EXPRESS THUNDER LLC

USDOT 1358260 Active AUTHORIZED FOR HIRE Hazmat Satisfactory rated Company officer: LANCE NIEMI General Freight Building Materials Produce Livestock Grain / Feed / Hay Meat +6 more Based in HIGHWOOD, MT Grade A · 88
Brokers & shippers · booking check

Book with caution — review signals below

No hard OOS / revoked / uninsured blocker, but elevated risk signals need a human look before booking.

Caution
Policy effective · Oct 1, 2024
Review these
  • OOS rate worse than size peers Driver and/or vehicle out-of-service rate is above the peer median.
On file
  • 1 active operating authority
  • Insurance on file · $1,000,000 GREAT WEST CASUALTY CO. · 91X Details →
  • BOC-3 process agent on file ALLAMERICAN AGENTS OF PROCESS Details →
  • Satisfactory FMCSA safety rating
Company officer: LANCE NIEMI
Cargo: General Freight, Building Materials, Produce, Livestock
Built for brokers and shippers deciding whether to tender. Always confirm on FMCSA SAFER and L&I before booking — TruckCodex mirrors public filings and can lag by up to a day.
Plain-text risk summary (print / paste)
TruckCodex risk summary — EXPRESS THUNDER LLC (USDOT 1358260)
Verdict: CAUTION
Book with caution — review signals below
No hard OOS / revoked / uninsured blocker, but elevated risk signals need a human look before booking.

Authority / census status: Active
Active BIPD limit: $1,000,000
Officer(s): LANCE NIEMI (Company officer)

Blockers:
  (none)

Cautions:
  • OOS rate worse than size peers — Driver and/or vehicle out-of-service rate is above the peer median.

On file:
  • 1 active operating authority
  • Insurance on file · $1,000,000 — GREAT WEST CASUALTY CO. · 91X
  • BOC-3 process agent on file — ALLAMERICAN AGENTS OF PROCESS
  • Satisfactory FMCSA safety rating

Source: https://truckcodex.com/usdot/1358260/
As of: Jul 18, 2026
Always confirm on FMCSA SAFER and L&I before tendering — TruckCodex mirrors public filings and can lag by up to a day.
TruckCodex · compliance grade

Compliance grade A

Composite of 5/5 scored components (mean 88/100). Expand for per-signal evidence. Heuristic — not an FMCSA rating or legal advice.

A confidence 100% · 5/5 signals
Authority / census
Active · 100/100

Active census status with no OOS order or revoked authority on file.

Insurance / BIPD
BIPD active · 100/100

Active BIPD/Primary-like policy on file in our insurance history.

OOS vs peers
Mixed vs peers · 40/100

Driver OOS 0% vs peer median 0% (neutral). Vehicle OOS 16% vs peer median 10% (worse). n=93861 same-size ACTIVE peers.

FMCSA safety rating
Satisfactory · 100/100

Official FMCSA Satisfactory safety rating.

Insurance-watch tier
Not on watch · 100/100

No BMC-91 insurance-lapse watch classification on file for this USDOT.

TruckCodex compliance grade from authority, BIPD, peer OOS, FMCSA safety rating, and insurance-watch signals. Not legal advice. See methodology. Booking triage on this page: Caution.

Operating authority
Insurance

GREAT WEST CASUALTY CO. · 91X · $1,000,000

1 active policy

Company profile

Company details
USDOT 1358260
In FMCSA records since Apr 8, 2005 (~21y)
MC / docket MC520834
Company officer LANCE NIEMI
Operation AUTHORIZED FOR HIRE
Hazmat Yes (MCS-150)
Cargo carried
General Freight, Building Materials, Produce, Livestock, Grain / Feed / Hay, Meat, U.S. Mail, Chemicals, Cold Food, Beverages, Paper Products, Farm Supplies
Fleet size 11 units
Drivers 10
Annual mileage 1,135,000 mi
Contact & address
Physical
3032 BURLEY HILL RD HIGHWOOD
HIGHWOOD, MT 59450
Mailing address matches physical.
Registration & safety rating
USDOT 1358260
In FMCSA records since Apr 8, 2005 (~21y)
Operation AUTHORIZED FOR HIRE
Annual mileage (MCS-150) 1,135,000 mi
Safety Rating Satisfactory
Hazmat Yes (MCS-150)
vs. National Average
Vehicle OOS Rate 16.0% vs 23.4% -7.4 pts
Driver OOS Rate 0.0% vs 6.7% -6.7 pts
Violations per Inspection 0.70 vs 1.80 -1.10
Peer tier (mid-sized fleets (11-100 power units)) median OOS rate: 27.3%
Active insurance
Related filings

Fleet details (MCS-150)

Vehicle type Owned Term leased Trip leased
Truck tractors 8 3 0
Trailers 12 0 0

Self-reported on the carrier’s Form MCS-150 (FMCSA Company Census).

