CLIFF VIESSMAN INC (A SOUTH DAKOTA CORPORATION)
(605) 272-3203
timm@viessmantrucking.com
215 1st Avenue, Gary SD 57237
323
tractors
460 drivers
25.5M mi/yr · ~79k per unit
Satisfactory
FRED Score 50.2 / 100
High confidence
52 yrs history · 266 roadside inspections
FMCSA Live Status
Checking FMCSA…
Fleet & equipment
- Power units
- 323
- Drivers · CDL
- 460 · 460
- Annual miles
- 25.5M
| Type | Own | Term | Trip | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trucks | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tractors | 283 | 40 | 0 | 323 |
| Trailers | 928 | 0 | 0 | 928 |
Registration
- Organization
- CORPORATION
- FMCSA Rating
- Satisfactory (12-19-2000) · 25 yr old
- Registered
- 06-01-1974 (52 yrs)
- MCS-150 Update
- 07-24-2025 (Address Change)
- FRED Score Date
- Nov 07, 2026
- Officer
- WAYNE VIESSMAN
- Officer
- DOUGLAS VIESSMAN
Cargo
56.8
medium risk
Liquids/Gases
Meat
Refrigerated Food
General Freight
Fresh Produce
Beverages
Other: SWEETENERS
Grain/Feed/Hay
Dry Bulk
Paper Products
- High-Risk Cargo
- General Freight, Refrigerated Food, Meat
Note: "General Freight" is a catch-all; the actual cargo mix and its risk may differ.
Estimated from the commodity types reported to FMCSA, not from loss history or the true cargo mix.
Expected crash rate is about the same as similar fleets.
Similar fleets: for-hire fleets of 200–499 trucks with the same kind of operation, years in business and amount of road activity. Compared using its own crash record and roadside inspections.
This motor carrier 1.05×
ExcellentStrongSatisf.SatisfactoryMarginalPoorCritical
▲ Similar fleets 1.0×
Expected crashes, next 12 months
10.1 vs 9.6 for similar fleets
Likely 5–16 crashes
This motor carrier
10.1
Similar fleets
9.6
Chance of a fatal crash, next 12 months
~25%
About typical for similar fleets.
What's driving the grade
Crash history
betterworse
About typical. 20 crashes on the FMCSA record in 24 months (about 10 a year), including 7 with injuries; similar fleets have about 9.6 a year. The grade counts 35 crashes in its 36-month scoring window, recent ones weighted most.
Roadside inspections
betterworse
Mixed. Unsafe-driving and hours-of-service violations 1.91× the rate expected for its inspections, but violations 0.80×. Together they move its crash estimate +4%: roadside results weigh far less than crash history.
Worth a closer look
From the FMCSA record. The grade already counts the safety items; insurance filings and links to other motor carriers are not in it.
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Injury crashes7 crashes with 8 people hurt in 24 months.Ask: claim status and driver history for these crashes.
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Brakes and lightsBrakes are 51 of 204 violations (25%). Brake or light defects led to 20 out-of-service orders.Ask: the preventive-maintenance schedule and shop records.
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Falsified logs3 false-log violations in 24 months.Ask: how hours are audited against ELD and fuel records.
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Vehicle out-of-service rate30.3% of vehicle inspections end out of service vs 22.3% nationally (33 of 109), but across all its inspections out-of-service orders are 0.83× what's expected for where and how it's inspected, the measure the grade uses.
Strengths
- Driver out-of-service rate 0.0% vs 6.7% national.
- No FMCSA BASIC alerts.
Data flags
-
Reckless driving: 1
-
Dangerous driving: 15
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Excessive speeding: 30
Track record
FMCSA record, Sep 2024 – Sep 2026
· grade scored on Sep 1, 2023 → Sep 30, 2026
Crashes
20
0 fatalities · 8 injuries · 0 tow-aways
Inspections
266
51% clean (no violations)
Vehicle out-of-service
30.3%
33 of 109
National avg 22.3%
Driver out-of-service
0.0%
0 of 266
National avg 6.7%
Violations
204
38 out-of-service
Inspections per quarter
With an out-of-service order
Sep 25–30, 2024 isn't charted (too little of that quarter is on file); the 24-month totals include its 1 inspection.
vs 1,008 peer fleets
| This motor carrier | Peers | |
|---|---|---|
| Crashes | 0.034 | 0.022 |
| Inspections | 0.65 | 0.74 |
| Violations | 0.32 | 0.32 |
| Critical violations | 0.07 | 0.07 |
Yearly rates from the last 24 months. Peers: 200–499 power units, medium-risk cargo.
