MERDZIC TRANSPORTATION SERVICES INC
(270) 666-0602
safety@merdzic.com
310 East Main Ave Unit 209, Bowling Green KY 42101
46
tractors
47 drivers
5.4M mi/yr · ~118k per unit
Marginal
FRED Score 38.9 / 100
Moderate confidence
11 yrs history · 194 roadside inspections
FMCSA Live Status
Checking FMCSA…
Fleet & equipment
- Power units
- 46
- Drivers · CDL
- 47 · 47
- Annual miles
- 5.4M
| Type | Own | Term | Trip | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trucks | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tractors | 26 | 20 | 0 | 46 |
| Trailers | 54 | 9 | 0 | 63 |
Registration
- Registered
- 10-30-2015 (11 yrs)
- MCS-150 Update
- 08-03-2026
- FRED Score Date
- Nov 07, 2026
- Officer
- DAMIR MERDZIC
Cargo
64.0
medium risk
General Freight
- High-Risk Cargo
- General Freight
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 34% higher than similar fleets.
Similar fleets: interstate fleets of about 46 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 1.34×
ExcellentStrongSatisf.SatisfactoryMarginalPoorCritical
▲ Similar fleets 1.0×
Expected crashes, next 12 months
4.5 vs 3.3 for similar fleets
This motor carrier
4.5
Similar fleets
3.3
Chance of a fatal crash, next 12 months
~11%
About 1.3× similar fleets.
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 crashes4 crashes with 4 people hurt in 24 months.Ask: claim status and driver history for these crashes.
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Drivers put out of service5 out-of-service violations against drivers: 3 hours of service, 2 no valid CDL (Dec 2025 – May 2026).Ask: driver supervision and dispatch practices.
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Brakes and tiresBrakes are 34 of 157 violations (22%). Brake or tire defects led to 26 out-of-service orders.Ask: the preventive-maintenance schedule and shop records.
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Vehicle out-of-service rate30.4% of vehicle inspections end out of service vs 22.3% nationally (28 of 92).
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Falsified logs6 false-log violations in 24 months.Ask: how hours are audited against ELD and fuel records.
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New since the grade was set2 out-of-service inspections after Jul 31, 2026. Not in the grade yet.
Strengths
- Driver out-of-service rate 2.6% vs 6.7% national.
- No FMCSA BASIC alerts.
Data flags
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Dangerous driving: 4
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Excessive speeding: 11
Track record
FMCSA record, Sep 2024 – Sep 2026
· grade scored on Aug 1, 2025 → Jul 31, 2026
Crashes
11
0 fatalities · 4 injuries · 0 tow-aways
Inspections
194
56% clean (no violations)
Vehicle out-of-service
30.4%
28 of 92
National avg 22.3%
Driver out-of-service
2.6%
5 of 194
National avg 6.7%
Violations
157
39 out-of-service
Inspected more often than interstate fleets of 20–49 trucks in Kentucky (about 48 in 24 months would be typical).
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 2 inspections.
vs 10,543 peer fleets
| This motor carrier | Peers | |
|---|---|---|
| Crashes | 0.141 | 0.029 |
| Inspections | 2.96 | 1.12 |
| Violations | 1.71 | 0.78 |
| Critical violations | 0.49 | 0.15 |
Yearly rates from the last 24 months. Peers: interstate fleets, 20–49 power units, medium-risk cargo.
What they get cited for
157 violations · 24 months-
Vehicle maintenance No alert105 · 34 OOSBrakes 34 · Tires 22 · Lights 21 · Wheels & hubs 9 · Cargo securement 7 · 12 more
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Unsafe driving No alert27 · 0 OOSSpeeding 12 · Reckless / lane 9 · Seat belt 3 · Phone use 1 · Other 2
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Hours of service No alert23 · 3 OOSLogbook / ELD paperwork 13 · False log 6 · Over hours limit 3 · No log 1
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Driver fitness No alert2 · 2 OOSNo valid CDL 2
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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-
May62026AlabamaInjury · 1 person hurtDaylight, two-way trafficway divided unprotected median. FMCSA: not preventable.