Accident reports (24 months)

All 8 crashes →
Last 6 months 6–12 months 12–24 months Total
Fatalities 0 0 0 0
Injuries 0 0 1 1
Tow-away 1 0 1 2
Crash reports 1 0 1 2

Reportable crashes from FMCSA MCMIS for the trailing 24 months. Counts may differ slightly from SAFER due to reporting lag.

Inspections (24 months)

All 85 inspections →
Driver Vehicle Hazmat
Inspections 57 57 0
OOS inspections 2 4 0
OOS percentage 3.51% 7.02%
National average 6.67% 22.26% 4.44%

Roadside inspections in the last 24 months. National averages are FMCSA MCSAP reference rates (driver ~6.7%, vehicle ~23.4%, hazmat ~4.4%).

Power Units
11
Drivers
10
Inspections
85
FMCSA roadside history
OOS Rate (peak)
16.0%
driver or vehicle, whichever higher
Crashes (24m)
2
8 all-time
Authorities
1
1 active
Carrier analysis & narrative context SEO summary, status notes, AI overview, and safety profiles

EXPRESS THUNDER LLC is a motor carrier based in HIGHWOOD, MT, registered with the FMCSA under USDOT 1358260. The carrier is currently active in FMCSA's records, with a safety rating of Satisfactory. MCS-150 self-reporting puts the fleet at 11 power units and 10 drivers, with 85 roadside inspections on file and a peak out-of-service rate of 16.0%. Use this page to verify the carrier's authority and insurance, review its inspection and crash history, and cross-reference live data on FMCSA SAFER before booking a load or onboarding a partner.

Carrier overview

EXPRESS THUNDER LLC is a mid-sized fleet, operating 11 power units and 10 drivers, based in Highwood, MT. Across 53 roadside inspections in the last 24 months, the fleet recorded a 9.4% out-of-service rate, with 2 reportable crashes. Operating authority is active for common.

Inspection profile

53 roadside inspections over the last 24 months, up 121% versus the prior 24 months, concentrated in CA (14) and SD (7), with Level 3 inspections the most common.

Violation profile

9.4% out-of-service rate; led by Vehicle Maintenance (59.1% of violations); top code 393.75A3-TAOL (Tires - All others leaking or inflation less than 50% of the maximum inflation pressure on tire not equipped with ATIS) cited 4 times, 4 of them OOS.

Fleet profile

The fleet comprises 11 power units (mid-sized fleet) and 10 drivers; Utility, Kenworth, and Peterbilt are the most-inspected makes.

Risk Signals

Elevated OOS rate
Peak OOS rate of 16.0% is above the driver national average (~6.7%); vehicle national average is ~23.4%.

Out-of-Service rate vs same-size peers FMCSA roadside inspections, % placed out-of-service

Compared against 93,861 ACTIVE carriers operating 5–17 power units (±50% of this carrier's 11 unit fleet).

This carrier — Driver OOS
0%
Drivers placed out-of-service at roadside inspections
Peer median
0%
Median across 93,861 same-size peers
Verdict
On par with peers
Delta 0 pts vs peer median (lower is safer)
This carrier — Vehicle OOS
16%
Vehicles placed out-of-service at roadside inspections
Peer median
10%
Median across 93,861 same-size peers
Verdict
Riskier than peers
Delta +6 pts vs peer median (lower is safer)
Inspection Analytics Monthly activity · BASIC mix · state map

Monthly Inspection Activity (24 months)

2024-08 2026-07

Violations by BASIC Category

Federal BASIC buckets for every citation issued against this carrier over the past 24 months.