What they get cited for
204 violations · 24 months-
Vehicle maintenance No alert120 · 38 OOSBrakes 51 · Lights 34 · Tires 18 · Steering & suspension 3 · Wheels & hubs 2 · 12 more
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Unsafe driving No alert63 · 0 OOSSpeeding 32 · Reckless / lane 19 · Seat belt 8 · Other 4
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Hours of service No alert20 · 0 OOSLogbook / ELD paperwork 9 · Over hours limit 6 · False log 3 · No log 2
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Driver fitness No alert1 · 0 OOSMedical certificate 1
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Drugs & alcohol No alert0
Out-of-service violations
“No alert” = under FMCSA's BASIC intervention threshold
Violations by quarter
Tap a category to show or hide itNo violation trend data
Crashes
24 months-
May282026ArkansasInjury · 1 person hurtWet road, daylight, rain, one-way trafficway not divided.
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Feb12026WisconsinProperty damage onlyDark - not lighted, two-way trafficway divided unprotected median. Citation issued.
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Jan282026MinnesotaProperty damage onlySnow road, dark - not lighted, snow, two-way trafficway divided unprotected median. FMCSA: not preventable.
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Jan262026MinnesotaInjury · 1 person hurtDaylight, two-way trafficway divided unprotected median.
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Dec302025UtahInjury · 1 person hurtDaylight, two-way trafficway divided unprotected median.
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Dec182025MinnesotaProperty damage onlySnow road, daylight, blowing sand soil dirt or snow, two-way trafficway divided unprotected median.
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Nov292025South DakotaProperty damage onlySnow road, dark - not lighted, snow, two-way trafficway divided unprotected median. FMCSA: not preventable.
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Nov32025OhioInjury · 1 person hurtDaylight, two-way trafficway divided unprotected median. Hazmat released.
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May132025MinnesotaInjury · 1 person hurtDaylight, two-way trafficway divided positive barrier. FMCSA: not preventable.
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Mar112025NebraskaInjury · 1 person hurtDaylight, two-way trafficway not divided.
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Dec302024WisconsinInjury · 2 people hurtDaylight, two-way trafficway not divided. FMCSA: not preventable.
12 more in the FMCSA records below.
7 of the 20 crashes hurt someone but killed no one.
1 of the 20 crashes released hazardous materials.
Insurance filed with FMCSA
FMCSA record through Nov 2, 2026Today · live FMCSA check
Checking FMCSA…
- Liability (BIPD)
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$1,000,000 · Great West Casualty Companyon record since Jan 1, 2013 · FMCSA minimum $750,000 · no gap on FMCSA's record since Jan 1993
- Cargo filing
- not required by FMCSA (household-goods motor carriers only); the cargo policy is not on FMCSA's record
- Broker or forwarder bond
- $75,000 surety bond (BMC-84) · Old Republic Surety Company since Oct 1, 2013
36 months to Nov 2, 2026
- One liability insurer throughout
- No gap in filed liability coverage while liability was required
Operating authority active (FMCSA's new registration system, status since Oct 13, 1998)
FMCSA filings only, not a policy audit. Not part of the FRED grade. Wrong or out of date?
Every insurance filing on the FMCSA record
24 filings and 7 authority events since 1978 · FMCSA record through Nov 2, 2026
Every insurance filing on the FMCSA record
24 filings and 7 authority events since 1978 · FMCSA record through Nov 2, 2026
Newest first. Insurer names as filed. FMCSA does not publish why a filing was cancelled.
