TROPICAL CHEESE INDUSTRIES LLC
Risk factors
High 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 202633 inspections · 22 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
12
3× · sev 4
- 2393.75A3-TAOLTISVehicle Maintenance1 OOS
Tires - All others, leaking in tread area and inflation less than 50% of the maximum inflation pressure on tire equipped with ATIS
8
1× · sev 8
- 3392.2-SLLTCDUnsafe Driving
State/Local Laws - Failed to obey a traffic control device - Permanent or Temporary - e.g., safety official, signal, sign, light, lane marking, other
5
1× · sev 5
- 4391.11B2-QDriver Fitness1 OOS
Driver cannot satisfy the English language proficiency requirements of 391.11(b)(2) in accordance with the current corresponding FMCSA enforcement guidance (391.
4
1× · sev 4
- 5392.2-SLLSR
State/Local Laws - State registration/tag violation
2
2×
- 6393.60EVehicle Maintenance
Windshield - Obstructed
2
2× · sev 1
- 7392.2-SLLIFTA
State/Local Laws - State tax/International Fuel Tax (IFTA) violation
2
2×
- 8393.95A4-EEUSVehicle Maintenance
Emergency Equipment - Fire Extinguishers - unsecured
2
1× · sev 2
- 9395.22H1-ELDNUMHours-of-Service Compliance
HOS (ELD) - In-Vehicle Information - No user's manual for the driver describing how to operate the ELD. (May be electronic)
1
1× · sev 1
- 10395.24Hours-of-Service Compliance
HOS (ELD) - ELD Form and Manner
1
1× · sev 1
Most inspected in · top 6 states
- NY11
- PA7
- FL4
- NJ3
- CT3
- MA2
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.
Driver out-of-service rate exceeds the national average
High impactDriver OOS rate is 9.1% 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 NY
Medium impact8 of 16 violations in the last 12 months (50%) came from inspections in NY. 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 NY to spot recurring issues
- Brief drivers running that lane; consider rerouting around the toughest enforcement corridors where practical
Log / ELD device violations are the leading contributor to Hours-of-Service Compliance
Low impactEstimated Hours-of-Service Compliance percentile of 17% is under the 65% line. In decent shape, but here's what's driving it.
- 395.24C2III-ELDSDNHOS (ELD) - Driver failing to manually input or verify shipping document number.1× · 43%
- 395.24HOS (ELD) - ELD Form and Manner1× · 29%
- 395.22H1-ELDNUMHOS (ELD) - In-Vehicle Information - No user's manual for the driver describing how to operate the ELD. (May be electronic)1× · 29%
- 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
Inspection / repair / DVIR violations are the leading contributor to Vehicle Maintenance
Low impactEstimated Vehicle Maintenance percentile of 22% is under the 80% line. In decent shape, but here's what's driving it.
- 396.17C-PIOperating a CMV without documentation of a periodic inspection3× · 42%
- 393.75A3-TAOLTISTires - All others, leaking in tread area and inflation less than 50% of the maximum inflation pressure on tire equipped with ATIS1× · 13%
- 393.9A-LSMLLighting - Side marker lamp(s) inoperative1× · 8%
- 393.9A-LCLLighting - Clearance lamp(s) inoperative1× · 3%
- Do — and document — a real pre-trip and post-trip DVIR
- Keep the annual inspection current and records in the truck
- 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.
- 392.2-SLLIFTAState/Local Laws - State tax/International Fuel Tax (IFTA) violation
- Review these violations with drivers and add the fix to your pre-trip and PM routine
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 NHTSA27 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.
Crash record (US, last 24 months)
Total
3
Tow-away
3
Injury
3
Fatal
0
Company profile
FMCSA censusPRIVATE PROPERTY;AUTHORIZED FOR HIRE
- Interstate · 100+ mi27 drivers
- Interstate · <100 mi24 drivers
- Intrastate · <100 mi4 drivers
- Company officer
- VICTOR MEHREN
- Operation
- Interstate
- Registered since
- 1992-02-27
- Last MCS-150 update
- 2025-12-09
- Census status
- Active
Fleet: 56 trucks · 6 owned tractors · 8 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 addresses, phone numbers or officers with 4 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- 12/09/2025MCS-150 update filed
1.5M mi reported (2024)
- 08/30/2025Insurance cancelled — SELECTIVE INSURANCE COMPANY OF THE SOUTHEAST
BIPD/Primary · policy S2528826
- 02/23/2025Insurance cancelled — TRAVELERS INDEMNITY COMPANY OF AMERICA
BIPD/Primary · policy 3H745378
- 08/01/2024Insurance replaced — SELECTIVE INSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW ENGLAND
BIPD/Primary · policy S2528723
- 08/01/2024Insurance replaced — SELECTIVE INSURANCE COMPANY OF SOUTH CAROLINA
BIPD/Primary · policy A9093062
- 04/12/2017Insurance replaced — TOKIO MARINE AMERICA INSURANCE COMPANY
BIPD/Primary · policy CA640563000
- 09/27/2011MOTOR PROPERTY CONTRACT CARRIER — REINSTATED
REVOKED (03/03/2025)
- 08/28/2011Insurance cancelled — THE NETHERLANDS INSURANCE COMPANY
BIPD/Primary · policy BA8709538
- 09/24/2010Insurance cancelled — HARTFORD FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY
CARGO · policy 13 MS JY6452
- 11/20/2009Insurance cancelled — HARTFORD INSURANCE COMPANY OF THE MIDWEST
BIPD/Primary · policy 13 UEN UC5233
- 10/26/2009CONTRACT — INVOLUNTARY REVOCATION
DISCONTINUED REVOCATION (11/13/2009)
- 08/01/2009Insurance replaced — HARTFORD INSURANCE COMPANY OF THE MIDWEST
BIPD/Primary · policy 13 UEN UC5233
- 07/07/2009MOTOR PROPERTY CONTRACT CARRIER — GRANTED
REVOKED (09/06/2011)
- 02/27/1992Registered with FMCSA
PRIVATE PROPERTY;AUTHORIZED FOR HIRE
Merged from FMCSA authority, insurance, out-of-service, and census records.
Operations
Classification
- PRIVATE PROPERTY;AUTHORIZED FOR HIRE
Area served
- Interstate
FMCSA safety rating
- Rating
- Satisfactory
- Type
- Compliance review
- Rated
- 1994-07-06
- Last review
- 1994-06-28
MCS-150 registration
- Form date
- 2025-12-09
- Reported mileage
- 1,540,821 mi (2024)
Got a violation you want to contest?
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