WATKINS EXPRESS FREIGHT INC
WATKINS EXPRESS FREIGHT INC is a mid-sized fleet, operating 65 power units and 51 drivers, organized as a corporation, based in Hopkinsville, KY. Across 121 roadside inspections in the last 24 months, the fleet's 15.7% out-of-service rate sits near the 19.4% national average, with 7 reportable crashes. BMC-91 liability filing is on file with NORTHLAND INSURANCE COMPANY, and operating authority is on file.
Book with caution — review signals below
No hard OOS / revoked / uninsured blocker, but elevated risk signals need a human look before booking.
Plain-text risk summary (print / paste)
TruckCodex risk summary — WATKINS EXPRESS FREIGHT INC (USDOT 804991) 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: $750,000 Blockers: (none) Cautions: • OOS rate worse than size peers — Vehicle 32.7% vs peer 17.0% • 2 fatalities on crash record — 46 FMCSA-reportable crashes on file. On file: • Insurance on file · $750,000 — NORTHLAND INSURANCE COMPANY · 91X • BOC-3 process agent on file — ALLAMERICAN AGENTS OF PROCESS Source: https://truckcodex.com/usdot/804991/ 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 · A
Composite of 4/5 scored components (mean 85/100). Separate from booking triage on this page. Expand for per-signal evidence. Heuristic — not an FMCSA rating or legal advice.
A
confidence 80% · 4/5 signals · expand
TruckCodex filing & peer scorecard · A
Composite of 4/5 scored components (mean 85/100). 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.
Active BIPD/Primary-like policy on file in our insurance history.
Driver OOS 0% vs peer median 0% (neutral). Vehicle OOS 32.7% vs peer median 17% (worse). n=15890 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 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.
1 active liability filing
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.
Based on FMCSA authority grant of 2002-10-01 (2,000+ days). Published gates only — not a guarantee they will accept. Confirm with the broker.
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InsuranceNORTHLAND INSURANCE COMPANYPolicy effective Oct 1, 2022
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Process AgentALLAMERICAN AGENTS OF PROCESSBOC-3 on file
Fleet details (MCS-150)
| Vehicle type | Owned | Term leased | Trip leased |
|---|---|---|---|
| Truck tractors | 65 | 0 | 0 |
| Trailers | 186 | 0 | 0 |
Self-reported on the carrier’s Form MCS-150 (FMCSA Company Census).
Accident reports (24 months)
All 46 crashes →| Last 6 months | 6–12 months | 12–24 months | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fatalities | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Injuries | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Tow-away | 0 | 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Crash reports | 0 | 1 | 6 | 7 |
Reportable crashes from FMCSA MCMIS for the trailing 24 months. Counts may differ slightly from SAFER due to reporting lag.
Inspections (24 months)
All 236 inspections →| Driver | Vehicle | Hazmat | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inspections | 121 | 121 | 0 |
| OOS inspections | 1 | 18 | 0 |
| OOS percentage | 0.83% | 14.88% | — |
| 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
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.
WATKINS EXPRESS FREIGHT INC had 121 roadside inspections over the past 24 months with an out-of-service rate of 15.7%, which is below the national average of 19.4%. Their highest FMCSA BASIC percentile is vehicle_maint at 5.0. 7 reportable crashes occurred in the same 24-month window.
121 roadside inspections over the last 24 months, concentrated in TN (45) and AR (11).
15.7% out-of-service rate, near the 19.4% national average; led by Unsafe Driving (0.0% of violations); top code 392.2 (Violation of Local Laws) cited 33 times.
The fleet comprises 65 power units (mid-sized fleet) and 51 drivers; Freightliner, Van guard, and Western Star are the most-inspected makes.
Risk Signals
Out-of-Service rate vs same-size peers FMCSA roadside inspections, % placed out-of-service
Compared against 15,890 ACTIVE carriers operating 32–98 power units (±50% of this carrier's 65 unit fleet).
