WATKINS EXPRESS FREIGHT INC
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 2026130 inspections · 42 violations (8 OOS) · 27% 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
- 2393.75A2-TAOBBVehicle Maintenance2 OOS
Tires - All others, bump or bulge related to tread or sidewall separation
16
2× · sev 8
- 3396.7A-UOCVehicle Maintenance2 OOS
Unsafe Operations - Severe Post Crash Condition
6
2× · sev 3
- 4393.9A-LSLIVehicle Maintenance
Lighting - Stop lamps - Any inoperative.
6
1× · sev 6
- 5393.53B-BVehicle Maintenance
Air Brake - CMV manufactured on or after 10/20/1994 has an automatic airbrake adjustment system that fails to compensate for wear
4
1× · sev 4
- 6393.45B2-BHTDVehicle Maintenance1 OOS
Air Brake - Hose/tubing damage into the outer reinforcement ply.
4
1× · sev 4
- 7392.2-SLLEWA2
State/Local Laws - Excessive weight - 2501-5000 lbs over on an axle/axle groups
2
2×
- 8395.24Hours-of-Service Compliance
HOS (ELD) - ELD Form and Manner
2
2× · sev 1
- 9393.47E
Brake Out of Adjustment - Roto, Clamp (Short & Long), DD-3, or Bolt
1
1×
- 10392.2-SLLED
State/Local Laws - Excessive dimension (width/height/length)
1
1×
Most inspected in · top 8 states
- TN13
- KY3
- GA2
- MD2
- MT1
- NY1
- IN1
- 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.
False log / RODS violations are the leading contributor to Hours-of-Service Compliance
High impactEstimated Hours-of-Service Compliance percentile of 89% 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.
- 395.8E1PCHOS - False record of duty status driver improper use of Personal Conveyance - Not OOS5× · 41%
- 395.8E-HOSPDHOS (Property) - No driver may make a false report in connection with a duty status. Explain2× · 7%
- 395.8E1-PCFalse Record of Duty Status - Improper use of Personal Conveyance Exception1× · 4%
- 395.3A2-HOSPDHOS (Property) - Driving beyond the 14 hour after coming on duty following 10 consecutive hours off duty during the current 8 consecutive day period. Date and Tim2× · 15%
- 395.3A1-HOSPDHOS (Property) - Driving more than 11 hours following 10 consecutive hours off duty during the current 8 consecutive day period. Date and Time2× · 15%
- 395.3AIIDriving beyond 8 hour driving limit since the end of the last on duty, off duty or sleeper berth period of at least 30 consecutive minutes1× · 11%
- 395.24HOS (ELD) - ELD Form and Manner4× · 5%
- 395.22G-ELDMFVHOS (ELD) - A portable ELD is not mounted in a fixed position and visible to the driver when seated in the normal driving position.1× · 2%
- 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× · 1%
- 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
Vehicle out-of-service rate exceeds the national average
High impactVehicle OOS rate is 37.5% 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 Cumberland County, TN
Medium impact11 of 59 violations in the last 12 months (19%) came from inspections in Cumberland County, TN. 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 Cumberland County, TN to spot recurring issues
- Brief drivers running that lane; consider rerouting around the toughest enforcement corridors where practical
Following / lane / reckless violations are the leading contributor to Unsafe Driving
Low impactEstimated Unsafe Driving percentile of 46% is under the 65% line. In decent shape, but here's what's driving it.
- 392.2-SLLTCDState/Local Laws - Failed to obey a traffic control device - Permanent or Temporary - e.g., safety official, signal, sign, light, lane marking, other4× · 28%
- 392.2-SLLLRState/Local Laws - Lane restriction violation5× · 12%
- 392.2-SLLMLState/Local Laws - Failure to maintain lane1× · 8%
- 392.2-SLLS2State/Local Laws - Speeding 6-10 miles per hour over the speed limit7× · 22%
- 392.2-SLLS4State/Local Laws - Speeding 15 or more miles per hour over the speed limit1× · 10%
- 392.2-SLLSWZState/Local Laws - Speeding work/construction zone1× · 5%
- Defensive-driving refresher on following distance and lane discipline
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 59% 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 ATIS7× · 26%
- 393.75A2-TAOBBTires - All others, bump or bulge related to tread or sidewall separation3× · 16%
- 393.75A3-TAOLTISTires - All others, leaking in tread area and inflation less than 50% of the maximum inflation pressure on tire equipped with ATIS3× · 10%
- 396.7A-UOCUnsafe Operations - Severe Post Crash Condition2× · 5%
- 396.3A1-FFuel - Dripping leak.1× · 3%
- 393.201D-FRFrame - Accessories improperly attached1× · 1%
- 393.45B2-BHTDAir Brake - Hose/tubing damage into the outer reinforcement ply.2× · 4%
- 393.53B-BAir Brake - CMV manufactured on or after 10/20/1994 has an automatic airbrake adjustment system that fails to compensate for wear2× · 3%
- 393.45D-BAir Brake - Audible air leak at a proper connection1× · 2%
- 393.100B-CCargo - Cargo not secured to prevent leaking/spilling/blowing/falling from CMV1× · 5%
- 393.106C2-CCargo - Transverse tiedowns - cargo without direct contact to prevent shifting1× · 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
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.
