SUNSET CARTAGE 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 202642 inspections · 38 violations (6 OOS) · 17% of inspections had an OOS finding.
Violations by BASIC
click to filter codes
Top cited codes
score = count × severity weight
- 1393.45Vehicle Maintenance
Brake tubing and hose adequacy
16
4× · sev 4
- 2393.11Vehicle Maintenance
No or defective lighting devices or reflective material as required
6
2× · sev 3
- 3392.2LVUnsafe Driving
Lane Restriction violation
6
2× · sev 3
- 4392.2-SLLEWA1
State/Local Laws - Excessive weight - 1-2500 lbs over on an axle/axle groups
5
5×
- 5392.2LCUnsafe Driving
Improper lane change
5
1× · sev 5
- 6393.75A32 OOS
Tire-flat and/or audible air leak
2
2×
- 7392.2WNot in SMS
Excessive Weight violation
2
2×
- 8392.7A
Driver failing to conduct pre-trip inspection
1
1×
- 9392.9Vehicle Maintenance
Driver may not operate a CMV without proper load securement
1
1× · sev 1
- 10393.100B1 OOS
Leaking/spilling/blowing/falling cargo
1
1×
Most inspected in · top 3 states
- IL27
- WI2
- IN1
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 46.7% 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 Lake County, IL
Medium impact17 of 25 violations in the last 12 months (68%) came from inspections in Lake County, IL. 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 Lake County, IL 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 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 limit1× · 16%
- 392.2-SLLS2State/Local Laws - Speeding 6-10 miles per hour over the speed limit1× · 9%
- Defensive-driving refresher on following distance and lane discipline
Hours-of-Service Compliance needs attention
Low impactEstimated Hours-of-Service Compliance 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
Brakes violations are the leading contributor to Vehicle Maintenance
Low impactEstimated Vehicle Maintenance percentile of 55% 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 ATIS1× · 30%
- 393.11No or defective lighting devices or reflective material as required2× · 12%
- 393.9Inoperable Required Lamp2× · 4%
- 393.11A1-CSURRConspicuity Systems - Truck tractor, upper rear retro reflective sheeting missing on vehicle manufactured on or after July 1, 19971× · 3%
- Check brake adjustment and listen for air leaks every pre-trip; put brakes on the PM schedule
- Fix air-loss and warning-light faults before dispatch — don’t “drive it in”
- 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.
- 393.45×4Brake tubing and hose adequacy
- 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
- 392.2LVLane Restriction violation
- Coach speed and following distance — Unsafe Driving points are weighted heavily
- Hands off the phone; always belt up
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 NHTSA94 distinct vehicles seen in this carrier’s roadside inspections.
+ 64 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
12
Tow-away
11
Injury
4
Fatal
0
Company profile
FMCSA censusAUTHORIZED FOR HIRE;EXEMPT FOR HIRE
- Interstate · <100 mi70 drivers
- Company officer
- DONALD MUELLER
- Operation
- Interstate
- Registered since
- 1999-05-21
- Last MCS-150 update
- 2026-02-12
- Census status
- Active
Fleet: 70 trucks · 70 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 addresses, phone numbers 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
19 events- 02/12/2026MCS-150 update filed
5.6M mi reported (2025)
- 10/20/2020Insurance filed — THE CINCINNATI INSURANCE CO.
Liability (BIPD) — BMC-91X · policy EBA 055 06 13
- 10/20/2020Insurance replaced — THE CINCINNATI INSURANCE CO.
BIPD/Primary · policy CPA 087 95 94
- 10/20/2017Insurance replaced — THE CINCINNATI INSURANCE CO.
BIPD/Primary · policy CPA 087 95 94
- 12/03/2016Insurance cancelled — THE CINCINNATI INSURANCE CO.
CARGO · policy CPP 087 95 94
- 10/20/2007Insurance replaced — THE CINCINNATI INSURANCE CO.
BIPD/Primary · policy CPA 087 95 74
- 10/20/2007Insurance cancelled — CLARENDON NATIONAL INS. CO.
CARGO · policy DSHN00003040
- 09/24/2007CONTRACT — INVOLUNTARY REVOCATION
DISCONTINUED REVOCATION (10/22/2007)
- 10/20/2006Insurance cancelled — CLARENDON NATIONAL INS. CO.
BIPD/Primary · policy DSHN00002315
- 09/25/2006CONTRACT — INVOLUNTARY REVOCATION
DISCONTINUED REVOCATION (10/20/2006)
- 10/20/2005Insurance cancelled — CLARENDON NATIONAL INS. CO.
BIPD/Primary · policy DSHN00001565
- 09/23/2005CONTRACT — INVOLUNTARY REVOCATION
DISCONTINUED REVOCATION (10/20/2005)
- 06/12/2005Insurance cancelled — CLARENDON NATIONAL INS. CO.
CARGO · policy DSHN00001566
- 10/20/2004Insurance cancelled — LINCOLN GENERAL INSURANCE COMPANY
BIPD/Primary · policy LTI100139
- 10/20/2004Insurance replaced — GREAT AMERICAN INSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW YORK
CARGO · policy IMP 6017670
- 09/23/2004CONTRACT — INVOLUNTARY REVOCATION
DISCONTINUED REVOCATION (10/25/2004)
- 10/20/2003Insurance replaced — WEST BEND MUTUAL INSURANCE CO.
BIPD · policy 0110083252
- 06/10/1999MOTOR PROPERTY CONTRACT CARRIER — GRANTED
- 05/21/1999Registered with FMCSA
AUTHORIZED FOR HIRE;EXEMPT FOR HIRE
Merged from FMCSA authority, insurance, out-of-service, and census records.
Operations
Classification
- AUTHORIZED FOR HIRE;EXEMPT FOR HIRE
Area served
- Interstate
FMCSA safety rating
- Rating
- Satisfactory
- Type
- Compliance review
- Rated
- 2005-07-27
- Last review
- 2005-05-19
MCS-150 registration
- Form date
- 2026-02-12
- Reported mileage
- 5,640,946 mi (2025)
Got a violation you want to contest?
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