R & F METALS INC
CLINTON, MD
DBA: R & F METALS & BETTER THAN WOOD
R & F METALS INC is a mid-sized fleet, operating 26 power units and 28 drivers, organized as a corporation, based in Clinton, MD. Across 25 roadside inspections in the last 24 months, the fleet's 24.0% out-of-service rate sits above the 19.4% national average, with no reportable crashes on file. An active insurance filing is on record, and no operating authority record was located.
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 2.90% vs peer 0.00% · Vehicle 26.5% vs peer 15.0% Details →
- Satisfactory FMCSA safety rating
Plain-text risk summary (print / paste)
TruckCodex risk summary — R & F METALS INC (USDOT 385645) 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 Blockers: (none) Cautions: • OOS rate worse than size peers — Driver 2.90% vs peer 0.00% · Vehicle 26.5% vs peer 15.0% On file: • Satisfactory FMCSA safety rating Source: https://truckcodex.com/usdot/385645/ As of: Sep 20, 2026 Always confirm on FMCSA SAFER and L&I before tendering — TruckCodex mirrors public filings and can lag by up to a day.
TruckCodex · filing & peer scorecard
TruckCodex filing & peer scorecard · B
Composite of 4/5 scored components (mean 79/100). Separate from booking triage on this page. Expand for per-signal evidence. Heuristic — not an FMCSA rating or legal advice.
B
confidence 80% · 4/5 signals · expand
TruckCodex filing & peer scorecard · B
Composite of 4/5 scored components (mean 79/100). Separate from booking triage on this page. 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 2.9% vs peer median 0% (worse). Vehicle OOS 26.5% vs peer median 15% (worse). n=37107 same-size ACTIVE peers.
Official FMCSA Satisfactory safety rating.
No BMC-91 insurance-lapse watch classification on file for this USDOT.
TruckCodex filing & peer scorecard from authority, BIPD, peer OOS, FMCSA safety rating, and insurance-watch signals. Not a booking verdict and 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.
No active broker surety bond or trust fund on file.
BMC-84 is a surety bond; BMC-85 is a trust-fund agreement. Required for property brokers / freight forwarders — not motor-carrier BIPD liability insurance.
Fleet details (MCS-150)
| Vehicle type | Owned | Term leased | Trip leased |
|---|---|---|---|
| Truck tractors | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Trailers | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Trucks | 23 | 0 | 0 |
Self-reported on the carrier’s Form MCS-150 (FMCSA Company Census).
Inspections (24 months)
All 50 inspections →| Driver | Vehicle | Hazmat | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inspections | 25 | 25 | 0 |
| OOS inspections | 1 | 5 | 0 |
| OOS percentage | 4% | 20% | — |
| National average | 6.7% | 23.4% | 4.4% |
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 Status notes, risk intelligence, and safety profiles
R & F METALS & BETTER THAN WOOD had 25 roadside inspections over the past 24 months with an out-of-service rate of 24.0%, which is above the national average of 19.4%. Their highest FMCSA BASIC percentile is vehicle_maint at 2.0.
25 roadside inspections over the last 24 months, concentrated in MD (23) and VA (1).
24.0% out-of-service rate, above the 19.4% national average; led by Vehicle Maintenance (26.3% of violations); top code 393.9(a) (Inoperable required lamps) cited 4 times.
The fleet comprises 26 power units (mid-sized fleet) and 28 drivers; Ford, Freightliner, and Courier are the most-inspected makes.
Risk Signals
Out-of-Service rate vs same-size peers FMCSA roadside inspections, % placed out-of-service
Compared against 37,107 ACTIVE carriers operating 13–39 power units (±50% of this carrier's 26 unit fleet).
Inspection Analytics Monthly activity · BASIC mix · state map
Monthly Inspection Activity (28 months)
Violations by BASIC Category
Activity by State
| State | Inspections | OOS | OOS % | Last Inspection |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland (MD) | 23 | 6 | 26.1% | Jun 2, 2026 |
| Virginia (VA) | 1 | 0 | 0.0% | Jul 13, 2026 |
| West Virginia (WV) | 1 | 0 | 0.0% | Feb 26, 2026 |
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 | 2 | — | 0.22 | 0 | — | Sep 14, 2026 |
| Controlled Substances / Alcohol | 0 | — | 0.00 | 0 | — | Sep 14, 2026 |
| Hours of Service | 0 | — | 0.00 | 0 | — | Sep 14, 2026 |
| Unsafe Driving | 4 | — | 1.47 | 1 | — | Sep 14, 2026 |
| Vehicle Maintenance | 14 | — | 2.03 | 2 | — | Sep 14, 2026 |
Higher percentiles indicate worse performance relative to peer carriers. Carriers at or above the FMCSA intervention threshold are marked ALERT.
