BADGER EXPRESS 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 202622 inspections · 16 violations (3 OOS) · 10% of inspections had an OOS finding.
Violations by BASIC
click to filter codes
Top cited codes
score = count × severity weight
- 1393.75A3-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
- 2393.9B-LRLIWRVehicle Maintenance1 OOS
Lighting - Tail lamp - Both lamps on rearmost vehicle inoperative when required to be on
6
1× · sev 6
- 3392.2-SLLEWA1
State/Local Laws - Excessive weight - 1-2500 lbs over on an axle/axle groups
3
3×
- 4393.78A-WSVehicle Maintenance
Washers - Inoperative washing system.
2
2× · sev 1
- 5393.9A-LILVehicle Maintenance
Lighting - Identification lamp(s) inoperative
2
1× · sev 2
- 6393.9A-LSMLVehicle Maintenance
Lighting - Side marker lamp(s) inoperative
2
1× · sev 2
- 7393.55C1
Truck Tractor manufactured on or after March 1, 1997 not equipped with an antilock brake system
1
1×
- 8395.3A3II
Driving beyond 8 hour driving limit since the end of the last on duty, off duty, or sleeper period of at least 30 minutes
1
1×
- 9392.2-SLLSR
State/Local Laws - State registration/tag violation
1
1×
Most inspected in · top 8 states
- WI18
- IL3
- OH3
- LA1
- SD1
- NY1
- IN1
- PA1
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 23.1% 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 WI
Medium impact5 of 5 violations in the last 12 months (100%) came from inspections in WI. 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 WI 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 65% 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
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
Tires violations are the leading contributor to Vehicle Maintenance
Low impactEstimated Vehicle Maintenance percentile of 28% 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 ATIS2× · 54%
- 393.9B-LRLIWRLighting - Tail lamp - Both lamps on rearmost vehicle inoperative when required to be on1× · 29%
- 393.9A-LSMLLighting - Side marker lamp(s) inoperative1× · 7%
- 393.9A-LILLighting - Identification lamp(s) inoperative1× · 7%
- 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.
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 NHTSA54 distinct vehicles seen in this carrier’s roadside inspections.
+ 24 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
1
Tow-away
1
Injury
0
Fatal
0
Company profile
FMCSA censusAUTHORIZED FOR HIRE
- Intrastate · <100 mi1 drivers
- Company officer
- JAMES ESSER
- Operation
- Interstate
- D-U-N-S
- 556848919
- Registered since
- 1991-07-12
- Last MCS-150 update
- 2026-04-13
- Census status
- Active
Fleet: 0 trucks.
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 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
37 events- 04/13/2026MCS-150 update filed
2.2M mi reported (2025)
- 01/05/2018Insurance cancelled — TRAVELERS PROPERTY CASUALTY CO. OF AMERICA
CARGO · policy QT-660-9506L942-TIL-10
- 03/01/2010Insurance replaced — HARTFORD FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY
CARGO · policy 83MSZO5565
- 01/30/2010Insurance cancelled — TRAVELERS PROPERTY CASUALTY CO. OF AMERICA
CARGO · policy QT-660-9506L782-TIL-10
- 01/01/2010Insurance replaced — TRAVELERS PROPERTY CASUALTY CO. OF AMERICA
CARGO · policy QT-660-9506L782-TIL-10
- 01/01/2010Insurance replaced — HARTFORD FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY
CARGO · policy 83 MS IU1852
- 03/30/2008Insurance cancelled — DISCOVER PROPERTY & CASUALTY INSURANCE CO.
BIPD/Primary · policy D200A00400
- 03/01/2008Insurance filed — GREAT WEST CASUALTY CO.
Liability (BIPD) — BMC-91X · policy GWP53020A
- 03/01/2008Insurance replaced — DISCOVER PROPERTY & CASUALTY INSURANCE CO.
BIPD/Primary · policy D200A00400
- 07/29/2007Insurance cancelled — TRAVELERS PROPERTY CASUALTY CO. OF AMERICA
CARGO · policy QT-660-140D5959-TIL-05
- 07/01/2007Insurance replaced — TRAVELERS PROPERTY CASUALTY CO. OF AMERICA
CARGO · policy QT-660-140D5959-TIL-05
- 03/01/2007Insurance replaced — DISCOVER PROPERTY & CASUALTY INSURANCE CO.
BIPD/Primary · policy D200A00281
- 04/24/2006Insurance name changed — TRAVELERS PROPERTY CASUALTY CO. OF AMERICA
CARGO · policy QT-660-140D5959-TIL-05
- 04/24/2006Insurance name changed — DISCOVER PROPERTY & CASUALTY INSURANCE CO.
BIPD/Primary · policy D200P00002
- 03/20/2006CONTRACT — INVOLUNTARY REVOCATION
DISCONTINUED REVOCATION (03/20/2006)
- 03/15/2006Insurance replaced — TRAVELERS PROPERTY CASUALTY CO. OF AMERICA
CARGO · policy QT-660-140D5959-TIL-05
- 03/01/2006Insurance replaced — DISCOVER PROPERTY & CASUALTY INSURANCE CO.
BIPD/Primary · policy D200P00002
- 11/15/2005CONTRACT — INVOLUNTARY REVOCATION
DISCONTINUED REVOCATION (11/30/2005)
- 08/21/2005Insurance cancelled — ST. PAUL FIRE & MARINE INSURANCE CO.
CARGO · policy IM06306646
- 07/01/2005Insurance replaced — ST. PAUL FIRE & MARINE INSURANCE CO.
CARGO · policy IM06306646
- 07/01/2004Insurance replaced — ROYAL INSURANCE COMPANY OF AMERICA
CARGO · policy P2ST 343171
- 07/01/2003Insurance replaced — LEXINGTON INSURANCE COMPANY
CARGO · policy 1281007
- 03/01/2003Insurance cancelled — ASSOCIATED INDEMNITY CORPORATION
BIPD/Primary · policy 823MXA80217569
- 07/01/2002Insurance replaced — LEXINGTON INSURANCE COMPANY
CARGO · policy 45260028
- 07/01/2001Insurance cancelled — EMPLOYERS INSURANCE OF WAUSAU, A MUTUAL CO.
BIPD/Primary · policy 0821-00-009753
- 07/01/2001Insurance replaced — HARTFORD FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY
CARGO · policy 83 MS LN3883
- 08/09/2000Insurance cancelled — GREAT WEST CASUALTY CO.
CARGO · policy CLP84582A
- 07/01/2000Insurance replaced — GREAT WEST CASUALTY CO.
BIPD/Primary · policy CLP84582A
- 07/01/1998Insurance cancelled — LIBERTY MUTUAL FIRE INSURANCE CO.
BIPD/Primary · policy AT2-141-002007-025
- 07/01/1998Insurance cancelled — LIBERTY MUTUAL INSURANCE CO.
CARGO · policy KO1-141-002007-035
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
- Non-ratable review
- Rated
- 1999-08-18
- Last review
- 2007-08-22
MCS-150 registration
- Form date
- 2026-04-13
- Reported mileage
- 2,243,180 mi (2025)
Got a violation you want to contest?
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