BOWLING TRANSPORTATION INC
(800) 440-4284
jbeck@bowlingtransportation.com
1827 Sandusky Street, Fostoria OH 44830
53
power units
52 drivers
2.4M mi/yr · ~45k per unit
HazMat
Marginal
FRED Score 35.7 / 100
Moderate confidence
37 yrs history · 42 roadside inspections
FMCSA Live Status
Checking FMCSA…
Fleet & equipment
- Power units
- 53
- Drivers · CDL
- 52 · 52
- Annual miles
- 2.4M
| Type | Own | Term | Trip | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trucks | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| Tractors | 32 | 14 | 0 | 46 |
| Trailers | 33 | 27 | 0 | 60 |
Registration
- Organization
- CORPORATION
- Cargo Operation
- Intrastate HM
- Scope
- Intrastate (Beyond 100 miles)
- FMCSA Rating
- Satisfactory (02-05-2008) · 18 yr old
- Registered
- 09-19-1989 (37 yrs)
- MCS-150 Update
- 04-20-2026 (Address Change)
- FRED Score Date
- Nov 07, 2026
- Officer
- DONALD K BOWLING
- Officer
- JEFF BECK
Cargo
66.6
medium risk
Motor Vehicles
Drive/Tow Away
Metal: Sheets/Coils/Rolls
Machinery/Large Objects
Logs/Poles/Beams/Lumber
Building Materials
Grain/Feed/Hay
Construction
- High-Risk Cargo
- Motor Vehicles, Drive/Tow Away, Machinery Large
Estimated from the commodity types reported to FMCSA, not from loss history or the true cargo mix.
Expected crash rate is probably higher than similar fleets (about an 80% chance), but the record is too thin to say by how much.
Similar fleets: interstate fleets of 50–99 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 1.42×
ExcellentStrongSatisf.SatisfactoryMarginalPoorCritical
▲ Similar fleets 1.0×
Expected crashes, next 12 months
2.6 vs 1.8 for similar fleets
Likely 0–5 crashes
This motor carrier
2.6
Similar fleets
1.8
Chance of a fatal crash, next 12 months
~7%
About 1.4× similar fleets.
What's driving the grade
Crash history
betterworse
Leans worse, not yet proven. 7 crashes on the FMCSA record in 24 months (about 3.5 a year), including 1 with injuries; similar fleets have about 1.8 a year. The grade counts 12 crashes in its 36-month scoring window, recent ones weighted most.
Roadside inspections
betterworse
Better than peers. Unsafe-driving and hours-of-service violations 0.73× the rate expected for its inspections. Together they barely move its crash estimate.
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 crashes1 crash with 3 people hurt in 24 months.Ask: claim status and driver history for these crashes.
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Lapse in liability filings48 days without a liability filing on FMCSA's record (May 14, 2023 – Jul 1, 2023) while the authority required one. A filing received later can be back-dated and close a lapse. Not in the grade.Ask: what covered the fleet during the gap.
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Lights and tiresLights are 11 of 34 violations (32%). Light or tire defects led to 7 out-of-service orders.Ask: the preventive-maintenance schedule and shop records.
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Vehicle out-of-service rate35.0% of vehicle inspections end out of service vs 22.3% nationally (7 of 20), but across all its inspections out-of-service orders are 1.01× 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.
Track record
FMCSA record, Oct 2024 – Sep 2026
· grade scored on Sep 1, 2023 → Sep 30, 2026
Crashes
7
0 fatalities · 3 injuries · 0 tow-aways
Inspections
42
64% clean (no violations)
Vehicle out-of-service
35.0%
7 of 20
National avg 22.3%
Driver out-of-service
0.0%
0 of 42
National avg 6.7%
Violations
34
11 out-of-service
Inspected about as often as interstate fleets of 50–99 trucks in Ohio (about 53 in 24 months would be typical).
Inspections per quarter
With an out-of-service order
vs 4,155 peer fleets
| This motor carrier | Peers | |
|---|---|---|
| Crashes | 0.066 | 0.026 |
| Inspections | 0.66 | 0.97 |
| Violations | 0.32 | 0.56 |
| Critical violations | 0.09 | 0.11 |
Yearly rates from the last 24 months. Peers: interstate fleets, 50–99 power units, medium-risk cargo.
What they get cited for
34 violations · 24 months-
Vehicle maintenance No alert28 · 11 OOSLights 11 · Tires 8 · Brakes 6 · Cargo securement 2 · Other parts 1
-
Unsafe driving No alert5 · 0 OOSSpeeding 3 · Phone use 1 · Reckless / lane 1
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Hours of service No alert1 · 0 OOSNo log 1
-
Driver fitness No alert0
-
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-
Jun102026OhioProperty damage onlyDaylight, one-way trafficway not divided. Citation issued.
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Apr152026MichiganProperty damage onlyWet road, dark - not lighted, rain, two-way trafficway divided unprotected median.