Activity by State

States this carrier has been inspected in over the past 24 months.
State Inspections OOS OOS % Last Inspection
California (CA) 17 2 11.8% Jul 14, 2026
South Dakota (SD) 8 2 25.0% May 13, 2026
New Mexico (NM) 6 0 0.0% Apr 10, 2026
North Dakota (ND) 4 0 0.0% Jun 16, 2026
Montana (MT) 4 0 0.0% May 21, 2026
Nebraska (NE) 3 1 33.3% Dec 16, 2025
Utah (UT) 3 1 33.3% Mar 16, 2026
Kansas (KS) 2 0 0.0% Feb 4, 2026
Illinois (IL) 2 0 0.0% Jun 23, 2026
Nevada (NV) 2 0 0.0% May 18, 2026
Wyoming (WY) 1 0 0.0% Aug 5, 2025
Colorado (CO) 1 0 0.0% Aug 27, 2025
Idaho (ID) 1 0 0.0% Apr 22, 2025
Washington (WA) 1 0 0.0% Jan 28, 2026
Wisconsin (WI) 1 0 0.0% Dec 18, 2025
Arizona (AZ) 1 0 0.0% May 28, 2025
Vehicle Fleet Top makes and models observed in roadside inspections
Make Model Inspections
Utility 70
Kenworth 57
Peterbilt 18
Great Dane 2
Utim 2
SMS BASIC Scores FMCSA Safety Measurement System per-BASIC scores
BASIC Inspections Serious Measure Percentile Alert As Of
Driver Fitness 1 0.26 0 Jul 13, 2026
Controlled Substances / Alcohol 0 0.00 0 Jul 13, 2026
Hours of Service 8 1.13 1 Jul 13, 2026
Unsafe Driving 5 4.72 5 Jul 13, 2026
Vehicle Maintenance 9 2.46 2 Jul 13, 2026

Higher percentiles indicate worse performance relative to peer carriers. Carriers at or above the FMCSA intervention threshold are marked ALERT.

Recent Inspections (85 rows) View all 85 →
Inspection # Date ▼ State Level Station Vehicle Violations Top Codes OOS
88418909 Jul 14, 2026 CA 2
KENWORTH TRUCK TRACTOR
0 No
88222170 Jun 23, 2026 IL 3
KENWORTH TRUCK TRACTOR
0 No
88172199 Jun 16, 2026 ND 3
KENWORTH TRUCK TRACTOR
0 No
87925278 May 21, 2026 MT 3
KENWORTH TRUCK TRACTOR
0 No
87887398 May 18, 2026 NV 1
KENWORTH TRUCK TRACTOR
5 395.8E1PC, 395.3A1-HOSPD, 393.209E-SPSLA No
87865386 May 13, 2026 CA 1
KENWORTH TRUCK TRACTOR
0 No
87833086 May 13, 2026 SD 1
KENWORTH TRUCK TRACTOR
1 383.23A2-LCDLN Yes
87704855 Apr 28, 2026 CA 3 BLACK ROCK PLATFORM SCALE
KENWORTH TRUCK TRACTOR
0 No
87559586 Apr 10, 2026 NM 2 GALLUP PORT OF ENTRY
KENWORTH TRUCK TRACTOR
0 No
87526283 Apr 6, 2026 CA 2 I-15 N/B S/OF SR-138
KENWORTH TRUCK TRACTOR
2 No
87458597 Mar 26, 2026 MT 3 CLEARWATER MT
PETERBILT TRUCK TRACTOR
0 No
87417451 Mar 26, 2026 ND 2 BUXTON ND
KENWORTH TRUCK TRACTOR
0 No
87328814 Mar 16, 2026 UT 3 BRIGHAM CITY UT
PETERBILT TRUCK TRACTOR
1 395.8E1PC No
87278318 Mar 12, 2026 CA 3 I-8 E/B E OF SR-98
KENWORTH TRUCK TRACTOR
3 395.8E1-HOSPVID, 392.2-SLLS3, 393.60C Yes
86967011 Feb 4, 2026 KS 3 ks-liberal-m.c.i.s.-#37a
KENWORTH TRUCK TRACTOR
0 No
86963207 Feb 4, 2026 SD 3 VALLEY SPRINGS SD
KENWORTH TRUCK TRACTOR
0 No
86934431 Jan 28, 2026 WA 2 TUMWATER WA
PETERBILT TRUCK TRACTOR
12 393.75A3-TAOL, 393.23-LEU, 393.207A-SAPPAS No
86897206 Jan 26, 2026 UT 3 ECHO UT
PETERBILT TRUCK TRACTOR
2 395.8E-HOSPD, 392.2-SLLEWA1 No
86846351 Jan 19, 2026 CA 3 ROSEMEAD
PETERBILT TRUCK TRACTOR
4 390.21TB1-MC, 392.2-SLL, 392.2-SLLS2 No
86821981 Jan 10, 2026 MT 1 BUTTE MT
PETERBILT TRUCK TRACTOR
0 No
86820855 Jan 7, 2026 CA 1 CACHE CREEK
PETERBILT TRUCK TRACTOR
0 No
86649784 Dec 19, 2025 IL 3 I80
PETERBILT TRUCK TRACTOR
0 No
86623162 Dec 18, 2025 WI 2 HUDSON WI
KENWORTH TRUCK TRACTOR
1 392.2-SLLEWA1 No
86589473 Dec 17, 2025 MT 1 BILLINGS MT
PETERBILT TRUCK TRACTOR
1 393.45D-B No
86593482 Dec 16, 2025 NE 2 WAVERLY WEST BOUND
KENWORTH TRUCK TRACTOR
1 393.75A3-TAOL Yes
Recent Crashes (8 rows)
Report # Date ▼ State Fatalities Injuries Tow Hazmat Severity
WA000EG72917 Jan 28, 2026 WA 0 0 Yes No Tow
CA7352500185 Jul 6, 2025 CA 0 1 Yes No Injury
CA5252204251 Aug 28, 2022 CA 0 0 Yes No Tow
KS2022E24153 Jul 31, 2022 KS 0 0 Yes No Tow
TX5W2BHQE1CP Nov 18, 2020 TX 0 0 Yes No Tow
WA0003074218 Jan 6, 2016 WA 0 0 Yes No Tow
IN0901038329 Jan 7, 2009 IN 0 0 Yes No Tow
FL7706981408 Mar 24, 2008 FL 0 1 Yes No Injury
Authority Records (1 docket)
MC Certificate Documents (2 PDFs)