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Dec 8, 2026Merchants Bonding Company (Mutual)Broker bond (BMC-84) · takes effect Dec 8, 2026FMCSA's new system
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Oct 1, 2013Old Republic Surety CompanyBroker bond (BMC-84) · on file · on fileFMCSA's new system
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Jun 24, 20131ST SECURITY FINANCIAL CORPORATIONBroker trust fund (BMC-85) · ended Oct 1, 2013 · replaced3 months in forceL&I to May 14, 2026
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Jun 3, 2013FMCSA revocation notice for the broker authority, dropped Jun 25, 2013cause not stated in FMCSA's older recordsL&I to May 14, 2026
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Jan 1, 2013Great West Casualty CompanyLiability · $1,000,000 · on fileFMCSA's new system
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Jan 1, 2011TRAVELERS PROPERTY CASUALTY CO. OF AMERICACargo · ended Jan 12, 2019 · cancellation notice took effect96 months in forceL&I to May 14, 2026
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Jan 1, 2011LIBERTY MUTUAL FIRE INSURANCE CO.Liability · $1,000,000 · ended Jan 1, 2013 · replaced by another insurer24 months in forceL&I to May 14, 2026
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Jan 1, 2010LEXINGTON INSURANCE COMPANYCargo · ended Jan 1, 2011 · replaced by another insurer12 months in forceL&I to May 14, 2026
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Oct 1, 2008LEXINGTON INSURANCE COMPANYCargo · ended Jan 1, 2010 · replaced by the same insurer (renewal)15 months in forceL&I to May 14, 2026
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Oct 1, 2008CONTINENTAL CASUALTY CO.Liability · $1,000,000 · ended Jan 1, 2011 · cancellation notice took effect27 months in forceL&I to May 14, 2026
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Sep 4, 2008FMCSA revocation notice for the operating authority, dropped Sep 9, 2008opened after LIBERTY MUTUAL FIRE INSURANCE CO. filed a cancellation notice (effective Oct 1, 2008)L&I to May 14, 2026
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Sep 21, 2006AUTO OWNERS INSURANCE COMPANYBroker bond (BMC-84) · ended Jun 24, 2013 · replaced by another insurera cancellation notice effective Jun 30, 2013 came after the replacement; 81 months in forceL&I to May 14, 2026
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Oct 1, 2004LIBERTY MUTUAL INSURANCE CO.Cargo · ended Oct 1, 2008 · cancellation notice took effect48 months in forceL&I to May 14, 2026
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Oct 1, 2004LIBERTY MUTUAL FIRE INSURANCE CO.Liability · $1,000,000 · ended Oct 1, 2008 · cancellation notice took effect48 months in forceL&I to May 14, 2026
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Sep 7, 2004FMCSA revocation notice for the operating authority, dropped Sep 23, 2004opened after THE INSURANCE CO OF THE STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA filed a cancellation notice (effective Oct 1, 2004)L&I to May 14, 2026
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Oct 1, 2003THE INSURANCE CO OF THE STATE OF PENNSYLVANIALiability · $1,000,000 · ended Oct 1, 2004 · cancellation notice took effect12 months in forceL&I to May 14, 2026
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Oct 1, 2002THE INSURANCE CO OF THE STATE OF PENNSYLVANIALiability · $1,000,000 · ended Oct 1, 2003 · cancellation notice took effect12 months in forceL&I to May 14, 2026
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Oct 1, 2000THE INSURANCE CO OF THE STATE OF PENNSYLVANIALiability · $1,000,000 · ended Oct 1, 2002 · cancellation notice took effect24 months in forceL&I to May 14, 2026
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Oct 28, 1999FMCSA revocation notice for the operating authority, dropped Dec 2, 1999cause not stated in FMCSA's older recordsL&I to May 14, 2026
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Oct 1, 1999FIREMAN'S FUND INSURANCE CO.Cargo · ended Oct 1, 2004 · replaced by another insurer60 months in forceL&I to May 14, 2026
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Oct 1, 1999XL SPECIALTY INSURANCE COMPANYLiability · $1,000,000 · ended Oct 1, 2000 · replaced by another insurer12 months in forceL&I to May 14, 2026
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Oct 13, 1998Broker authority grantedL&I to May 14, 2026
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Sep 21, 1998AMERICAN MANUFACTURERS MUTUAL INSURANCE CO.Broker bond (BMC-84) · ended Sep 21, 2006 · replaced by another insurer96 months in forceL&I to May 14, 2026
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Jan 15, 1998FMCSA revocation notice for the operating authority, dropped Jan 23, 1998cause not stated in FMCSA's older recordsL&I to May 14, 2026
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Oct 3, 1997CONTINENTAL WESTERN INSURANCE CO.Cargo · ended Oct 1, 1999 · cancellation notice took effect24 months in forceL&I to May 14, 2026
What the terms mean
- Liability filing (BIPD):
- The insurer's certificate (form BMC-91 or 91X) that the motor carrier carries bodily-injury and property-damage liability at or above FMCSA's minimum. A BMC-82 is the same promise made by a surety bond.