Inspection Analytics Monthly activity · BASIC mix · state map
Monthly Inspection Activity (37 months)
Violations by BASIC Category
Activity by State
| State | Inspections | OOS | OOS % | Last Inspection |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tennessee (TN) | 45 | 10 | 22.2% | Aug 11, 2026 |
| Arkansas (AR) | 11 | 1 | 9.1% | May 14, 2026 |
| Kentucky (KY) | 10 | 2 | 20.0% | Jun 25, 2026 |
| Missouri (MO) | 9 | 2 | 22.2% | Apr 22, 2026 |
| Indiana (IN) | 7 | 0 | 0.0% | Jun 10, 2026 |
| North Carolina (NC) | 5 | 0 | 0.0% | Apr 2, 2026 |
| Georgia (GA) | 5 | 0 | 0.0% | Sep 10, 2026 |
| Maryland (MD) | 4 | 1 | 25.0% | Aug 26, 2026 |
| Texas (TX) | 4 | 1 | 25.0% | Jun 2, 2026 |
| Ohio (OH) | 3 | 0 | 0.0% | May 28, 2026 |
| Illinois (IL) | 3 | 0 | 0.0% | May 13, 2025 |
| South Dakota (SD) | 3 | 1 | 33.3% | Feb 4, 2026 |
| Mississippi (MS) | 3 | 0 | 0.0% | Feb 26, 2026 |
| West Virginia (WV) | 1 | 0 | 0.0% | Oct 2, 2025 |
| Kansas (KS) | 1 | 0 | 0.0% | Jun 5, 2025 |
| Louisiana (LA) | 1 | 0 | 0.0% | Oct 14, 2024 |
| Minnesota (MN) | 1 | 0 | 0.0% | Aug 22, 2025 |
| Montana (MT) | 1 | 1 | 100.0% | Sep 11, 2026 |
| Pennsylvania (PA) | 1 | 0 | 0.0% | Jan 17, 2025 |
| South Carolina (SC) | 1 | 0 | 0.0% | Apr 20, 2026 |
| Washington (WA) | 1 | 0 | 0.0% | Jul 17, 2025 |
| Alabama (AL) | 1 | 0 | 0.0% | Apr 8, 2026 |
Vehicle Fleet Top makes and models observed in roadside inspections
| Make | Model | Inspections |
|---|---|---|
| Freightliner | 144 | |
| Vanguard | 114 | |
| Western Star | 47 | |
| Hyundai Translead | 38 | |
| Unknown | 9 | |
| Vang | 6 |
SMS BASIC Scores FMCSA Safety Measurement System per-BASIC scores
| BASIC | Inspections | Serious | Measure | Percentile | Alert | As Of |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Driver Fitness | 0 | — | 0.00 | 0 | — | Sep 14, 2026 |
| Controlled Substances / Alcohol | 0 | — | 0.00 | 0 | — | Sep 14, 2026 |
| Hours of Service | 18 | — | 0.91 | 1 | — | Sep 14, 2026 |
| Unsafe Driving | 21 | — | 3.05 | 3 | — | Sep 14, 2026 |
| Vehicle Maintenance | 25 | — | 4.79 | 5 | — | 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 (238 rows) View all 236 →
| Inspection # | Date ▼ | State | Level | Station | Vehicle | Violations | Top Codes | OOS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 89004726 | Sep 11, 2026 | MT | 2 | BROADUS MT |
FREIGHTLINER TRUCK TRACTOR
|
1 | 393.75A3-TAOLTIS | Yes |
| 88981840 | Sep 10, 2026 | GA | 3 | RINGGOLD GA | — | 3 | 395.24, 392.2-SLLLR, 395.22G-ELDMFV | No |
| 88831635 | Aug 26, 2026 | MD | 1 | FROSTBURG MD |
WESTERN STAR TRUCK TRACTOR
|
0 | — | No |
| 88688273 | Aug 11, 2026 | TN | 1 | — |
WESTERN STAR TRUCK TRACTOR
|
2 | 393.106C2-C, 392.2-SLLEWA3 | Yes |
| 88674423 | Aug 10, 2026 | TN | 3 | — |
FREIGHTLINER TRUCK TRACTOR
|
1 | 392.2-SLLTCD | No |