Authority Records (above) are FMCSA docket status and lifecycle events. MC Certificate Documents here are the archived PDF letters for each action — grants, reinstatements, revocations, name changes, and transfers. They are related but not the same dataset: one row per PDF letter, not one file per docket.

Click a row to open that specific letter. Multiple letters per docket are listed separately by action type and date.

Date Docket Action Authority PDF
Aug 8, 2018 MC520834 NC NAME_CHANGE NC →
Apr 29, 2005 MC520834-C CPL REVOCATION CPL →
Insurance Coverage Timeline (10 rows)

Every insurance policy on file, newest effective date first. Amber rows mark BIPD/Primary coverage gaps.

Insurer Policy # Type Limit Effective Cancel Status
GREAT WEST CASUALTY CO. GRT29444A 91X $1,000,000 Oct 1, 2024 On file ACTIVE
SENTRY SELECT INSURANCE COMPANY A0174980001 BIPD/Primary Aug 1, 2021 Oct 1, 2024 REPLACED
WILSHIRE INSURANCE COMPANY BA2606709 BIPD/Primary Oct 15, 2020 Aug 1, 2021 REPLACED
WILSHIRE INSURANCE COMPANY BA2606312 BIPD/Primary May 1, 2020 May 1, 2020 REPLACED
WILSHIRE INSURANCE COMPANY BA2606312 BIPD/Primary May 1, 2020 Oct 15, 2020 REPLACED
GREAT WEST CASUALTY CO. GWP29275A BIPD/Primary May 23, 2019 May 1, 2020 REPLACED
GREAT WEST CASUALTY CO. GWP29275A BIPD/Primary Aug 7, 2018 May 23, 2019 CANCELLED
GREAT WEST CASUALTY CO. GWP29275A BIPD/Primary Apr 8, 2005 Sep 10, 2018 NAME CHANGED
GREAT WEST CASUALTY CO. GWP29275A CARGO Apr 8, 2005 Sep 10, 2018 NAME CHANGED
GREAT WEST CASUALTY CO. GWP29275A BIPD/Primary Apr 8, 2005 Aug 7, 2018 REPLACED
Compliance Timeline Merged authority / insurance / enforcement events
  1. Oct 1, 2024
    insurance
    TERM/REPL — SENTRY SELECT INSURANCE COMPANY
  2. Aug 1, 2021
    insurance
    TERM/REPL — WILSHIRE INSURANCE COMPANY
  3. Oct 15, 2020
    insurance
    TERM/REPL — WILSHIRE INSURANCE COMPANY
  4. May 1, 2020
    insurance
    TERM/REPL — WILSHIRE INSURANCE COMPANY
  5. May 1, 2020
    insurance
    TERM/REPL — GREAT WEST CASUALTY CO.
  6. May 23, 2019
    insurance
    CANCEL — GREAT WEST CASUALTY CO.
  7. Sep 10, 2018
    insurance
    TERM/CANCL — GREAT WEST CASUALTY CO.
  8. Sep 10, 2018
    insurance
    NAMECHG — GREAT WEST CASUALTY CO.
  9. Aug 8, 2018
    authority
    DISCONTINUED REVOCATION — COMMON
    Details →
  10. Aug 7, 2018
    insurance
    TERM/REPL — GREAT WEST CASUALTY CO.
  11. Apr 29, 2005
    authority
    GRANTED — MOTOR PROPERTY COMMON CARRIER
    Details →
Top Stations & Violation Codes Where this carrier gets inspected and what they get cited for