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Jun202025OhioProperty damage onlyDark - lighted, two-way trafficway divided unprotected median. FMCSA: not preventable.
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Apr82025MichiganProperty damage onlyDaylight, two-way trafficway divided unprotected median.
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Mar122025MichiganProperty damage onlyDaylight, two-way trafficway divided positive barrier.
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Jan212025IndianaInjury · 3 people hurtDaylight, two-way trafficway divided unprotected median.
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Dec52024MichiganProperty damage onlyDaylight, two-way trafficway divided positive barrier.
1 of the 7 crashes hurt someone but killed no one.
Insurance filed with FMCSA
FMCSA record through May 14, 2026 · no change recorded by FMCSA sinceToday · live FMCSA check
Checking FMCSA…
- Last on FMCSA's record (May 14, 2026)
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$1,000,000 · NATIONAL INTERSTATE INSURANCE COMPANYon record since Jul 1, 2025 · FMCSA minimum $1,000,000 · no gap on FMCSA's record since Jul 2023A cancellation notice effective Jun 1, 2026 was on file at May 14, 2026; whether it took effect is not in FMCSA's frozen record — see the live check.
- Cargo filing
- not required by FMCSA (household-goods motor carriers only); the cargo policy is not on FMCSA's record
36 months to May 14, 2026
- 2 liability insurers on FMCSA's record, 2 changes: BERKLEY CASUALTY COMPANY → NATIONAL INTERSTATE INSURANCE COMPANY (Jul 2025); ACUITY, A MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY → BERKLEY CASUALTY COMPANY (Jul 2023)
- 1 cancellation notice filed by an insurer; 1 took effect (the last Jul 1, 2025, replaced the same day)
- 48 days without a liability filing (May 14, 2023 – Jul 1, 2023) while the authority required one; a later back-dated filing can close a lapse
Authority
- FMCSA notice resolved in time: 1
Operating authority active (FMCSA's L&I record of May 14, 2026, status since Jun 27, 2025)
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
28 filings and 16 authority events since 1987 · FMCSA record through May 14, 2026
Every insurance filing on the FMCSA record
28 filings and 16 authority events since 1987 · FMCSA record through May 14, 2026
Newest first. Insurer names as filed. FMCSA does not publish why a filing was cancelled.
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Jul 1, 2025NATIONAL INTERSTATE INSURANCE COMPANYLiability · $1,000,000 · on file at May 14, 2026 · cancellation notice effective Jun 1, 2026 on file at May 14, 2026 (outcome not in FMCSA's frozen record)10 months in forceL&I to May 14, 2026
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Jun 4, 2025FMCSA revocation notice for the operating authority, dropped Jun 27, 2025opened after BERKLEY CASUALTY COMPANY filed a cancellation notice (effective Jul 1, 2025)L&I to May 14, 2026
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Jul 1, 2023BERKLEY CASUALTY COMPANYLiability · $1,000,000 · ended Jul 1, 2025 · cancellation notice took effect24 months in forceL&I to May 14, 2026
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Apr 29, 2021FMCSA revocation notice for the operating authority, dropped Jun 8, 2021cause not stated in FMCSA's older recordsL&I to May 14, 2026
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Jul 1, 2011ACUITY, A MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANYLiability · $1,000,000 · ended Jul 27, 2011 · cancellation notice took effecta cancellation notice effective Jul 31, 2023 came after the replacement; 1 month in forceL&I to May 14, 2026
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Jun 6, 2011FMCSA revocation notice for the operating authority, dropped Jun 24, 2011opened after AMERICAN SOUTHERN INSURANCE CO. filed a cancellation notice (effective Jul 1, 2011)L&I to May 14, 2026
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Jul 1, 2010AMERICAN SOUTHERN INSURANCE CO.Liability · $1,000,000 · ended Jul 1, 2011 · cancellation notice took effect12 months in forceL&I to May 14, 2026
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Jun 4, 2010FMCSA revocation notice for the operating authority, dropped Jun 15, 2010opened after AMERICAN SOUTHERN INSURANCE CO. filed a cancellation notice (effective Jul 1, 2010)L&I to May 14, 2026
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Jul 1, 2009AMERICAN SOUTHERN INSURANCE CO.Liability · $1,000,000 · ended Jul 1, 2010 · cancellation notice took effect12 months in forceL&I to May 14, 2026
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Jul 1, 2008AMERICAN SOUTHERN INSURANCE CO.Liability · $1,000,000 · ended Jul 1, 2009 · replaced by the same insurer (renewal)12 months in forceL&I to May 14, 2026
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Apr 18, 2008GREAT AMERICAN INSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW YORKCargo · ended Jul 12, 2013 · cancellation notice took effect63 months in forceL&I to May 14, 2026
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Mar 24, 2008FMCSA revocation notice for the operating authority, dropped Apr 4, 2008cause not stated in FMCSA's older recordsL&I to May 14, 2026