Recent Inspections (50 rows) View all 50 →
| Inspection # | Date ▼ | State | Level | Station | Vehicle | Violations | Top Codes | OOS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 88395634 | Jul 13, 2026 | VA | 2 | — |
FORD STRAIGHT TRUCK
|
1 | 396.17C-PI | No |
| 88026924 | Jun 2, 2026 | MD | 1 | — |
INTERNATIONAL STRAIGHT TRUCK
|
0 | — | No |
| 87722598 | Apr 27, 2026 | MD | 2 | CALVERTON MD |
FORD STRAIGHT TRUCK
|
0 | — | No |
| 87173077 | Feb 27, 2026 | MD | 2 | HYATTSVILLE MD |
FORD STRAIGHT TRUCK
|
3 | 392.2-SLLTCD, 393.60C, 392.2-SLLEQP | No |
| 87148012 | Feb 26, 2026 | WV | 2 | KEARNEYSVILLE WV |
FREIGHTLINER TRUCK TRACTOR
|
1 | 392.2-SLLTL | No |
| 87108750 | Feb 18, 2026 | MD | 2 | BALTIMORE MD |
FORD STRAIGHT TRUCK
|
1 | 393.100B-C | Yes |
| 86810523 | Jan 14, 2026 | MD | 2 | SILVER SPRING MD |
FORD STRAIGHT TRUCK
|
1 | 393.87A-FPLR | Yes |
| 86773064 | Jan 8, 2026 | MD | 2 | BALTIMORE MD |
INTERNATIONAL STRAIGHT TRUCK
|
0 | — | No |
| 86611666 | Dec 17, 2025 | MD | 1 | CLARKSBURG MD |
FORD STRAIGHT TRUCK
|
1 | 393.205C-WRAWFLMIB | No |
| 85956041 | Oct 2, 2025 | MD | 2 | CLARKSBURG MD |
FORD STRAIGHT TRUCK
|
2 | 393.9A-HLLH, 393.9A-LSML | No |
| 85897006 | Sep 23, 2025 | MD | 2 | CLARKSBURG MD |
FORD STRAIGHT TRUCK
Ticket: Courier
|
0 | — | No |
| 85758706 | Sep 9, 2025 | MD | 2 | FREDERICK MD |
FORD STRAIGHT TRUCK
|
0 | — | No |
| 85730478 | Sep 5, 2025 | MD | 2 | DERWOOD MD |
FORD STRAIGHT TRUCK
|
2 | 393.87A-FPLR, 393.95A4-EEUS | Yes |
| 85720390 | Sep 4, 2025 | MD | 1 | BALTIMORE MD |
INTERNATIONAL STRAIGHT TRUCK
|
0 | — | No |
| 85630538 | Aug 25, 2025 | MD | 2 | CLARKSBURG MD |
FORD STRAIGHT TRUCK
|
0 | — | No |
| 85270205 | Jul 16, 2025 | MD | 2 | SPARKS GLENCOE MD |
FORD STRAIGHT TRUCK
|
0 | — | No |
| 84978277 | Jun 12, 2025 | MD | 1 | BRANDYWINE MD |
FORD STRAIGHT TRUCK
|
2 | 393.75C-TAOTD-LT2/32, 393.9A-LIL | No |
| 84579195 | May 2, 2025 | MD | 2 | SYKESVILLE MD |
FORD STRAIGHT TRUCK
|
1 | 393.100B-C | Yes |
| 84280151 | Apr 1, 2025 | MD | 2 | CLARKSBURG MD |
FORD STRAIGHT TRUCK
Ticket: Courier
|
3 | 391.41APC, 393.9A-LRLI, 392.16B-DPASS | Yes |
| 84155791 | Mar 18, 2025 | MD | 1 | PRINCE GEORGES COUNTY |
FORD STRAIGHT TRUCK
|
2 | 393.78A-WS, 393.95A1 | No |
| 84088530 | Mar 7, 2025 | MD | 1 | md-i-270-s/b-hyattstown-scalehous |
ISUZU STRAIGHT TRUCK
|
2 | 393.78, 393.9A-LHLI | No |
| 83656588 | Jan 21, 2025 | MD | 2 | PRINCE GEORGES COUNTY |
FORD STRAIGHT TRUCK
|
0 | — | No |
| 83386935 | Dec 13, 2024 | MD | 2 | md-i-270-s/b-hyattstown-scalehous |
FORD STRAIGHT TRUCK
|
3 | 392.2-SLLTCD, 393.95F, 393.9A-LIL | No |
| 83386756 | Dec 13, 2024 | MD | 2 | PRINCE GEORGES COUNTY |
FORD STRAIGHT TRUCK
|
1 | 393.87A-FPLR | Yes |
| 82951196 | Oct 21, 2024 | MD | 1 | md-park-&-ride-scale-i-95-@-i-495 |
FORD STRAIGHT TRUCK
|
0 | — | No |
Recent Crashes (8 rows)
| Report # | Date ▼ | State | Fatalities | Injuries | Tow | Hazmat | Severity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MD20A0738875 | Oct 27, 2020 | MD | 0 | 1 | Yes | No | Injury |
