ESTES EXCAVATING INC
DBA: NORMAN W ESTES EXCAVATING
Book with caution — review signals below
No hard OOS / revoked / uninsured blocker, but elevated risk signals need a human look before booking.
- OOS rate worse than size peers Driver and/or vehicle out-of-service rate is above the peer median.
- Satisfactory FMCSA safety rating
Plain-text risk summary (print / paste)
TruckCodex risk summary — ESTES EXCAVATING INC (USDOT 271553) 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 Officer(s): NORMAN W. ESTES (Company officer); SUSAN J. ESTES (Company officer 2) Organization: CORPORATION Blockers: (none) Cautions: • OOS rate worse than size peers — Driver and/or vehicle out-of-service rate is above the peer median. On file: • Satisfactory FMCSA safety rating Source: https://truckcodex.com/usdot/271553/ As of: Jul 21, 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 B
Composite of 4/5 scored components (mean 79/100). Expand for per-signal evidence. Heuristic — not an FMCSA rating or legal advice.
B
confidence 80% · 4/5 signals
Compliance grade B
Composite of 4/5 scored components (mean 79/100). Expand for per-signal evidence. Heuristic — not an FMCSA rating or legal advice.
Active census status with no OOS order or revoked authority on file.
Insurance/BIPD signal not resolved for this carrier.
NR reason: No active policies and no uninsured flag to score against.
Driver OOS 40% vs peer median 0% (worse). Vehicle OOS 100% vs peer median 11.1% (worse). n=74423 same-size ACTIVE peers.
Official FMCSA Satisfactory safety rating.
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.
No authority breakdown on file.
No active policies on file.
No BOC-3 filing on file.
Company profile
No active FMCSA cargo filing on file.
FMCSA L&I filing evidence — not a shipper certificate of insurance (COI). Cargo (BMC-34) is primarily an HHG / household-goods requirement; general freight carriers often have none.
Fleet details (MCS-150)
| Vehicle type | Owned | Term leased | Trip leased |
|---|---|---|---|
| Truck tractors | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Trailers | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Trucks | 10 | 0 | 0 |
Self-reported on the carrier’s Form MCS-150 (FMCSA Company Census).
Inspections (24 months)
All 6 inspections →| Driver | Vehicle | Hazmat | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inspections | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| OOS inspections | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| OOS percentage | 33.33% | 100% | — |
| 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%).
Carrier analysis & narrative context SEO summary, status notes, AI overview, and safety profiles
ESTES EXCAVATING INC is a corporation based in JEFFERSONVILLE, IN, registered with the FMCSA under USDOT 271553. The carrier is currently active in FMCSA's records, with a safety rating of Satisfactory. MCS-150 self-reporting puts the fleet at 12 power units and 6 drivers, with 6 roadside inspections on file and a peak out-of-service rate of 100.0%. 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.
ESTES EXCAVATING INC is a mid-sized fleet, operating 12 power units and 6 drivers, organized as a corporation, based in Jeffersonville, IN. Across 5 roadside inspections in the last 24 months, the fleet recorded a 100.0% out-of-service rate, with no reportable crashes on file. no operating authority record was located.
5 roadside inspections over the last 24 months, up 400% versus the prior 24 months, concentrated in IN (4) and KY (1), with Level 2 inspections the most common.
100.0% out-of-service rate; led by Vehicle Maintenance (62.1% of violations); top code 393.9(a) (Inoperable required lamps) cited 4 times.
The fleet comprises 12 power units (mid-sized fleet) and 6 drivers; International and Kenworth are the most-inspected makes.
Risk Signals
Out-of-Service rate vs same-size peers FMCSA roadside inspections, % placed out-of-service
Compared against 74,423 ACTIVE carriers operating 6–18 power units (±50% of this carrier's 12 unit fleet).
Inspection Analytics Monthly activity · BASIC mix · state map
Monthly Inspection Activity (24 months)
Violations by BASIC Category
Activity by State
| State | Inspections | OOS | OOS % | Last Inspection |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indiana (IN) | 3 | 3 | 100.0% | Jul 7, 2025 |
Vehicle Fleet Top makes and models observed in roadside inspections
| Make | Model | Inspections |
|---|---|---|
| International | 4 | |
| Kenworth | 1 |
SMS BASIC Scores FMCSA Safety Measurement System per-BASIC scores
| BASIC | Inspections | Serious | Measure | Percentile | Alert | As Of |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Driver Fitness | 1 | — | 1.44 | 1 | — | Jul 20, 2026 |
| Controlled Substances / Alcohol | 0 | — | 0.00 | 0 | — | Jul 20, 2026 |
| Hours of Service | 0 | — | 0.00 | 0 | — | Jul 20, 2026 |
| Unsafe Driving | 3 | — | 2.03 | 2 | — | Jul 20, 2026 |
| Vehicle Maintenance | 5 | — | 12.11 | 12 | — | Jul 20, 2026 |
Higher percentiles indicate worse performance relative to peer carriers. Carriers at or above the FMCSA intervention threshold are marked ALERT.
