contributor to Hours-of-Service Compliance
Low impactEstimated Hours-of-Service Compliance percentile of 43% is under the 65% line. In decent shape, but here's what's driving it.
- 395.24D-ELDPTHOS (ELD) - On request by an authorized safety official, a driver must produce and transfer from an ELD the driver's hours of service records in accordance with t2× · 24%
- 395.24HOS (ELD) - ELD Form and Manner4× · 22%
- 395.30B2-ELDDFC24HOS (ELD) - Driver failing to certify the record immediately after the final required entry has been made or corrected for the 24 hour period.1× · 6%
- 395.8E-HOSPCDOOSHOS (Property) - Co-driver produces a false record of duty status with an apparent attempt to conceal hours. Explain1× · 42%
- 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× · 6%
- Make sure the ELD is registered, working, and drivers know how to log in and certify daily
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 67% 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 ATIS3× · 26%
- 393.75C-TAOTD-LT1/32Tires - Less than 1/32 inch tread depth at 3 locations/2 adjacent tread grooves1× · 10%
- 393.75A1-TAOBETATires - All others, more than one ply is exposed in the sidewall and the area exceeds 2 square inches.1× · 3%
- 393.9A-LTSILighting - Turn signal - Any inoperative on the rearmost vehicle.1× · 5%
- 393.11B-CSLRRConspicuity Systems - Trailers, lower rear retro reflective sheeting inadequate on vehicle manufactured on or after December 1, 19931× · 3%
- 393.11A1-CSLRRConspicuity Systems - Truck tractor, lower rear retro reflective sheeting missing on vehicle manufactured on or after July 1, 19971× · 3%
- 393.53B-BAir Brake - CMV manufactured on or after 10/20/1994 has an automatic airbrake adjustment system that fails to compensate for wear1× · 4%
- 393.55E-BAir Brake - ABS malfunction lamp defective on trailers manufactured on or after March 1, 19981× · 4%
- 393.45DLPCBrake Connections with Leaks - Connection to Power Unit1× · 4%
- 396.17C-PIOperating a CMV without documentation of a periodic inspection3× · 9%
- 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-TAOL×2Tires - All others, leaking or inflation less than 50% of the maximum inflation pressure on tire not equipped with ATIS · OOS
- 393.75C-TAOTD-LT1/32Tires - Less than 1/32 inch tread depth at 3 locations/2 adjacent tread grooves · 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
- Gauge/thump every tire on the walk-around, including inner duals
- Replace before tread hits the limit and correct low pressure immediately
- 393.47E×2Brake Out of Adjustment - Roto, Clamp (Short & Long), DD-3, or Bolt
- 396.3A1-BOSBrake - Defective brake(s) are equal to or greater than 20% of the service brakes on the vehicle/combination · OOS
- 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
- 395.24HOS (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 NHTSA80 distinct vehicles seen in this carrier’s roadside inspections.
+ 50 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
3
Tow-away
3
Injury
2
Fatal
0
Company profile
FMCSA censusAUTHORIZED FOR HIRE
- Interstate · 100+ mi123 drivers
- Company officer
- RALPH JOHNSON
- Operation
- Interstate
- Registered since
- 2026-05-16
- Last MCS-150 update
- 2026-08-27
- Census status
- Active
Fleet: 123 trucks · 8 owned tractors · 8 owned trailers · 115 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.
Connections
carrier graphThis carrier shares VINs or officers with 99 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
8 events- 08/27/2026MCS-150 update filed
11.6M mi reported (2025)
- 08/23/2026Insurance filed — National Specialty Insurance Company
Liability (BIPD) — BMC-91X · policy CAR3100005002
- 05/16/2026Registered with FMCSA
AUTHORIZED FOR HIRE
- 02/13/2025Insurance cancelled — PROGRESSIVE SOUTHEASTERN INSURANCE COMPANY
BIPD/Primary · policy CA03327742
- 01/17/2025COMMON — INVOLUNTARY REVOCATION
DISCONTINUED REVOCATION (02/10/2025)
- 04/08/2024Insurance cancelled — PROGRESSIVE SOUTHEASTERN INSURANCE COMPANY
BIPD/Primary · policy CA3327742
- 03/12/2024COMMON — INVOLUNTARY REVOCATION
DISCONTINUED REVOCATION (03/19/2024)
- 04/15/2021MOTOR PROPERTY COMMON CARRIER — GRANTED
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
- 2026-08-27
- Reported mileage
- 11,550,600 mi (2025)
Got a violation you want to contest?
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