KRAUS & SONS TRANSPORT INC
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 202630 inspections · 55 violations (7 OOS) · 20% of inspections had an OOS finding.
Violations by BASIC
click to filter codes
Top cited codes
score = count × severity weight
- 1395.8E-HOSPDHours-of-Service Compliance1 OOS
HOS (Property) - No driver may make a false report in connection with a duty status. Explain
28
4× · sev 7
- 2393.45D-BVehicle Maintenance
Air Brake - Audible air leak at a proper connection
8
2× · sev 4
- 3393.75A3-TAOLVehicle Maintenance1 OOS
Tires - All others, leaking or inflation less than 50% of the maximum inflation pressure on tire not equipped with ATIS
8
1× · sev 8
- 4395.34A1-ELDDFNHours-of-Service Compliance
HOS (ELD) - Driver failed to note the malfunction of the ELD and provide written notice of the malfunction to the motor carrier within 24 hours
5
1× · sev 5
- 5392.2-SLLLRUnsafe Driving
State/Local Laws - Lane restriction violation
3
1× · sev 3
- 6395.24Hours-of-Service Compliance
HOS (ELD) - ELD Form and Manner
2
2× · sev 1
- 7393.60C
Windshield - Damaged or Discolored
2
2×
- 8393.78A-WSVehicle Maintenance
Washers - Inoperative washing system.
1
1× · sev 1
- 9393.60D
Windshield / Windows - Tinting permits less than 70% of light transmittance
1
1×
- 10393.78Vehicle Maintenance
Wipers - Inoperative / missing / damaged wipers
1
1× · sev 1
Most inspected in · top 8 states
- SD7
- WA5
- MT5
- OR4
- IA3
- ID2
- WI1
- MN1
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 91% 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.
- 395.8E-HOSPDHOS (Property) - No driver may make a false report in connection with a duty status. Explain5× · 58%
- 395.8A1-HOSPHOS (Property) - Failing to have a record of duty status using the method prescribed1× · 13%
- 395.8E-HOSPDOOSHOS (Property) - Driver produces a false record of duty status that concealed an HOS limitation violation after the last rest period. Explain:1× · 8%
- 395.34A1-ELDDFNHOS (ELD) - Driver failed to note the malfunction of the ELD and provide written notice of the malfunction to the motor carrier within 24 hours2× · 6%
- 395.24HOS (ELD) - ELD Form and Manner5× · 5%
- 395.24C2II-ELDTNHOS (ELD) - Driver failing to manually input or verify CMV trailer number.1× · 1%
- 395.3A3-PROPDriving beyond 11 hour driving limit. (Property Carrying Vehicle)1× · 8%
- 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
- 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 26.7% 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 Buchanan County, IA
Medium impact8 of 27 violations in the last 12 months (30%) came from inspections in Buchanan County, IA. 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 Buchanan County, IA to spot recurring issues
- Brief drivers running that lane; consider rerouting around the toughest enforcement corridors where practical
Speeding violations are the leading contributor to Unsafe Driving
Low impactEstimated Unsafe Driving percentile of 43% is under the 65% line. In decent shape, but here's what's driving it.
- 392.2-SLLS2State/Local Laws - Speeding 6-10 miles per hour over the speed limit2× · 67%
- 392.2-SLLLRState/Local Laws - Lane restriction violation1× · 13%
- Coach the drivers with speeding violations directly — Unsafe Driving points are weighted heavily
- Set and enforce a governed road speed; review telematics/dashcam speed events weekly
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
Lighting / lamps violations are the leading contributor to Vehicle Maintenance
Low impactEstimated Vehicle Maintenance percentile of 65% is under the 80% line. In decent shape, but here's what's driving it.
- 393.11A1-LCHLLighting - Lamps improper color, height, location.1× · 13%
- 393.11TUTruck-Tractor upper body corner requirements for retroreflective sheeting or reflex reflective material for vehicles manufactured after July 19971× · 4%
- 393.11TLTruck-Tractor lower rear mud flaps retroreflective sheeting / reflex reflective material requirements for vehicles manufactured after July 19971× · 4%
- 393.75A3-TAOLTires - All others, leaking or inflation less than 50% of the maximum inflation pressure on tire not equipped with ATIS3× · 21%
- 393.95A4-EEUSEmergency Equipment - Fire Extinguishers - unsecured1× · 4%
- 393.95A4-EENAEmergency Equipment - Fire Extinguishers - not readily accessible or filled1× · 4%
- Walk the lights every pre-trip and carry spare bulbs/fuses; clean lenses and check the trailer plug
- 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.