- FMCSA minimum:
- $750,000 for general freight in vehicles of 10,001 lb or more; $300,000 under 10,001 lb; $1,000,000 for oil and some hazardous materials; $5,000,000 for bulk hazardous materials (49 CFR 387.9).
- Primary / excess:
- An excess filing sits on top of a primary one; together they make the total filed limit.
- Replaced:
- A new filing took over from this one. Replaced the same day is an ordinary change of insurer or renewal.
- Cancellation notice:
- Form BMC-35 (insurance) or BMC-36 (bond): the insurer tells FMCSA the filing ends in 30 days. The insurer files it whether the insurer or the motor carrier ended the policy; FMCSA does not publish the reason.
- Cancellation processed by FMCSA:
- FMCSA itself ended the filing, for example when the authority was revoked.
- Lapse:
- Time with no liability filing on FMCSA's record while the authority required one. A filing received later can be back-dated, which closes a lapse after the fact.
- Suspended for insurance:
- FMCSA suspended the operating authority because no filing meeting the minimum was on file. FMCSA's records state this reason only since May 14, 2026; before then they show a revocation notice without a cause.
- FMCSA notice resolved in time:
- Before May 14, 2026, FMCSA served a revocation notice when a required filing lapsed and dropped it when the filing was restored. The notice does not say which filing lapsed.
- Suspension notice:
- Since May 14, 2026, FMCSA serves a notice that the authority will be suspended on a date unless the missing filing is restored. The notice does not say which filing.
- Cargo filing:
- Form BMC-34. FMCSA has required it only of household-goods motor carriers and forwarders since 2011, so most motor carriers' cargo policies are not on FMCSA's record.
- Broker bond / trust fund:
- Form BMC-84 (surety bond) or BMC-85 (trust fund): the $75,000 security a broker or freight forwarder must keep on file.
- Self-insurance authority:
- FMCSA lets a few large motor carriers carry their own liability; it appears as a filing by "Self-Insured".
- Risk retention group:
- An insurer owned by its policyholders (often trucking groups). It is not covered by state insurance guaranty funds.
- FMCSA record through:
- The date of the FMCSA file this section was built from. Dockets FMCSA's new system has not yet published are shown from the legacy record, frozen on May 14, 2026.
FMCSA's record of the insurance filed for this motor carrier's operating authority (forms BMC-91/91X liability, BMC-34 cargo, BMC-84/85 broker bond or trust), not the motor carrier's full insurance program. Only for-hire motor carriers with operating authority file with FMCSA; private and intrastate-only motor carriers keep proof of insurance at their place of business, so no filing does not mean no insurance. A filed limit is the amount the insurer certified to FMCSA, which can be below the policy's full limits; cargo and bond filings are shown as on file or not because FMCSA records the federal minimum rather than the policy amount. FMCSA's new registration system (May 14, 2026) publishes a partial set of dockets; a docket not yet in it is shown from the legacy record, frozen on that date, and the live check above is today's reading. Not part of the FRED grade. Wrong or out of date?
Where it happens
Loading map data…
Inspections by state
- South Dakota (HQ) 70
- Minnesota 55
- North Dakota 23
- Wisconsin 21
- Nebraska 17
- Iowa 12
- Tennessee 11
- Missouri 7
26% of inspections were in its home state.
How this grade is calculated
The model, its inputs, the window it scored and its confidence. For actuaries and anyone checking the work.
How this grade is calculated
The model, its inputs, the window it scored and its confidence. For actuaries and anyone checking the work.