Recent Inspections (6 rows) View all 6 →
| Inspection # | Date ▼ | State | Level | Station | Vehicle | Violations | Top Codes | OOS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 85134331 | Jul 7, 2025 | IN | 2 | CHARLESTOWN IN |
INTERNATIONAL STRAIGHT TRUCK
|
5 | 393.100B-C, 392.2-SLLSR, 393.78A-WS | Yes |
| 85068393 | Jun 26, 2025 | IN | 2 | CHARLESTOWN IN |
KENWORTH STRAIGHT TRUCK
|
4 | 393.75G-TAOW, 392.2-SLLEWG3, 392.2-SLLEWA3 | Yes |
| 84660435 | May 9, 2025 | IN | 2 | JEFFERSONVILLE IN |
INTERNATIONAL STRAIGHT TRUCK
|
10 | 391.41APC, 383.23A2-LCDLN, 393.75A3-TAOL | Yes |
| 82184275 | Jul 16, 2024 | IN | 2 | CHARLESTOWN IN |
INTERNATIONAL STRAIGHT TRUCK
|
5 | 393.100(b), 393.9(a) | Yes |
| 81793776 | Jun 4, 2024 | KY | 2 | LOUISVILLE |
INTERNATIONAL STRAIGHT TRUCK
|
5 | 393.100(b), 383.23(a)(2), 391.41(a)(1) | Yes |
| 78342692 | Apr 12, 2023 | IN | 2 | — | — | 7 | 392.2, 393.78, 393.9(a) | No |
Recent Crashes (3 rows)
| Report # | Date ▼ | State | Fatalities | Injuries | Tow | Hazmat | Severity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IN0901609512 | Mar 23, 2011 | IN | 0 | 1 | Yes | No | Injury |
| IN0900708306 | Jul 18, 2007 | IN | 0 | 0 | Yes | No | Tow |
| KY000084266A | Aug 20, 1998 | KY | 0 | 1 | No | No | Injury |
Top Stations & Violation Codes Where this carrier gets inspected and what they get cited for
Most-Inspected Stations
| Station | State | Inspections | OOS |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHARLESTOWN IN | IN | 3 | 3 |
| JEFFERSONVILLE IN | IN | 1 | 1 |
| LOUISVILLE | KY | 1 | 1 |
Top Violation Codes Cited
| Code | Description | Category | Cited | OOS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 393.9(a) | Inoperable required lamps | Vehicle Maintenance | 5 | 0 |
| 392.2 | Violation of Local Laws - Explain: | Unsafe Driving | 4 | 0 |
| 393.100(b) | Leaking/spilling/blowing/falling cargo | Vehicle Maintenance | 2 | 2 |
| 383.23(a)(2) | Operating a CMV without a CDL | Driver Fitness | 1 | 1 |
| 391.41(a)(1) | 391.41(a)(1) | Driver Fitness | 1 | 0 |
| 393.78 | Wipers - Inoperative / missing / damaged wipers. | Vehicle Maintenance | 1 | 0 |
| 393.95(a) | No/discharged/unsecured fire extinguisher | Vehicle Maintenance | 1 | 0 |
| 393.95(f) | Emergency Equipment - Stopped vehicle warning devices missing or improper. | Vehicle Maintenance | 1 | 0 |
| 396.17(c) | Operating a CMV without proof of a periodic inspection | Vehicle Maintenance | 1 | 0 |
Related Records Cross-references to every adjacent page
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Indiana carriers
All carriers based in Indiana
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Jeffersonville carriers
Carriers based in Jeffersonville, IN
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Stations in Indiana
Where this carrier might be inspected
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6 inspections
Full roadside inspection history
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3 reportable crashes
FMCSA MCMIS crash log
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Fleet recall search
NHTSA recalls covering this fleet's vehicle years/makes
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Open the FMCSA National Consumer Complaint form for this carrier
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How FMCSA safety ratings work
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FMCSA compliance filings guide
MCS-150, insurance, and authority filing requirements
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Roadside inspection rights
What drivers and carriers can expect during a stop
How to verify ESTES EXCAVATING INC
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 ESTES EXCAVATING INC
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Where is ESTES EXCAVATING INC based? ▾
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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.
Vehicle recall campaigns, defect investigations, and consumer safety complaints (SCRS).
Cross-border carrier registry and Canadian recall campaigns where applicable.
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.