- 393.75A2-TAOBB×2Tires - All others, bump or bulge related to tread or sidewall separation · OOS
- 396.7A-UOC×2Unsafe Operations - Severe Post Crash Condition · OOS
- 393.75A3-TAOLTISTires - All others, leaking in tread area and inflation less than 50% of the maximum inflation pressure on tire equipped with ATIS · OOS
- Gauge/thump every tire on the walk-around, including inner duals
- Replace before tread hits the limit and correct low pressure immediately
- 395.24×2HOS (ELD) - ELD Form and Manner
- 395.22G-ELDMFVHOS (ELD) - A portable ELD is not mounted in a fixed position and visible to the driver when seated in the normal driving position.
- Log in and annotate the ELD correctly every day; fix edits promptly
- Plan trips around available hours — never falsify a log
- 392.2-SLLEWA3State/Local Laws - Excessive weight - More than 5000 lbs over on an axle/axle groups
- 392.2-SLLIFTAState/Local Laws - State tax/International Fuel Tax (IFTA) violation
- 392.2-SLLEDState/Local Laws - Excessive dimension (width/height/length)
- Look under the truck for shifted axles and broken/leaking suspension parts
- Include suspension in scheduled maintenance
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 NHTSA82 distinct vehicles seen in this carrier’s roadside inspections.
+ 52 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
7
Tow-away
6
Injury
2
Fatal
1
Company profile
FMCSA censusAUTHORIZED FOR HIRE
- Interstate · 100+ mi45 drivers
- Interstate · <100 mi6 drivers
- Company officer
- AMANDA THIEKE
- Operation
- Interstate
- Registered since
- 1999-04-09
- Last MCS-150 update
- 2025-01-22
- Census status
- Active
Fleet: 65 trucks · 65 owned tractors · 186 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 8 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
13 events- 01/22/2025MCS-150 update filed
6.1M mi reported (2024)
- 10/01/2022Insurance filed — NORTHLAND INSURANCE COMPANY
Liability (BIPD) — BMC-91X · policy WF012754
- 10/01/2022Insurance replaced — SENTRY SELECT INSURANCE COMPANY
BIPD/Primary · policy A0158911001
- 09/23/2020Insurance replaced — SENTRY SELECT INSURANCE COMPANY
BIPD/Primary · policy A0011510001
- 09/23/2016Insurance replaced — WESTFIELD INSURANCE CO.
BIPD/Primary · policy CSP 3 121 005
- 09/23/2014Insurance replaced — NATIONAL CASUALTY COMPANY
BIPD/Primary · policy LTO0003992
- 10/28/2011Insurance cancelled — GREAT WEST CASUALTY CO.
BIPD/Primary · policy GWP57795A
- 09/23/2011Insurance replaced — GREAT WEST CASUALTY CO.
BIPD/Primary · policy GWP57795A
- 09/23/2008Insurance replaced — OCCIDENTAL FIRE AND CASUALTY CO. OF N.C.
BIPD/Primary · policy BA 068 21 95
- 05/08/2007Insurance replaced — OCCIDENTAL FIRE AND CASUALTY CO. OF N.C.
BIPD/Primary · policy BA 068 21 95
- 04/12/2007Insurance cancelled — OCCIDENTAL FIRE AND CASUALTY CO. OF N.C.
CARGO · policy BA 67 08 95
- 10/01/2002MOTOR PROPERTY CONTRACT CARRIER — GRANTED
- 04/09/1999Registered 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
- Non-ratable review
- Rated
- —
- Last review
- 2025-11-19
MCS-150 registration
- Form date
- 2025-01-22
- Reported mileage
- 6,062,629 mi (2024)
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