Most-Inspected Stations

Top Violation Codes Cited

Code Description Category Cited OOS
392.2 Violation of Local Laws - Explain: Unsafe Driving 5 0
393.9(a) Inoperable required lamps Vehicle Maintenance 4 0
393.60(c) Windshield - Damaged or Discolored Vehicle Maintenance 2 0
393.75(a)(3) Tire-flat and/or audible air leak Vehicle Maintenance 2 2
396.3(a)(1) Inspection, repair and maintenance of parts and accessories Vehicle Maintenance 2 1
393.209(e) Power steering violations Vehicle Maintenance 1 0
393.45 Brake tubing and hose adequacy Vehicle Maintenance 1 0
393.47(e) Brake Out of Adjustment - Roto, Clamp (Short & Long), DD-3, or Bolt Vehicle Maintenance 1 0
393.48(a) Inoperative/defective brakes Vehicle Maintenance 1 0
393.55(e) No or Defective ABS Malfunction Indicator Lamp for trailer manufactured after 03/01/1998 Vehicle Maintenance 1 0
Related Records Cross-references to every adjacent page
Directory
Authority Records
Insurance Carriers
Process Agent (BOC-3)
Carrier Records
Discover
Explainers

How to verify EXPRESS THUNDER LLC

  1. Verify USDOT and MC numbers match the carrier's documents. Compare the USDOT number and MC docket on this page to the numbers on the carrier's invoice, rate confirmation, or load-board listing. A mismatch between the carrier's claimed numbers and the registered legal name is the single most common red flag.
  2. Check active operating authority and insurance status. Confirm the Authority Records show at least one ACTIVE docket for the type of operation you're booking, and that the Active Insurance card lists a current BIPD/Primary policy. A revoked authority or uninsured carrier cannot legally operate.
  3. Review safety rating and SMS BASIC scores. Check the carrier's FMCSA safety rating (if any) and the SMS BASIC table. A high percentile in any BASIC category — especially Unsafe Driving, HOS, or Vehicle Maintenance — is worth investigating before tendering a load.
  4. Examine inspection and crash history. Open the Inspection History and Crash History subpages for the full record. Look for patterns: repeat OOS findings on the same unit, multiple crashes in a short window, or violations clustered in one BASIC category.
  5. Cross-reference real-time data with FMCSA SAFER. For the most current snapshot — within 24 hours of any insurer filing or authority change — click through to the FMCSA SAFER lookup. TruckCodex mirrors SAFER and L&I daily; SAFER itself reflects filings within 24 hours.