| MD19A0640126 | Oct 25, 2019 | MD | 0 | 0 | Yes | No | Tow |
| MD19A0626301 | Oct 3, 2019 | MD | 0 | 1 | Yes | No | Injury |
| MD19A0618371 | Sep 3, 2019 | MD | 0 | 0 | Yes | No | Tow |
| VA0172345083 | Aug 21, 2017 | VA | 0 | 0 | Yes | No | Tow |
| MD15A0172944 | Dec 7, 2015 | MD | 0 | 0 | Yes | No | Tow |
| VA0103625026 | Dec 23, 2010 | VA | 0 | 1 | Yes | No | Injury |
| MD0007677893 | Aug 21, 1997 | MD | 0 | 1 | Yes | No | Injury |
Top Stations & Violation Codes Where this carrier gets inspected and what they get cited for
Most-Inspected Stations
| Station | State | Inspections | OOS |
|---|---|---|---|
| CLARKSBURG MD | MD | 5 | 1 |
| PRINCE GEORGES COUNTY | MD | 4 | 1 |
| ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY | MD | 3 | 0 |
| BALTIMORE MD | MD | 3 | 1 |
| MIDDLETOWN DE | DE | 2 | 1 |
| DUMFRIES SCALES NORTH | VA | 2 | 0 |
| WASHINGTON DC | DC | 1 | 0 |
| BALTIMORE CITY | MD | 1 | 1 |
| BALTIMORE COUNTY | MD | 1 | 0 |
| BRANDYWINE MD | MD | 1 | 0 |
Top Violation Codes Cited
| Code | Description | Category | Cited | OOS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 393.9(a) | Inoperable required lamps | Vehicle Maintenance | 4 | 0 |
| 392.2 | Violation of Local Laws | Unsafe Driving | 2 | 0 |
| 393.47(a) | Inadequate brakes for safe stopping - Brake Lining condition | Vehicle Maintenance | 2 | 0 |
| 396.17(c) | Operating a CMV without proof of a periodic inspection | Vehicle Maintenance | 2 | 0 |
| 391.45(b) | Expired medical examiner's certificate | Driver Fitness | 1 | 0 |
| 393.104(b) | Damaged securement system/tiedowns | Vehicle Maintenance | 1 | 0 |
| 393.110(b) | Insufficient tiedowns to prevent forward movement for load not blocked by headerboard, bulkhead, or other cargo. | Vehicle Maintenance | 1 | 1 |
| 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 |
| 393.53(b) | CMV manufactured after 10/19/94 has an automatic airbrake adjustment system that fails to compensate for wear | Vehicle Maintenance | 1 | 0 |
Related Records
All cross-references Authority, BOC-3, explainers, and more
-
Maryland carriers
All carriers based in Maryland
-
Clinton carriers
Carriers based in Clinton, MD
-
Stations in Maryland
Where this carrier might be inspected
-
50 inspections
Full roadside inspection history
-
8 reportable crashes
FMCSA MCMIS crash log
-
Fleet recall search
NHTSA recalls covering this fleet's vehicle years/makes
-
File a complaint
Open the FMCSA National Consumer Complaint form for this carrier
-
Certificate lookup
Look up any FMCSA authority by MC/MX/FF docket number
-
All state carrier directories
Browse carriers in every US/CA/MX jurisdiction
-
How FMCSA safety ratings work
BASIC percentiles and compliance review context
-
BOC-3 process agents explained
Why every interstate carrier must file a process agent
-
FMCSA compliance filings guide
MCS-150, insurance, and authority filing requirements
-
Roadside inspection rights
What drivers and carriers can expect during a stop