Forward 12-Month Risk Outlook
The FRED Score predicts this motor carrier's crash risk over the next 12 months — how often they're likely to crash and how severe those crashes tend to be — versus a typical fleet of its size (323 power units: 323 filed, 179 seen roadside in 24 months).
Crash Outlook vs Peer Fleet
crashes per year · same scale
Average peer fleet
9.6
Actual, per year in window
11.7
Projected, next 12 mo
10.1
0
7
14
We'd expect a typical fleet of 323 power units this active to have about 9.6 crashes a year. This motor carrier recorded 35 in its scoring window (Sep 1, 2023 → Aug 31, 2026, about 11.7 a year) — about 1.2× a typical fleet. Factoring in its inspection and violation record inside that window and the credibility of its own experience, the model projects about 10.1 over the next 12. When this motor carrier does crash, those crashes tend to be substantially more severe than average — roughly 3.2× the injury/fatal weight of a typical crash.
Fatal-crash risk: about 25% chance in the next 12 months
Modeled fatal-crash rate is about typical for similar fleets (likelihood of at least one fatal crash, from its exposure and safety profile).
Track Record Used
Crashes Sep 1, 2023 → Aug 31, 2026 · inspections Oct 1, 2024 → Sep 30, 2026 · data as of Oct 29, 2026
Inside that window:
255 inspections
and 35 crashes.
The FMCSA record tables now hold 265 inspections and 20 crashes in that window — the SMS data moved after this grade was computed.
Outside the scoring window
on the FMCSA record · not in this grade
Aged out — crashes before Sep 1, 2023, inspections before Oct 1, 2024
- 1 inspection with no out-of-service result
Confidence: High · Z = 0.89
Satisfactory — 1.05x its class rate (cuts: Excellent <0.60, Strong <0.76, Satisfactory <1.06, Marginal <1.57, Poor <2.11). Class rate 0.030 crashes per power-unit-year for a 323-unit for-hire fleet (pu200_499). Violations 1.04x (driver behaviour 1.91x, out-of-service 0.83x, all violations 0.80x; 255 inspections). Experience 1.01x: 15.7 decayed crashes against 15.4 expected over 36 months (credibility 0.89, a 1.88). 80% range 0.72–1.42x. Last change: no change since the last run.
No change since the previous weekly run.
What Drives This Score
1.00× = this motor carrier's class rate
FRED multiplies three factors: the class rate a fleet of this size, class and activity is expected to run, a violation relativity from its roadside record, and its own crash experience over 36 months weighted by how much exposure stands behind it. The grade is the band of the resulting relativity to class, then the screens.
Class rate
3.0 crashes per 100 power-unit-years
323 power units · 9.61 expected crashes a year
Violation relativity
1.04×
255 inspections in window
Crash experience
1.01×
15.7 decayed crashes vs 15.4 expected · credibility 0.89
Driver behaviour
Out-of-service rate
All violations
0×1× class2×+
Each sub-relativity is shrunk toward its cohort rate when the record is thin (Bühlmann credibility), so a short record reads close to 1.00×.
Relativity to class 1.05× (80% range 0.72–1.42×)
· band Satisfactory
· cuts: Excellent <0.60, Strong <0.76, Satisfactory <1.06, Marginal <1.57, Poor <2.11, Critical above
FMCSA records
BASIC measures and every inspection, violation and crash, sortable and filterable.
FMCSA records
BASIC measures and every inspection, violation and crash, sortable and filterable.
FMCSA BASIC Scores
AB PropertyTotal Inspections
266
Driver Insp
266
Driver OOS
0
Vehicle Insp
109
Vehicle OOS
33
| BASIC | Insp w/ Viol | Measure | Alert |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unsafe Driving | 58 | 1.62 | |
| HOS Compliance | 17 | 0.18 | |
| Driver Fitness | 1 | 0.00 | |
| Controlled Substances | 0 | 0.00 | |
| Vehicle Maintenance | 65 | 6.28 |
SMS record data is sourced from FMCSA's Safety Measurement System (01-APR-25 – 31-OCT-25) and may cover a different time window than the scoring window used for the FRED grade (Sep 1, 2023 → Sep 30, 2026). Counts here may differ from the grade's in-window counts.