- 395.8E-HOSPD×4HOS (Property) - No driver may make a false report in connection with a duty status. Explain · OOS
- 395.8A1-HOSPHOS (Property) - Failing to have a record of duty status using the method prescribed · OOS
- 395.24HOS (ELD) - ELD Form and Manner
- Log in and annotate the ELD correctly every day; fix edits promptly
- Plan trips around available hours — never falsify a log
- 393.11A1-LCHLLighting - Lamps improper color, height, location.
- 396.17C-PIOperating a CMV without documentation of a periodic inspection
- 393.95A4-EEUSEmergency Equipment - Fire Extinguishers - unsecured
- Walk the lights every pre-trip and carry spare bulbs/fuses
- Clean lenses and check the trailer plug for corrosion
- 393.60CWindshield - Damaged or Discolored
- 392.2-SLLIRPState/Local Laws - IRP apportioned tag or registration violation
- Log in and annotate the ELD correctly every day; fix edits promptly
- Plan trips around available hours — never falsify a log
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 NHTSA25 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
1
Tow-away
1
Injury
0
Fatal
0
Company profile
FMCSA censusAUTHORIZED FOR HIRE
- Interstate · 100+ mi7 drivers
- Company officer
- JOSEPH KRAUS
- Operation
- Interstate
- Registered since
- 2000-03-30
- Last MCS-150 update
- 2025-08-20
- Census status
- Active
Fleet: 7 trucks · 6 owned tractors · 7 owned trailers · 1 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 VINs 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
15 events- 08/20/2025MCS-150 update filed
0.5M mi reported (2024)
- 03/25/2023Insurance filed — MIDWEST FAMILY MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY
Liability (BIPD) — BMC-91X · policy CPIL0560134658
- 03/25/2023Insurance replaced — NORTHLAND INSURANCE COMPANY
BIPD/Primary · policy WB211650
- 03/25/2017Insurance replaced — ARTISAN & TRUCKERS CASUALTY COMPANY
BIPD/Primary · policy CA 2946734
- 04/28/2016Insurance cancelled — OOIDA RISK RETENTION GROUP, INC.
BIPD/Primary · policy PL19951114
- 03/30/2016Insurance cancelled — OOIDA RISK RETENTION GROUP, INC.
BIPD/Primary · policy PL19951114
- 03/25/2016Insurance replaced — OOIDA RISK RETENTION GROUP, INC.
BIPD/Primary · policy PL19951114
- 03/05/2013Insurance cancelled — OOIDA RISK RETENTION GROUP, INC.
BIPD/Primary · policy PL19951114
- 02/10/2010Insurance replaced — OOIDA RISK RETENTION GROUP, INC.
BIPD/Primary · policy PL19951114
- 03/31/2009Insurance replaced — OOIDA RISK RETENTION GROUP, INC.
BIPD/Primary · policy PL19951114
- 04/18/2005Insurance replaced — OOIDA RISK RETENTION GROUP, INC.
BIPD/Primary · policy PL19951114
- 05/18/2004Insurance cancelled — OOIDA RISK RETENTION GROUP, INC.
BIPD/Primary · policy PL19951114
- 08/23/2000Insurance cancelled — OOIDA RISK RETENTION GROUP, INC.
BIPD/Primary · policy PL19951114
- 05/05/2000MOTOR PROPERTY CONTRACT CARRIER — GRANTED
- 03/30/2000Registered 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
- Satisfactory
- Type
- Compliance review
- Rated
- 2019-04-25
- Last review
- 2013-11-01
MCS-150 registration
- Form date
- 2025-08-20
- Reported mileage
- 490,508 mi (2024)
Got a violation you want to contest?
Use the free AI-powered DataQs Drafter to generate a polished challenge letter — quotes the relevant 49 CFR, predicts your grant chance.