CARSTENS EXPRESS LLC
Book with caution — review signals below
No hard OOS / revoked / uninsured blocker, but elevated risk signals need a human look before booking.
- Contract (Property) gap · 64 days Inactive Oct 21, 2025 → reinstated Dec 24, 2025
- OOS rate worse than size peers Driver and/or vehicle out-of-service rate is above the peer median.
Plain-text risk summary (print / paste)
TruckCodex risk summary — CARSTENS EXPRESS LLC (USDOT 3385236) 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): KYLE CARSTENS (Company officer) Blockers: (none) Cautions: • Contract (Property) gap · 64 days — Inactive Oct 21, 2025 → reinstated Dec 24, 2025 • OOS rate worse than size peers — Driver and/or vehicle out-of-service rate is above the peer median. On file: • Insurance on file · $1,000,000 — TEXAS INSURANCE COMPANY · 91X • BOC-3 process agent on file — DOTPROCESSAGENTS.COM LLC Source: https://truckcodex.com/usdot/3385236/ 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 4/5 scored components (mean 85/100). Expand for per-signal evidence. Heuristic — not an FMCSA rating or legal advice.
A
confidence 80% · 4/5 signals
Compliance grade A
Composite of 4/5 scored components (mean 85/100). 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.
Active BIPD/Primary-like policy on file in our insurance history.
Driver OOS 0% vs peer median 0% (neutral). Vehicle OOS 40% vs peer median 0% (worse). n=132128 same-size ACTIVE peers.
FMCSA has not assigned this carrier a formal safety rating. We do not invent one.
NR reason: No published FMCSA 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.
1 active liability policy
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.
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InsuranceTEXAS INSURANCE COMPANYPolicy effective Oct 28, 2025
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Process AgentDOTPROCESSAGENTS.COM LLCBOC-3 on file
Fleet details (MCS-150)
| Vehicle type | Owned | Term leased | Trip leased |
|---|---|---|---|
| Truck tractors | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Trailers | 0 | 2 | 0 |
Self-reported on the carrier’s Form MCS-150 (FMCSA Company Census).
Accident reports (24 months)
All 1 crashes →| Last 6 months | 6–12 months | 12–24 months | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fatalities | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Injuries | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tow-away | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Crash reports | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Reportable crashes from FMCSA MCMIS for the trailing 24 months. Counts may differ slightly from SAFER due to reporting lag.
Inspections (24 months)
All 21 inspections →| Driver | Vehicle | Hazmat | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inspections | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| OOS inspections | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| OOS percentage | 0% | 11.11% | — |
| 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
CARSTENS EXPRESS LLC is a motor carrier based in FONTANELLE, IA, registered with the FMCSA under USDOT 3385236. The carrier is currently active in FMCSA's records, and has not yet received a formal FMCSA safety rating. MCS-150 self-reporting puts the fleet at 6 power units and 4 drivers, with 21 roadside inspections on file and a peak out-of-service rate of 40.0%. 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 is unrated
FMCSA has not assigned this carrier a formal safety rating. Use the inspection history and BASIC scores below to assess on-road performance.
CARSTENS EXPRESS LLC is a small fleet, operating 6 power units and 4 drivers, based in Fontanelle, IA. Across 10 roadside inspections in the last 24 months, the fleet recorded a 10.0% out-of-service rate, with 1 reportable crash. all filed authority types (contract) are currently revoked.
10 roadside inspections over the last 24 months, down 9% versus the prior 24 months, concentrated in IA (5) and ND (1), with Level 3 inspections the most common.
10.0% out-of-service rate; led by Unsafe Driving (42.9% of violations); top code 392.2 (Operating a CMV while ill or fatigued) cited 5 times.
The fleet comprises 6 power units (small fleet) and 4 drivers; Kenworth, Wilx, and Unknown are the most-inspected makes.
