THOMAS E KELLER TRUCKING INC
DBA: KELLER TRUCKING
(419) 784-4805
sarah.cates@kellerlogistics.com
1978 Thomas E. Keller Blvd., Defiance OH 43512
315
tractors · all owned
447 drivers
21.3M mi/yr · ~68k per unit
Satisfactory
FRED Score 53.5 / 100
High confidence
249 roadside inspections
FMCSA Live Status
Checking FMCSA…
Fleet & equipment
- Power units
- 315
- Drivers · CDL
- 447 · 0
- Annual miles
- 21.3M
| Type | Own | Term | Trip | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trucks | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tractors | 315 | 0 | 0 | 315 |
| Trailers | 1200 | 0 | 0 | 1200 |
Registration
- Organization
- CORPORATION
- FMCSA Rating
- Satisfactory (09-02-2003) · 23 yr old
- Registered
- 05-16-2026
- MCS-150 Update
- 06-16-2026 (Address Change)
- FRED Score Date
- Nov 07, 2026
- Officer
- SARAH CATES
Cargo
56.6
medium risk
Metal: Sheets/Coils/Rolls
Meat
Refrigerated Food
General Freight
Building Materials
Beverages
Other: IRON CASTINGS
Dry Bulk
Paper Products
Construction
- 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: interstate 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 1.01×
ExcellentStrongSatisf.SatisfactoryMarginalPoorCritical
▲ Similar fleets 1.0×
Expected crashes, next 12 months
11.9 vs 11.7 for similar fleets
Likely 6–19 crashes
This motor carrier
11.9
Similar fleets
11.7
Chance of a fatal crash, next 12 months
~29%
About typical for similar fleets.
What's driving the grade
Crash history
betterworse
About typical. 22 crashes on the FMCSA record in 24 months (about 11 a year), including 5 with injuries; similar fleets have about 12 a year. The grade counts 37 crashes in its 36-month scoring window, recent ones weighted most.
Roadside inspections
betterworse
Mixed. Unsafe-driving and hours-of-service violations 1.75× the rate expected for its inspections, but out-of-service orders 0.41× and violations 0.54×. Together they move its crash estimate -6%: roadside results weigh far less than crash history. It's inspected more often than most fleets its size.
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 crashes5 crashes with 6 people hurt in 24 months.Ask: claim status and driver history for these crashes.
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Driver qualification3 out-of-service violations against drivers: 2 no valid CDL, 1 medical certificate (May 2025 – Jul 2025).Ask: driver qualification files and hiring standards.
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Falsified logs2 false-log violations in 24 months.Ask: how hours are audited against ELD and fuel records.
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Unsafe drivingCited 11 for speeding 15+ mph over or in a work zone.Ask: telematics, speed governance and phone policy.
Strengths
- Vehicle out-of-service rate 12.1% vs 22.3% national; driver 0.8% vs 6.7%.
- No FMCSA BASIC alerts.
Data flags
-
Dangerous driving: 15
-
Excessive speeding: 29
Track record
FMCSA record, Oct 2024 – Sep 2026
· grade scored on Sep 1, 2023 → Sep 30, 2026
Crashes
22
0 fatalities · 6 injuries · 0 tow-aways
Inspections
249
59% clean (no violations)
Vehicle out-of-service
12.1%
13 of 107
National avg 22.3%
Driver out-of-service
0.8%
2 of 249
National avg 6.7%
Violations
134
17 out-of-service
Inspected about as often as interstate fleets of 200–499 trucks in Ohio (about 260 in 24 months would be typical).
Inspections per quarter
With an out-of-service order
vs 948 peer fleets
| This motor carrier | Peers | |
|---|---|---|
| Crashes | 0.133 | 0.023 |
| Inspections | 2.49 | 0.77 |
| Violations | 0.85 | 0.33 |
| Critical violations | 0.25 | 0.07 |
Yearly rates from the last 24 months. Peers: interstate fleets, 200–499 power units, medium-risk cargo.
What they get cited for
134 violations · 24 months-
Unsafe driving No alert61 · 0 OOSSpeeding 31 · Reckless / lane 25 · Seat belt 1 · Other 4
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Vehicle maintenance No alert53 · 14 OOSLights 17 · Brakes 13 · Tires 9 · Cargo securement 6 · Wheels & hubs 3 · 5 more
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Hours of service No alert17 · 0 OOSLogbook / ELD paperwork 10 · Over hours limit 5 · False log 2
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Driver fitness No alert3 · 3 OOSNo valid CDL 2 · Medical 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-
Aug132026OhioProperty damage onlyDaylight, two-way trafficway divided unprotected median.