| 88646523 | Aug 7, 2026 | TN | 3 | — | — | 0 | — | No |
| 88622085 | Aug 4, 2026 | TN | 2 | — |
FREIGHTLINER TRUCK TRACTOR
|
10 | 393.75A2-TAOBB, 396.7A-UOC, 396.3A1-F | No |
| 88471415 | Jul 20, 2026 | MD | 1 | — |
FREIGHTLINER TRUCK TRACTOR
|
2 | 393.45B2-BHTD, 392.2-SLLED | Yes |
| 88241943 | Jun 25, 2026 | KY | 1 | — |
FREIGHTLINER TRUCK TRACTOR
|
1 | 392.2-SLLEWA2 | No |
| 88247462 | Jun 24, 2026 | TN | 1 | — |
FREIGHTLINER TRUCK TRACTOR
|
1 | 393.75A3-TAOL | Yes |
| 88221700 | Jun 24, 2026 | KY | 1 | — |
FREIGHTLINER TRUCK TRACTOR
|
4 | 392.2-SLLEWA2, 393.47E, 393.9A-LSLI | No |
| 88236302 | Jun 23, 2026 | TN | 3 | — |
FREIGHTLINER TRUCK TRACTOR
|
0 | — | No |
| 88192925 | Jun 17, 2026 | TN | 3 | — |
WESTERN STAR TRUCK TRACTOR
|
2 | 392.2-SLLTCD, 395.8E1PC | No |
| 88101536 | Jun 10, 2026 | IN | 3 | — |
FREIGHTLINER TRUCK TRACTOR
|
1 | 392.2-SLLS2 | No |
| 88107675 | Jun 9, 2026 | TN | 3 | — |
FREIGHTLINER TRUCK TRACTOR
|
0 | — | No |
| 88032610 | Jun 2, 2026 | TX | 2 | — |
WESTERN STAR TRUCK TRACTOR
|
1 | 393.9 | Yes |
| 87996510 | May 28, 2026 | OH | 3 | — |
FREIGHTLINER TRUCK TRACTOR
|
0 | — | No |
| 87860397 | May 14, 2026 | AR | 1 | — |
FREIGHTLINER TRUCK TRACTOR
|
1 | 393.75A2-TAOBB | Yes |
| 87844266 | May 12, 2026 | TN | 1 | — |
FREIGHTLINER TRUCK TRACTOR
|
1 | 393.78 | No |
| 87830233 | May 11, 2026 | TN | 3 | — |
FREIGHTLINER TRUCK TRACTOR
|
1 | 395.3A2-HOSPD | No |
| 87719504 | Apr 29, 2026 | TN | 1 | MANCHESTER TN |
FREIGHTLINER TRUCK TRACTOR
|
4 | 75A3-TAOL, 3AII, 3A1-HOSPD | Yes |
| 87681572 | Apr 24, 2026 | TN | 3 | MANCHESTER TN |
FREIGHTLINER TRUCK TRACTOR
|
0 | — | No |
| 87646517 | Apr 22, 2026 | MO | 2 | ST. LOUIS MO |
FREIGHTLINER TRUCK TRACTOR
|
0 | — | No |
| 87632542 | Apr 20, 2026 | SC | 3 | GREENWOOD SC |
FREIGHTLINER TRUCK TRACTOR
|
1 | 2-SLLS1 | No |
| 87611223 | Apr 16, 2026 | TN | 3 | ARDMORE TN |
FREIGHTLINER TRUCK TRACTOR
|
2 | 3A2-HOSPRNC, 2-SLLTCD | Yes |
Recent Crashes (46 rows) View all 46 →
| Report # | Date ▼ | State | Fatalities | Injuries | Tow | Hazmat | Severity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WV0202522108 | Oct 2, 2025 | WV | 0 | 0 | Yes | No | Tow |
| MS2025037615 | Jul 6, 2025 | MS | 0 | 0 | Yes | No | Tow |
| PA504064700X | Apr 30, 2025 | PA | 0 | 0 | Yes | No | Tow |
| TN0400211101 | Jan 21, 2025 | TN | 1 | 1 | Yes | No | Fatal |
| GA0009752323 | Jan 14, 2025 | GA | 0 | 0 | Yes | No | Tow |
| ILX003615418 | Oct 29, 2024 | IL | 0 | 1 | No | No | Injury |
| TN0400161373 | Oct 11, 2024 | TN | 0 | 0 | Yes | No | Tow |
| KY0073077293 | Aug 12, 2024 | KY | 0 | 3 | Yes | No | Injury |
| TN0400107041 | Jun 20, 2024 | TN | 0 | 1 | Yes | No | Injury |
| KY0073025004 | Apr 1, 2024 | KY | 0 | 1 | Yes | No | Injury |
| LA2023128999 | Oct 31, 2023 | LA | 0 | 0 | Yes | No | Tow |