Risk Signals
Out-of-Service rate vs same-size peers FMCSA roadside inspections, % placed out-of-service
Compared against 132,128 ACTIVE carriers operating 3–9 power units (±50% of this carrier's 6 unit fleet).
Authority gap detected (1)
- Contract (Property) authority was inactive from Oct 21, 2025 to Dec 24, 2025 (64 days)
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa (IA) | 4 | 0 | 0.0% | Oct 28, 2025 |
| Kansas (KS) | 1 | 0 | 0.0% | May 28, 2025 |
| Missouri (MO) | 1 | 1 | 100.0% | Mar 25, 2025 |
| North Dakota (ND) | 1 | 0 | 0.0% | Aug 21, 2025 |
| Nebraska (NE) | 1 | 0 | 0.0% | Aug 5, 2024 |
| South Dakota (SD) | 1 | 0 | 0.0% | Sep 9, 2024 |
Vehicle Fleet Top makes and models observed in roadside inspections
SMS BASIC Scores FMCSA Safety Measurement System per-BASIC scores
| BASIC | Inspections | Serious | Measure | Percentile | Alert | As Of |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Driver Fitness | 0 | — | 0.00 | 0 | — | Jul 13, 2026 |
| Controlled Substances / Alcohol | 0 | — | 0.00 | 0 | — | Jul 13, 2026 |
| Hours of Service | 1 | — | 0.18 | 0 | — | Jul 13, 2026 |
| Unsafe Driving | 4 | — | 3.62 | 4 | — | Jul 13, 2026 |
| Vehicle Maintenance | 3 | — | 7.50 | 8 | — | 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 (21 rows) View all 21 →
| Inspection # | Date ▼ | State | Level | Station | Vehicle | Violations | Top Codes | OOS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 86180306 | Oct 28, 2025 | IA | 2 | — |
KENWORTH TRUCK TRACTOR
|
6 | 396.17C, 393.78, 392.8 | No |
| 85571786 | Aug 21, 2025 | ND | 2 | BOWMAN ND |
KENWORTH TRUCK TRACTOR
|
3 | 395.8A | No |
| 85039845 | Jun 24, 2025 | IA | 3 | — |
KENWORTH TRUCK TRACTOR
|
1 | 392.2-SLLEWG3 | No |
| 84814045 | May 28, 2025 | KS | 2 | ks-liberal-m.c.i.s.-#37a |
KENWORTH STRAIGHT TRUCK
|
2 | 393.11A1-CSLRR | No |
| 84221919 | Mar 25, 2025 | MO | 2 | EAGLEVILLE MO |
KENWORTH TRUCK TRACTOR
|
3 | 393.9A-LTSI, 393.81-H, 393.11A1-CSURR | Yes |
| 83466462 | Dec 16, 2024 | IA | 3 | US 30 E 4 MM |
KENWORTH SEMI-TRAILER
|
1 | 392.2-SLLS2 | No |
| 82607052 | Sep 9, 2024 | SD | 3 | CLEAR LAKE SD |
KENWORTH TRUCK TRACTOR
|
0 | — | No |
| 82302126 | Aug 5, 2024 | NE | 3 | — |
KENWORTH TRUCK TRACTOR
|
1 | 392.2 | No |
| 82203742 | Jul 24, 2024 | IA | 3 | I-35 |
MACK TRUCK TRACTOR
|
2 | 392.2 | No |
| 81421591 | Apr 22, 2024 | IA | 3 | ia-10---i35-nb-mm-30-osceola |
KENWORTH TRUCK TRACTOR
|
2 | 392.2 | No |
| 81205904 | Mar 27, 2024 | SD | 2 | SISSETON SD |
KENWORTH TRUCK TRACTOR
|
3 | 393.75A3-TAOL, 393.60(c), 396.17C-PI | Yes |
| 80764388 | Feb 2, 2024 | SD | 3 | SIOUX FALLS SD |
KENWORTH TRUCK TRACTOR
|
1 | 392.2-SLLED | No |
| 80526506 | Jan 2, 2024 | IA | 3 | — |
KENWORTH TRUCK TRACTOR
|
3 | 392.2, 396.17(c) | No |
| 80449566 | Dec 11, 2023 | IA | 2 | — |
FREIGHTLINER TRUCK TRACTOR
|
3 | 393.75(a)(3), 393.9(a), 392.2 | Yes |
| 80118372 | Nov 8, 2023 | NE | 3 | — |
KENWORTH TRUCK TRACTOR
|
1 | 392.2 | No |
| 79939679 | Oct 17, 2023 | MT | 3 | BROADUS MT |
KENWORTH TRUCK TRACTOR
|
2 | 383.23A2-LCDLN, 392.2-SLLED | Yes |
| 79594477 | Sep 6, 2023 | KY | 1 | MOREHEAD |
FREIGHTLINER TRUCK TRACTOR
|
4 | 396.3(a)(1), 395.8(e)(1), 392.16(a) | Yes |
| 79224879 | Jul 23, 2023 | MT | 3 | BROADUS SCALE |
KENWORTH TRUCK TRACTOR
|
0 | — | No |
| 78942458 | Jun 17, 2023 | SD | 3 | — |