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Aug102026OhioProperty damage onlyDaylight, two-way trafficway divided unprotected median.
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Jun122026OhioInjury · 1 person hurtDaylight, two-way trafficway divided unprotected median.
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Jun102026PennsylvaniaProperty damage onlyDaylight.
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Apr282026IndianaProperty damage onlyDaylight, one-way trafficway not divided.
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Jan192026OhioProperty damage onlySnow road, daylight, blowing sand soil dirt or snow, one-way trafficway not divided. FMCSA: not preventable.
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Dec292025IndianaProperty damage onlySnow road, daylight, blowing sand soil dirt or snow, one-way trafficway not divided. FMCSA: not preventable.
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Dec292025MichiganProperty damage onlyWet road, daylight, snow, two-way trafficway divided unprotected median.
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Jun182025OhioProperty damage onlyWet road, daylight, severe crosswinds, one-way trafficway not divided. Citation issued. Hazmat released.
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Jun72025OhioInjury · 2 people hurtWet road, dark - lighted, rain. FMCSA: not preventable.
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Mar252025OhioInjury · 1 person hurtDaylight, one-way trafficway not divided. Citation issued.
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Feb42025ArkansasInjury · 1 person hurtDaylight, two-way trafficway divided positive barrier.
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Nov32024IndianaInjury · 1 person hurtDark - lighted, one-way trafficway not divided. FMCSA: not preventable.
14 more in the FMCSA records below.
5 of the 22 crashes hurt someone but killed no one.
1 of the 22 crashes released hazardous materials.
Insurance filed with FMCSA
FMCSA record through Nov 2, 2026Today · live FMCSA check
Checking FMCSA…
- Liability (BIPD)
-
$1,000,000 · Travelers Indemnity Co of Connecticuton record since May 5, 2026 · FMCSA minimum $750,000 · no gap on FMCSA's record since Jul 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) · Southwest Marine And General Insurance Company since Feb 14, 2023
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 Jul 29, 2013)
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
26 filings and 6 authority events since 1982 · FMCSA record through Nov 2, 2026
Every insurance filing on the FMCSA record
26 filings and 6 authority events since 1982 · 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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May 5, 2026Travelers Indemnity Co of ConnecticutLiability · $1,000,000 · on fileFMCSA's new system
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Feb 14, 2023Southwest Marine And General Insurance CompanyBroker bond (BMC-84) · on file · on fileFMCSA's new system
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Mar 1, 2014THE TRAVELERS INDEMNITY CO. OF CONNECTICUTLiability · $750,000 · ended May 5, 2026 · replaced by the same insurer (renewal)146 months in forceL&I to May 14, 2026
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Oct 1, 2013SOUTHWEST MARINE AND GENERAL INSURANCE COMPANBroker bond (BMC-84) · ended Feb 14, 2023 · replaced by another insurer112 months in forceL&I to May 14, 2026
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Jul 29, 2013Broker authority grantedL&I to May 14, 2026
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Jul 23, 2013SOUTHWEST MARINE AND GENERAL INSURANCE COMPANBroker bond (BMC-84) · ended Oct 1, 2013 · superseded by the same policy2 months in forceL&I to May 14, 2026
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Mar 1, 2013DISCOVER PROPERTY & CASUALTY INSURANCE CO.Liability · $1,000,000 · ended Mar 1, 2014 · replaced by another insurer12 months in forceL&I to May 14, 2026
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Mar 1, 2012DISCOVER PROPERTY & CASUALTY INSURANCE CO.Liability · $1,000,000 · ended Mar 1, 2013 · replaced by the same insurer (renewal)12 months in forceL&I to May 14, 2026
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Mar 1, 2011DISCOVER PROPERTY & CASUALTY INSURANCE CO.Liability · $1,000,000 · ended Mar 1, 2012 · replaced by the same insurer (renewal)12 months in forceL&I to May 14, 2026
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Mar 1, 2010DISCOVER PROPERTY & CASUALTY INSURANCE CO.Liability · $1,000,000 · ended Mar 1, 2011 · replaced by the same insurer (renewal)12 months in forceL&I to May 14, 2026
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Mar 1, 2009DISCOVER PROPERTY & CASUALTY INSURANCE CO.Liability · $1,000,000 · ended Mar 1, 2010 · replaced by the same insurer (renewal)12 months in forceL&I to May 14, 2026