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Apr142026TennesseeProperty damage onlyDaylight, two-way trafficway divided unprotected median. Citation issued.
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Mar312026FloridaProperty damage onlyDaylight, two-way trafficway divided unprotected median.
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Mar182026IllinoisInjury · 1 person hurtDaylight, two-way trafficway divided unprotected median. Citation issued.
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Nov112025AlabamaProperty damage onlyDaylight, two-way trafficway divided unprotected median.
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Aug192025GeorgiaProperty damage onlyDaylight, two-way trafficway divided unprotected median.
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Jul282025TennesseeInjury · 1 person hurtDaylight, two-way trafficway divided unprotected median.
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May292025West VirginiaProperty damage onlyDaylight, two-way trafficway divided positive barrier.
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Mar272025TexasInjury · 1 person hurtDaylight, two-way trafficway divided unprotected median. FMCSA: not preventable.
3 more in the FMCSA records below.
4 of the 11 crashes hurt someone but killed no one.
Insurance filed with FMCSA
FMCSA record through Nov 2, 2026Today · live FMCSA check
Checking FMCSA…
- Liability (BIPD)
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$750,000 · Highlander Specialty Insurance Companyon record since Aug 23, 2026 · FMCSA minimum $750,000 · no gap on FMCSA's record since Dec 2015
- Cargo filing
- not required by FMCSA (household-goods motor carriers only); the cargo policy is not on FMCSA's record
36 months to Nov 2, 2026
- 2 liability insurers on FMCSA's record, 1 change: Canal Insurance Company → Highlander Specialty Insurance Company (Aug 2026)
- 2 cancellation notices filed by insurers, each replaced before it took effect
- No gap in filed liability coverage while liability was required
Authority
- FMCSA notice served Jul 24, 2026 (suspension effective Aug 23, 2026); the authority stayed active. FMCSA's new registration system launched May 14, 2026 and has recorded some insurance suspensions and requirement changes in error; confirm with the insurer or motor carrier before acting.
- FMCSA notices resolved in time: 3
Operating authority active (FMCSA's new registration system, status since Jan 4, 2016)
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
18 filings and 8 authority events since 2015 · FMCSA record through Nov 2, 2026
Every insurance filing on the FMCSA record
18 filings and 8 authority events since 2015 · 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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Aug 23, 2026Highlander Specialty Insurance CompanyLiability · $750,000 · on fileFMCSA's new system
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Jul 24, 2026FMCSA suspension notice for the operating authority, effective Aug 23, 2026the authority stayed activeFMCSA's new system
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Feb 19, 2026Canal Insurance CompanyLiability · $750,000 · ended Aug 23, 2026 · replaced by another insurer6 months in forceFMCSA's new system
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Nov 7, 2025CANAL INSURANCE CO.Liability · $750,000 · ended Feb 19, 2026 · superseded by the same policy3 months in forceL&I to May 14, 2026
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Nov 3, 2025FMCSA revocation notice for the operating authority, dropped Nov 10, 2025opened after CANAL INSURANCE CO. filed a cancellation notice (effective Nov 29, 2025)L&I to May 14, 2026
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Oct 2, 2025CANAL INSURANCE CO.Liability · $750,000 · ended Nov 7, 2025 · superseded by the same policya cancellation notice effective Nov 29, 2025 came after the replacement; 1 month in forceL&I to May 14, 2026
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Sep 29, 2025FMCSA revocation notice for the operating authority, dropped Oct 3, 2025opened after CANAL INSURANCE CO. filed a cancellation notice (effective Oct 24, 2025)L&I to May 14, 2026