| AR2022549500 | Aug 23, 2022 | AR | 0 | 0 | Yes | No | Tow |
| MO0000096502 | Apr 17, 2022 | MO | 0 | 0 | Yes | No | Tow |
| AR2022517972 | Mar 29, 2022 | AR | 0 | 0 | Yes | No | Tow |
| TX65Q8HQE12H | Oct 26, 2021 | TX | 1 | 2 | Yes | No | Fatal |
| PA105216200X | May 5, 2021 | PA | 0 | 0 | Yes | No | Tow |
| TN0102959241 | Apr 23, 2021 | TN | 0 | 0 | Yes | No | Tow |
| KY0072597058 | Feb 17, 2021 | KY | 0 | 0 | Yes | No | Tow |
| KY0072588970 | Jan 28, 2021 | KY | 0 | 0 | Yes | No | Tow |
| AL0000703727 | Oct 15, 2020 | AL | 0 | 0 | Yes | No | Tow |
| TN0102553829 | Oct 31, 2019 | TN | 0 | 0 | Yes | No | Tow |
| MO0000082467 | Oct 27, 2019 | MO | 0 | 0 | Yes | No | Tow |
| TX5KS7HQE1TQ | Sep 29, 2019 | TX | 0 | 0 | Yes | No | Tow |
| KY0072386958 | Jul 31, 2019 | KY | 0 | 0 | Yes | No | Tow |
| TX5G3FHQE1DP | Apr 19, 2019 | TX | 0 | 1 | Yes | No | Injury |
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 | MC440782 | common | N | — |
Insurance Coverage Timeline (11 rows)
Every insurance policy on file, newest effective date first. Amber rows mark BIPD/Primary coverage gaps.
| Insurer | Policy # | Type | Limit | Effective | Cancel | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NORTHLAND INSURANCE COMPANY | WF012754 | 91X | $750,000 | Oct 1, 2022 | On file | ACTIVE |
| SENTRY SELECT INSURANCE COMPANY | A0158911001 | BIPD/Primary | — | Sep 23, 2020 | Oct 1, 2022 | REPLACED |
| SENTRY SELECT INSURANCE COMPANY | A0011510001 | BIPD/Primary | — | Sep 23, 2016 | Sep 23, 2020 | REPLACED |
| WESTFIELD INSURANCE CO. | CSP 3 121 005 | BIPD/Primary | — | Sep 23, 2014 | Sep 23, 2016 | REPLACED |
| NATIONAL CASUALTY COMPANY | LTO0003992 | BIPD/Primary | — | Sep 23, 2011 | Sep 23, 2014 | REPLACED |
| GREAT WEST CASUALTY CO. | GWP57795A | BIPD/Primary | — | Sep 23, 2008 | Sep 23, 2011 | REPLACED |
| GREAT WEST CASUALTY CO. | GWP57795A | BIPD/Primary | — | Sep 23, 2008 | Oct 28, 2011 | CANCELLED |
| OCCIDENTAL FIRE AND CASUALTY CO. OF N.C. | BA 068 21 95 | BIPD/Primary | — | May 8, 2007 | Sep 23, 2008 | REPLACED |
| OCCIDENTAL FIRE AND CASUALTY CO. OF N.C. | BA 068 21 95 | BIPD/Primary | — | May 8, 2007 | May 8, 2007 | REPLACED |
| OCCIDENTAL FIRE AND CASUALTY CO. OF N.C. | BA 67 08 95 | CARGO | — | Sep 23, 2002 | Apr 12, 2007 | CANCELLED |
| OCCIDENTAL FIRE AND CASUALTY CO. OF N.C. | BA 67 08 95 | BIPD/Primary | — | Sep 23, 2002 | May 8, 2007 | REPLACED |
Compliance Timeline Merged authority / insurance / enforcement events
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Oct 1, 2022insuranceTERM/REPL — SENTRY SELECT INSURANCE COMPANY
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Sep 23, 2020insuranceTERM/REPL — SENTRY SELECT INSURANCE COMPANY
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Sep 23, 2016insuranceTERM/REPL — WESTFIELD INSURANCE CO.
