CRUZ CARRIERS 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 202621 inspections · 49 violations (10 OOS) · 23% of inspections had an OOS finding.
Violations by BASIC
click to filter codes
Top cited codes
score = count × severity weight
- 1393.75A3-TAOLVehicle Maintenance3 OOS
Tires - All others, leaking or inflation less than 50% of the maximum inflation pressure on tire not equipped with ATIS
24
3× · sev 8
- 2393.45D-BVehicle Maintenance
Air Brake - Audible air leak at a proper connection
8
2× · sev 4
- 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
8
2× · sev 4
- 4393.9A-LILVehicle Maintenance
Lighting - Identification lamp(s) inoperative
4
2× · sev 2
- 5393.9A-LSMLVehicle Maintenance
Lighting - Side marker lamp(s) inoperative
4
2× · sev 2
- 6393.9A-LCLVehicle Maintenance
Lighting - Clearance lamp(s) inoperative
4
2× · sev 2
- 7393.55D1-BVehicle Maintenance
Air Brake - ABS malfunction lamp defective on truck-tractor manufactured on or after March 1, 1997 and each single unit CMV on or after 1998.
4
1× · sev 4
- 8392.2-SLLTL
State/Local Laws - Misc. traffic law violation
2
2×
- 9393.60D
Windshield / Windows - Tinting permits less than 70% of light transmittance
2
2×
- 10393.47E
Brake Out of Adjustment - Roto, Clamp (Short & Long), DD-3, or Bolt
2
2×
Most inspected in · top 8 states
- MT13
- ND3
- MN2
- NV2
- ID2
- WA2
- KS2
- IN2
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.
Tires violations are the leading contributor to Vehicle Maintenance
High impactEstimated Vehicle Maintenance percentile of 95% 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.
- 393.75A3-TAOLTires - All others, leaking or inflation less than 50% of the maximum inflation pressure on tire not equipped with ATIS3× · 28%
- 393.75C-TAOTD-LT2/32Tires - Less than 2/32 inch tread depth1× · 8%
- 393.75A1-TEPBMTires - All others - Exposed ply or belt material in tread or sidewall area1× · 8%
- 393.9A-LTSILighting - Turn signal - Any inoperative on the rearmost vehicle.1× · 8%
- 393.9B-LRLIWRLighting - Tail lamp - Both lamps on rearmost vehicle inoperative when required to be on1× · 6%
- 393.9A-LSMLLighting - Side marker lamp(s) inoperative3× · 5%
- 393.45D-BAir Brake - Audible air leak at a proper connection2× · 8%
- 393.53B-BAir Brake - CMV manufactured on or after 10/20/1994 has an automatic airbrake adjustment system that fails to compensate for wear2× · 8%
- 393.55D1-BAir Brake - ABS malfunction lamp defective on truck-tractor manufactured on or after March 1, 1997 and each single unit CMV on or after 1998.1× · 3%
- 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
Vehicle out-of-service rate exceeds the national average
High impactVehicle OOS rate is 41.7% 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 Ward County, ND
Medium impact8 of 35 violations in the last 12 months (23%) came from inspections in Ward County, ND. 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 Ward County, ND to spot recurring issues
- Brief drivers running that lane; consider rerouting around the toughest enforcement corridors where practical
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
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.
- 393.53B-B×2Air Brake - CMV manufactured on or after 10/20/1994 has an automatic airbrake adjustment system that fails to compensate for wear
- 393.75C-TAOTD-LT2/32Tires - Less than 2/32 inch tread depth
- 393.75A1-TEPBMTires - All others - Exposed ply or belt material in tread or sidewall area
- 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
- 393.47E×2Brake Out of Adjustment - Roto, Clamp (Short & Long), DD-3, or Bolt
- 392.2-SLLTLState/Local Laws - Misc. traffic law violation
- 393.60DWindshield / Windows - Tinting permits less than 70% of light transmittance
- 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
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 NHTSA42 distinct vehicles seen in this carrier’s roadside inspections.
+ 12 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.
Company profile
FMCSA censusAUTHORIZED FOR HIRE
- Interstate · 100+ mi9 drivers
- Company officer
- SCOT KNUTSON
- Operation
- Interstate
- Registered since
- 1995-02-02
- Last MCS-150 update
- 2026-04-21
- Census status
- Active
Fleet: 11 trucks · 11 owned tractors · 20 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, phone numbers or officers with 3 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
21 events- 04/21/2026MCS-150 update filed
0.4M mi reported (2024)
- 10/11/2017Insurance cancelled — OLD REPUBLIC INSURANCE COMPANY
BIPD/Primary · policy T32108
- 10/10/2017Insurance filed — NORTHBRIDGE GENERAL INSURANCE CORPORATION
Liability (BIPD) — BMC-91X · policy 19 CBC 1947459
- 10/10/2017Insurance replaced — OLD REPUBLIC INSURANCE COMPANY
BIPD/Primary · policy T32108
- 09/14/2017COMMON — INVOLUNTARY REVOCATION
DISCONTINUED REVOCATION (10/06/2017)
- 05/01/2017Insurance replaced — OLD REPUBLIC INSURANCE COMPANY
BIPD · policy T32108
- 05/16/2005Insurance name changed — OLD REPUBLIC INSURANCE COMPANY
BIPD · policy T32017
- 04/11/2005COMMON — INVOLUNTARY REVOCATION
DISCONTINUED REVOCATION (04/07/2005)
- 04/06/2005Insurance replaced — OLD REPUBLIC INSURANCE COMPANY
BIPD · policy T32017
- 11/22/2004MOTOR PROPERTY COMMON CARRIER — REINSTATED
- 10/17/2004Insurance cancelled — ZURICH AMERICAN INSURANCE COMPANY
BIPD · policy AF9993284
- 10/16/2004Insurance replaced — ROYAL INSURANCE COMPANY OF AMERICA
CARGO · policy RST 345205
- 02/06/2002COMMON — INVOLUNTARY REVOCATION
DISCONTINUED REVOCATION (02/26/2002)
- 01/10/2002Insurance cancelled — AMERICAN HOME ASSURANCE CO.
BIPD/Primary · policy TP 3298776 RA
- 12/12/2001Insurance replaced — AMERICAN HOME ASSURANCE CO.
CARGO · policy TIM 2714048 RA
- 09/30/1996COMMON — INVOLUNTARY REVOCATION
DISCONTINUED REVOCATION (10/23/1996)
- 09/30/1996Insurance cancelled — RANGER INS. CO./FAIRMONT SPECIALTY INS. CO.
CARGO · policy C1M 900385
- 09/30/1995COMMON — INVOLUNTARY REVOCATION
DISCONTINUED REVOCATION (10/26/1995)
- 09/30/1995Insurance cancelled — VIRGINIA SURETY COMPANY, INC.
BIPD · policy TT0217
- 02/02/1995Registered with FMCSA
AUTHORIZED FOR HIRE
- 05/18/1988MOTOR PROPERTY COMMON CARRIER — GRANTED
REVOKED (10/25/2004)
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
- Non-ratable review
- Rated
- —
- Last review
- 2018-08-24
MCS-150 registration
- Form date
- 2026-04-21
- Reported mileage
- 442,787 mi (2024)
Got a violation you want to contest?
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