KENWORTH TRUCK TRACTOR
|
0 | — | No |
| 78690697 | May 19, 2023 | IA | 3 | HWY 71 AND 92 |
KENWORTH TRUCK TRACTOR
|
1 | 392.2 | No |
| 78600032 | May 9, 2023 | WA | 2 | wa-sc54---plymouth-(poe) |
KENWORTH TRUCK TRACTOR
|
9 | 393.9(a), 393.75(g), 393.207(f) | Yes |
Recent Crashes (1 row)
| Report # | Date ▼ | State | Fatalities | Injuries | Tow | Hazmat | Severity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IA2501474163 | Mar 20, 2025 | IA | 0 | 0 | Yes | No | Tow |
Authority Records (1 docket)
Revocations & Inactive Status
Authority actions other than active status — revocations, voluntary surrenders, and dormant dockets.
| Date | Docket | Authority | Status | Applied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unknown | MC1087106 | common | N | — |
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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 24, 2025 | MC1087106-P | REI | REINSTATEMENT | REI → |
| Aug 5, 2021 | MC1087106-P | CPL | REVOCATION | CPL → |
Insurance Coverage Timeline (5 rows)
Every insurance policy on file, newest effective date first. Amber rows mark BIPD/Primary coverage gaps.
| Insurer | Policy # | Type | Limit | Effective | Cancel | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TEXAS INSURANCE COMPANY | BBRCXLTIA011500_060548_02 | 91X | $1,000,000 | Oct 28, 2025 | On file | ACTIVE |
| TEXAS INSURANCE COMPANY | BBRCXLTIA011500_060548_02 | BIPD/Primary | — | Jul 12, 2025 | Oct 15, 2025 | CANCELLED |
| TEXAS INSURANCE COMPANY | BBRCXLTIA011400_060548_01 | BIPD/Primary | — | Oct 8, 2024 | Jul 12, 2025 | REPLACED |
| TEXAS INSURANCE COMPANY | BBRCXLTIA011400_060548_01 | BIPD/Primary | — | Jul 12, 2024 | Oct 8, 2024 | REPLACED |
| PROGRESSIVE NORTHERN INSURANCE COMPANY | CA 1314085 | BIPD/Primary | — | Jul 12, 2021 | Jul 12, 2024 | REPLACED |
Compliance Timeline Merged authority / insurance / enforcement events
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Dec 24, 2025
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Oct 21, 2025
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Oct 21, 2025authorityAuthority revoked — INVOLUNTARY REVOCATION
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Oct 21, 2025authority gapContract (Property) authority inactive: 64 days (through Dec 24, 2025)
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Oct 15, 2025insuranceCANCEL — TEXAS INSURANCE COMPANY
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Jul 12, 2025insuranceTERM/REPL — TEXAS INSURANCE COMPANY
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Oct 8, 2024insuranceTERM/REPL — TEXAS INSURANCE COMPANY
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Jul 12, 2024insuranceTERM/REPL — PROGRESSIVE NORTHERN INSURANCE COMPANY
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Feb 27, 2020
Top Stations & Violation Codes Where this carrier gets inspected and what they get cited for
Most-Inspected Stations
| Station | State | Inspections | OOS |
|---|---|---|---|
| HWY 71 AND 92 | IA | 1 | 0 |
| I-35 | IA | 1 | 0 |
| US 30 E 4 MM | IA | 1 | 0 |
| MOREHEAD | KY | 1 | 1 |
| EAGLEVILLE MO | MO | 1 | 1 |
| BROADUS MT | MT | 1 | 1 |
| BROADUS SCALE | MT | 1 | 0 |
| BOWMAN ND | ND | 1 | 0 |
| CLEAR LAKE SD | SD | 1 | 0 |
| SIOUX FALLS SD | SD | 1 | 0 |
Top Violation Codes Cited