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Feb 19, 2025CANAL INSURANCE CO.Liability · $750,000 · ended Oct 2, 2025 · superseded by the same policya cancellation notice effective Oct 24, 2025 came after the replacement; 7 months in forceL&I to May 14, 2026
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Feb 19, 2024CANAL INSURANCE CO.Liability · $750,000 · ended Feb 19, 2025 · superseded by the same policy12 months in forceL&I to May 14, 2026
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Oct 5, 2023CANAL INSURANCE CO.Liability · $750,000 · ended Feb 19, 2024 · replaced by the same insurer (renewal)5 months in forceL&I to May 14, 2026
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Feb 19, 2022CANAL INSURANCE CO.Liability · $750,000 · ended Oct 5, 2023 · cancellation notice took effect19 months in forceL&I to May 14, 2026
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Jan 24, 2022FMCSA revocation notice for the operating authority, dropped Feb 22, 2022opened after STATE NATIONAL INSURANCE CO., INC. filed a cancellation notice (effective Feb 19, 2022)L&I to May 14, 2026
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Feb 19, 2021STATE NATIONAL INSURANCE CO., INC.Liability · $750,000 · ended Feb 19, 2022 · cancellation notice took effect12 months in forceL&I to May 14, 2026
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Feb 19, 2020SENTRY SELECT INSURANCE COMPANYLiability · $750,000 · ended Feb 19, 2021 · replaced by another insurer12 months in forceL&I to May 14, 2026
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Feb 19, 2019ACE PROPERTY AND CASUALTY INSURANCE COMPANYLiability · $1,000,000 · ended Feb 19, 2020 · replaced by another insurer12 months in forceL&I to May 14, 2026
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Jun 15, 2018TRISURA SPECIALTY INSURANCE COMPANYLiability · $750,000 · ended Feb 19, 2019 · replaced by another insurer8 months in forceL&I to May 14, 2026
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Jun 11, 2018FMCSA revocation notice for the operating authority, dropped Jun 18, 2018opened after TRISURA SPECIALTY INSURANCE COMPANY filed a cancellation notice (effective Jul 6, 2018)L&I to May 14, 2026
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Feb 19, 2018TRISURA SPECIALTY INSURANCE COMPANYLiability · $750,000 · ended Jun 15, 2018 · superseded by the same policya cancellation notice effective Jul 6, 2018 came after the replacement; 4 months in forceL&I to May 14, 2026
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Jan 23, 2018FMCSA revocation notice for the operating authority, dropped Feb 20, 2018opened after NATIONAL INDEMNITY COMPANY filed a cancellation notice (effective Feb 19, 2018)L&I to May 14, 2026
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Apr 11, 2017NATIONAL INDEMNITY COMPANYLiability · $750,000 · ended Feb 19, 2018 · cancellation notice took effect10 months in forceL&I to May 14, 2026
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Feb 19, 2017NATIONAL INDEMNITY COMPANYLiability · $750,000 · ended Apr 11, 2017 · superseded by the same policy2 months in forceL&I to May 14, 2026
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Jan 23, 2017FMCSA revocation notice for the operating authority, dropped Feb 21, 2017opened after NATIONAL INDEMNITY COMPANY filed a cancellation notice (effective Feb 19, 2017)L&I to May 14, 2026
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May 10, 2016NATIONAL INDEMNITY COMPANYLiability · $750,000 · ended Feb 19, 2017 · cancellation notice took effect9 months in forceL&I to May 14, 2026
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Feb 20, 2016NATIONAL INDEMNITY COMPANYLiability · $750,000 · ended May 10, 2016 · superseded by the same policy3 months in forceL&I to May 14, 2026
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Jan 4, 2016Operating authority grantedL&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
- Tennessee 29
- Texas 20
- Kentucky (HQ) 16
- Missouri 16
- Arkansas 12
- Alabama 9
- Florida 9
- Indiana 9
Runs well beyond its home state: 16 of 194 inspections were in Kentucky.
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 (large).