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Sep 23, 2014insuranceTERM/REPL — NATIONAL CASUALTY COMPANY
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Oct 28, 2011insuranceTERM/CANCL — GREAT WEST CASUALTY CO.
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Sep 23, 2011insuranceTERM/REPL — GREAT WEST CASUALTY CO.
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Sep 23, 2008insuranceTERM/REPL — OCCIDENTAL FIRE AND CASUALTY CO. OF N.C.
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May 8, 2007insuranceTERM/REPL — OCCIDENTAL FIRE AND CASUALTY CO. OF N.C.
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May 8, 2007insuranceTERM/REPL — OCCIDENTAL FIRE AND CASUALTY CO. OF N.C.
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Apr 12, 2007insuranceCANCEL — OCCIDENTAL FIRE AND CASUALTY CO. OF N.C.
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Oct 1, 2002
Top Stations & Violation Codes Where this carrier gets inspected and what they get cited for
Most-Inspected Stations
| Station | State | Inspections | OOS |
|---|---|---|---|
| MANCHESTER TN | TN | 12 | 4 |
| HOPE AR | AR | 7 | 0 |
| CHARLESTON MO | MO | 5 | 0 |
| ARDMORE TN | TN | 5 | 1 |
| MOREHEAD | KY | 4 | 1 |
| KNOXVILLE TN | TN | 4 | 2 |
| ROADSIDE | AL | 3 | 0 |
| EDDYVILLE | KY | 3 | 2 |
| FROSTBURG MD | MD | 3 | 0 |
| STEELE MO | MO | 3 | 1 |
Top Violation Codes Cited
| Code | Description | Category | Cited | OOS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 392.2 | Violation of Local Laws | Unsafe Driving | 33 | 0 |
| 395.24(c)(2)(iii) | Driver failed to manually add shipping document number | Hours of Service | 9 | 0 |
| 393.9(a) | Inoperable required lamps | Vehicle Maintenance | 6 | 3 |
| 395.8(e)(1) | Making, or permitting a driver to make, a false report regarding duty status | Hours of Service | 4 | 0 |
| 393.47(e) | Brake Out of Adjustment - Roto, Clamp (Short & Long), DD-3, or Bolt | Vehicle Maintenance | 3 | 0 |
| 393.48(a) | Inoperative/defective brakes | Vehicle Maintenance | 3 | 0 |
| 393.53(b) | CMV manufactured after 10/19/94 has an automatic airbrake adjustment system that fails to compensate for wear | Vehicle Maintenance | 3 | 0 |
| 393.75(a)(3) | Tire-flat and/or audible air leak | Vehicle Maintenance | 3 | 3 |
| 396.3(a)(1) | Inspection, repair and maintenance of parts and accessories | Vehicle Maintenance | 3 | 1 |
| 393.203 | Cab/body parts requirements violations | Vehicle Maintenance | 2 | 0 |
Related Records
All cross-references Authority, BOC-3, explainers, and more
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Field change history
History-watch change dates and as-of snapshots
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Kentucky carriers
All carriers based in Kentucky
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Hopkinsville carriers
Carriers based in Hopkinsville, KY
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Stations in Kentucky
Where this carrier might be inspected
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Docket MC440782
common · N · MC
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NORTHLAND INSURANCE COMPANY
91X policy on file
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SENTRY SELECT INSURANCE COMPANY
BIPD/Primary policy on file
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WESTFIELD INSURANCE CO.
BIPD/Primary policy on file
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NATIONAL CASUALTY COMPANY
BIPD/Primary policy on file
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GREAT WEST CASUALTY CO.
BIPD/Primary policy on file
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OCCIDENTAL FIRE AND CASUALTY CO. OF N.C.
BIPD/Primary policy on file
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ALLAMERICAN AGENTS OF PROCESS
BOC-3 process agent · 107,840 carriers served
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236 inspections
Full roadside inspection history
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46 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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Insurance-lapse watch
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BOC-3 process agents explained
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FMCSA compliance filings guide
MCS-150, insurance, and authority filing requirements
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Roadside inspection rights
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