| Code | Description | Category | Cited | OOS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 392.2 | Violation of Local Laws - Explain: | Unsafe Driving | 11 | 0 |
| 393.9(a) | Inoperable required lamps | Vehicle Maintenance | 3 | 1 |
| 396.3(a)(1) | Inspection, repair and maintenance of parts and accessories | Vehicle Maintenance | 3 | 2 |
| 392.16(a) | Failing to use seat belt (49 CFR) | Unsafe Driving | 1 | 0 |
| 392.8 | Failing to inspect/use emergency equipment | Vehicle Maintenance | 1 | 0 |
| 392.9(a)(2) | Failing to secure vehicle equipment | Vehicle Maintenance | 1 | 1 |
| 393.11 | No or defective lighting devices or reflective material as required | Vehicle Maintenance | 1 | 0 |
| 393.207(f) | Air suspension pressure loss | Vehicle Maintenance | 1 | 1 |
| 393.60(c) | Windshield - Damaged or Discolored | Vehicle Maintenance | 1 | 0 |
| 393.75(a)(3) | Tire-flat and/or audible air leak | Vehicle Maintenance | 1 | 1 |
Related Records Cross-references to every adjacent page
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Iowa carriers
All carriers based in Iowa
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Fontanelle carriers
Carriers based in Fontanelle, IA
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Stations in Iowa
Where this carrier might be inspected
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Docket MC1087106
common · N · MC
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TEXAS INSURANCE COMPANY
91X policy on file
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PROGRESSIVE NORTHERN INSURANCE COMPANY
BIPD/Primary policy on file
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DOTPROCESSAGENTS.COM LLC
BOC-3 process agent · 86,974 carriers served
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21 inspections
Full roadside inspection history
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1 reportable crash
FMCSA MCMIS crash log
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Fleet recall search
NHTSA recalls covering this fleet's vehicle years/makes
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File a complaint
Open the FMCSA National Consumer Complaint form for this carrier
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Carrier comparison tool
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Insurance-lapse watch
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How FMCSA safety ratings work
BASIC percentiles and compliance review context
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BOC-3 process agents explained
Why every interstate carrier must file a process agent
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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 CARSTENS EXPRESS LLC
- 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 CARSTENS EXPRESS LLC
Is CARSTENS EXPRESS LLC an active motor carrier? ▾
What is CARSTENS EXPRESS LLC's safety rating? ▾
How many inspections has CARSTENS EXPRESS LLC had? ▾
What is CARSTENS EXPRESS LLC's out-of-service rate? ▾
Where is CARSTENS EXPRESS LLC based? ▾
Does CARSTENS EXPRESS LLC have valid operating authority? ▾
How many trucks and drivers does CARSTENS EXPRESS LLC operate? ▾
Has CARSTENS EXPRESS LLC had any crashes? ▾
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.