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Jul 1, 2008THE PHOENIX INSURANCE COCargo · ended May 5, 2016 · cancellation notice took effect94 months in forceL&I to May 14, 2026
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Jul 1, 2008DISCOVER PROPERTY & CASUALTY INSURANCE CO.Liability · $1,000,000 · ended Mar 1, 2009 · replaced by the same insurer (renewal)8 months in forceL&I to May 14, 2026
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Jun 21, 2007OCCIDENTAL FIRE AND CASUALTY CO. OF N.C.Liability · $750,000 · ended Jul 1, 2008 · replaced by another insurer12 months in forceL&I to May 14, 2026
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Jul 1, 2006FIREMAN'S FUND INSURANCE CO.Cargo · ended Jul 1, 2008 · replaced by another insurer24 months in forceL&I to May 14, 2026
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Aug 6, 2005FIREMAN'S FUND INSURANCE CO.Cargo · ended Jul 1, 2006 · replaced by the same insurer (renewal)11 months in forceL&I to May 14, 2026
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Aug 6, 2004UTICA MUTUAL INSURANCE CO.Cargo · ended Aug 6, 2005 · replaced by another insurer12 months in forceL&I to May 14, 2026
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Nov 18, 2003Broker authority revoked (cause not stated)L&I to May 14, 2026
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Aug 6, 2002OCCIDENTAL FIRE AND CASUALTY CO. OF N.C.Liability · $750,000 · ended Jun 21, 2007 · replaced by the same insurer (renewal)58 months in forceL&I to May 14, 2026
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Aug 6, 2001CONTINENTAL CASUALTY CO.Liability · $1,000,000 · ended Sep 13, 2002 · cancellation notice took effect13 months in forceL&I to May 14, 2026
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May 18, 2001OHIO FARMERS INSURANCE COMPANYBroker bond (BMC-84) · ended Aug 27, 2003 · cancellation notice took effect27 months in forceL&I to May 14, 2026
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Feb 4, 1998Broker authority grantedL&I to May 14, 2026
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Jan 6, 1998HANOVER INSURANCE CO.Broker bond (BMC-84) · ended May 19, 2001 · cancellation notice took effect40 months in forceL&I to May 14, 2026
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Jan 2, 1998FMCSA revocation notice for the operating authority, dropped Jan 27, 1998cause not stated in FMCSA's older recordsL&I to May 14, 2026
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Dec 1, 1997CITIZENS INSURANCE CO. OF AMERICACargo · ended Aug 6, 2004 · replaced by another insurer80 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
- Ohio (HQ) 94
- Indiana 28
- Pennsylvania 16
- Tennessee 16
- Missouri 13
- North Carolina 13
- Kentucky 12
- Illinois 10
38% 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 (315 power units: 315 filed, 165 seen roadside in 24 months).
Crash Outlook vs Peer Fleet
crashes per year · same scale
Average peer fleet
11.7
Actual, per year in window
12.3
Projected, next 12 mo
11.9
0
7
14
We'd expect a typical fleet of 315 power units this active to have about 11.7 crashes a year. This motor carrier recorded 37 in its scoring window (Sep 1, 2023 → Aug 31, 2026, about 12.3 a year). Factoring in its inspection and violation record inside that window and the credibility of its own experience, the model projects about 11.9 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 29% 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:
249 inspections
and 37 crashes.
The FMCSA record tables now hold 249 inspections and 22 crashes in that window — the SMS data moved after this grade was computed.
Confidence: High · Z = 0.90
Satisfactory — 1.01x its class rate (cuts: Excellent <0.60, Strong <0.76, Satisfactory <1.06, Marginal <1.57, Poor <2.11). Class rate 0.037 crashes per power-unit-year for a 315-unit for-hire fleet (pu200_499). Violations 0.94x (driver behaviour 1.75x, out-of-service 0.41x, all violations 0.54x; 249 inspections). Experience 1.07x: 18.4 decayed crashes against 17.0 expected over 36 months (credibility 0.90, a 1.88). 80% range 0.71–1.34x. 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
3.7 crashes per 100 power-unit-years
315 power units · 11.69 expected crashes a year
Violation relativity
0.94×
249 inspections in window
Crash experience
1.07×
18.4 decayed crashes vs 17.0 expected · credibility 0.90
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 1.01× (80% range 0.71–1.34×)
· 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
249
Driver Insp
249
Driver OOS
2
Vehicle Insp
107
Vehicle OOS
13
| BASIC | Insp w/ Viol | Measure | Alert |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unsafe Driving | 59 | 1.90 | |
| HOS Compliance | 15 | 0.22 | |
| Driver Fitness | 2 | 0.04 | |
| Controlled Substances | 0 | 0.00 | |
| Vehicle Maintenance | 40 | 2.11 |
SMS record data is sourced from FMCSA's Safety Measurement System (01-JUN-26 – 31-MAY-26) 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.