Frequently asked questions about EXPRESS THUNDER LLC

Is EXPRESS THUNDER LLC an active motor carrier?
Yes. EXPRESS THUNDER LLC is registered with the FMCSA under USDOT 1358260 and is currently shown as Active in the agency's Motor Carrier Management Information System (MCMIS). Active status means the carrier may legally operate, contingent on continuous insurance and authority filings.
What is EXPRESS THUNDER LLC's safety rating?
EXPRESS THUNDER LLC's FMCSA safety rating is Satisfactory. A Satisfactory rating means FMCSA evaluators determined the carrier had an adequate safety management program at the time of the most recent compliance review. Safety ratings are assigned only after a formal compliance review; most carriers in the FMCSA database are unrated.
How many inspections has EXPRESS THUNDER LLC had?
85 roadside inspections are on file for EXPRESS THUNDER LLC in FMCSA's MCMIS database. Each inspection is summarized in the Inspection History section below — sortable by date, state, level, and out-of-service result. Newer inspections are pulled from the FMCSA SMS data feed daily.
What is EXPRESS THUNDER LLC's out-of-service rate?
EXPRESS THUNDER LLC's peak out-of-service rate is 16.0% (whichever is higher of driver-OOS or vehicle-OOS, computed from FMCSA roadside inspection data). The national averages are roughly 6.7% for drivers and 23.4% for vehicles — see the peer-context card on this page for a side-by-side comparison.
Where is EXPRESS THUNDER LLC based?
EXPRESS THUNDER LLC reports its physical address to the FMCSA as 3032 BURLEY HILL RD HIGHWOOD, HIGHWOOD, Montana 59450. Carriers must file a Form MCS-150 every two years to keep their address current; an outdated address is a common compliance flag.
Does EXPRESS THUNDER LLC have valid operating authority?
Yes. EXPRESS THUNDER LLC holds 1 active FMCSA operating authority (MC520834). Each docket appears in the Authority Records section below with its full event history. Active authority means the carrier may legally operate as a for-hire carrier, contingent on current insurance and BOC-3 process-agent filings.
How many trucks and drivers does EXPRESS THUNDER LLC operate?
EXPRESS THUNDER LLC self-reports 11 power units and 10 drivers on its most recent FMCSA Form MCS-150 filing. Power-unit and driver counts come from the carrier directly and are required to be updated every two years; very large fluctuations between filings can indicate fleet changes worth investigating.
Has EXPRESS THUNDER LLC had any crashes?
8 FMCSA-reportable crashes are on file for EXPRESS THUNDER LLC in MCMIS. A reportable crash is one resulting in a fatality, an injury requiring transport for medical attention, or a vehicle disabled and towed from the scene. The full crash log is on the Crashes subpage with date, state, and outcome details.

About FMCSA carrier records

Every commercial motor carrier operating in the United States is required to register with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and obtain a USDOT number. The USDOT number is a permanent, unique identifier — once assigned, it stays with the carrier for life and is never reissued to another company. Carriers must update their registration every two years on Form MCS-150 to keep their address, fleet size, and operating data current.

Carrier safety data lives in FMCSA's Motor Carrier Management Information System (MCMIS): roadside inspections, crashes, out-of-service findings, and the seven Behavior Analysis and Safety Improvement Categories (BASICs) that make up the SMS scoring methodology. For-hire carriers must also hold operating authority — an MC, FF, or MX docket number — which is separate from the USDOT number and requires continuous insurance and BOC-3 process-agent filings to remain active.

TruckCodex mirrors FMCSA's public SAFER and L&I systems on a daily refresh cycle. Every record on this page reflects what FMCSA has on file. We do not edit or modify carrier data — for real-time confirmation immediately before a transaction, click through to the FMCSA SAFER lookup linked in the related records section above. Safety ratings, when present, come from formal compliance reviews; most active carriers have not been reviewed and are correctly listed as unrated.

Data sources & freshness

TruckCodex aggregates official public-sector datasets. See the Source registry for dataset-level coverage and the Freshness log for last-import timestamps.

Census, SAFER, SMS, Licensing & Insurance (L&I), roadside inspections, crashes, and authority history.

Refreshed daily.

Vehicle recall campaigns, defect investigations, and consumer safety complaints (SCRS).

Refreshed daily.
EIA

Retail diesel and gasoline price history and state fuel-tax tables.

Refreshed weekly.

Cross-border carrier registry and Canadian recall campaigns where applicable.

Refreshed weekly.

TruckCodex is an independent aggregator; it is not affiliated with FMCSA, NHTSA, EIA, or Transport Canada. Always verify compliance-critical information directly with the originating agency.