Crash Outlook vs Peer Fleet
crashes per year · same scale
Average peer fleet
3.3
Actual, last 12 mo
14.0
Projected, next 12 mo
4.5
0
8
16
We'd expect a typical fleet of this size this active to have about 3.3 crashes a year. This motor carrier recorded 14 in its scoring window (Aug 1, 2025 → Jul 31, 2026) — about 4.2× a typical fleet. Factoring in its inspection and violation record inside that window, the model projects about 4.5 over the next 12 — about 1.3× the typical fleet. When this motor carrier does crash, those crashes tend to be substantially more severe than average — roughly 3.3× the injury/fatal weight of a typical crash.
Fatal-crash risk: about 11% chance in the next 12 months
Modeled fatal-crash rate is roughly 1.3× that of similar fleets (likelihood of at least one fatal crash, from its exposure and safety profile).
Track Record Used
Scored on Aug 1, 2025 → Jul 31, 2026 · data as of Sep 24, 2026
Inside that window:
195 inspections
and 14 crashes.
The FMCSA record tables now hold 107 inspections and 6 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
Before Aug 1, 2025 — aged out of the window
- Crash Jul 28, 2025 · TN · 1 injury, 0 fatalities · engine severity weight 5
- Crash May 29, 2025 · WV · 0 injuries, 0 fatalities · engine severity weight 1
- Crash Mar 27, 2025 · TX · 1 injury, 0 fatalities · engine severity weight 5 · FMCSA: not preventable
- Crash Jan 31, 2025 · GA · 0 injuries, 0 fatalities · engine severity weight 1 · FMCSA: not preventable
- Crash Dec 16, 2024 · TN · 0 injuries, 0 fatalities · engine severity weight 1
- Out-of-service inspection Apr 30, 2025 · TN · level 1 · 1 vehicle OOS · 2 violations
- Out-of-service inspection Apr 10, 2025 · MO · level 1 · 1 vehicle OOS · 4 violations
- Out-of-service inspection Mar 20, 2025 · KY · level 1 · 7 vehicle OOS · 6 violations
- Out-of-service inspection Feb 27, 2025 · MS · level 2 · 1 vehicle OOS · 1 violation
- Out-of-service inspection Feb 24, 2025 · AR · level 2 · 1 vehicle OOS · 1 violation
- Out-of-service inspection Dec 5, 2024 · TN · level 1 · 1 vehicle OOS · 1 violation
- Out-of-service inspection Oct 9, 2024 · TN · level 1 · 1 vehicle OOS · 1 violation
- 66 further inspections with no out-of-service result
After Jul 31, 2026 — after the scoring window, not yet scored
- Out-of-service inspection Aug 26, 2026 · TX · level 2 · 1 vehicle OOS · 0 violations
- Out-of-service inspection Sep 10, 2026 · TN · level 1 · 4 vehicle OOS · 2 violations
- 12 further inspections with no out-of-service result — not yet scored
Confidence: Moderate · Z = 0.43
Marginal — 1.34x its class rate (cuts: Excellent <0.60, Strong <0.76, Satisfactory <1.06, Marginal <1.57, Poor <2.11). Class rate 0.046 crashes per power-unit-year for a 72-unit for-hire fleet (pu50_99). Violations 1.02x (driver behaviour 1.45x, out-of-service 0.96x, all violations 0.80x; 195 inspections). Experience 1.31x: 9.1 decayed crashes against 5.2 expected over 36 months (credibility 0.43, a 7.06). 80% range 0.91–1.82x. Fleet sized at 72 units from roadside VINs (46 filed). Last change: no change since the last run.
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
194
Driver Insp
194
Driver OOS
5
Vehicle Insp
92
Vehicle OOS
28
| BASIC | Insp w/ Viol | Measure | Alert |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unsafe Driving | 26 | 4.55 | |
| HOS Compliance | 18 | 0.61 | |
| Driver Fitness | 2 | 0.09 | |
| Controlled Substances | 0 | 0.00 | |
| Vehicle Maintenance | 54 | 5.98 |
SMS record data is sourced from FMCSA's Safety Measurement System (01-APR-25 – 31-MAY-25) and may cover a different time window than the scoring window used for the FRED grade (Aug 1, 2025 → Jul 31, 2026). Counts here may differ from the grade's in-window counts.