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Jan 1, 2008AMERICAN SOUTHERN INSURANCE CO.Liability · $1,000,000 · ended Jul 1, 2008 · replaced by the same insurer (renewal)a cancellation notice effective Jul 25, 2008 came after the replacement; 6 months in forceL&I to May 14, 2026
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Dec 5, 2007FMCSA revocation notice for the operating authority, dropped Dec 6, 2007opened after AMERICAN SOUTHERN INSURANCE CO. filed a cancellation notice (effective Jan 1, 2008)L&I to May 14, 2026
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Apr 18, 2007REDLAND INSURANCE CO.Cargo · ended Apr 18, 2008 · cancellation notice took effect12 months in forceL&I to May 14, 2026
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Mar 22, 2007FMCSA revocation notice for the operating authority, dropped Apr 17, 2007cause not stated in FMCSA's older recordsL&I to May 14, 2026
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Jan 1, 2007AMERICAN SOUTHERN INSURANCE CO.Liability · $1,000,000 · ended Jan 1, 2008 · cancellation notice took effect12 months in forceL&I to May 14, 2026
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Dec 5, 2006FMCSA revocation notice for the operating authority, dropped Dec 27, 2006opened after AMERICAN SOUTHERN INSURANCE CO. filed a cancellation notice (effective Jan 1, 2007)L&I to May 14, 2026
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Apr 18, 2006CLARENDON AMERICA INSURANCE COMPANYCargo · ended Apr 18, 2007 · cancellation notice took effect12 months in forceL&I to May 14, 2026
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Mar 22, 2006FMCSA revocation notice for the operating authority, dropped Apr 21, 2006cause not stated in FMCSA's older recordsL&I to May 14, 2026
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Jan 1, 2006AMERICAN SOUTHERN INSURANCE CO.Liability · $1,000,000 · ended Jan 1, 2007 · cancellation notice took effect12 months in forceL&I to May 14, 2026
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Dec 5, 2005FMCSA revocation notice for the operating authority, dropped Dec 23, 2005opened after AMERICAN SOUTHERN INSURANCE CO. filed a cancellation notice (effective Jan 1, 2006)L&I to May 14, 2026
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Apr 18, 2005CLARENDON AMERICA INSURANCE COMPANYCargo · ended Apr 18, 2006 · cancellation notice took effect12 months in forceL&I to May 14, 2026
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Mar 22, 2005FMCSA revocation notice for the operating authority, dropped Apr 15, 2005cause not stated in FMCSA's older recordsL&I to May 14, 2026
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Jan 1, 2005AMERICAN SOUTHERN INSURANCE CO.Liability · $1,000,000 · ended Jan 1, 2006 · cancellation notice took effect12 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
- Michigan 22
- Ohio (HQ) 18
- Indiana 2
43% 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 (53 power units: 53 filed, 28 seen roadside in 24 months).
Crash Outlook vs Peer Fleet
crashes per year · same scale
Average peer fleet
1.8
Actual, per year in window
4.0
Projected, next 12 mo
2.6
0
2.25
4.5
We'd expect a typical fleet of 53 power units this active to have about 1.8 crashes a year. This motor carrier recorded 12 in its scoring window (Sep 1, 2023 → Aug 31, 2026, about 4.0 a year) — about 2.2× a typical fleet. Factoring in its inspection and violation record inside that window and the credibility of its own experience, the model projects about 2.6 over the next 12 — about 1.4× 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 7% chance in the next 12 months
Modeled fatal-crash rate is roughly 1.4× that of 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:
41 inspections
and 12 crashes.
The FMCSA record tables now hold 42 inspections and 7 crashes in that window — the SMS data moved after this grade was computed.
Confidence: Moderate · Z = 0.48
Marginal — 1.42x its class rate (cuts: Excellent <0.60, Strong <0.76, Satisfactory <1.06, Marginal <1.57, Poor <2.11). Class rate 0.035 crashes per power-unit-year for a 53-unit for-hire fleet (pu50_99). Violations 0.98x (driver behaviour 0.73x, out-of-service 1.01x, all violations 1.16x; 41 inspections). Experience 1.46x: 5.4 decayed crashes against 2.8 expected over 36 months (credibility 0.48, a 2.99). 80% range 0.82–2.11x. 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
3.5 crashes per 100 power-unit-years
53 power units · 1.84 expected crashes a year
Violation relativity
0.98×
41 inspections in window
Crash experience
1.46×
5.4 decayed crashes vs 2.8 expected · credibility 0.48
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 1.42× (80% range 0.82–2.11×)
· band Marginal
· 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
42
Driver Insp
42
Driver OOS
0
Vehicle Insp
20
Vehicle OOS
7
| BASIC | Insp w/ Viol | Measure | Alert |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unsafe Driving | 5 | 1.20 | |
| HOS Compliance | 1 | 0.18 | |
| Driver Fitness | 0 | 0.00 | |
| Controlled Substances | 0 | 0.00 | |
| Vehicle Maintenance | 11 | 7.25 |
SMS record data is sourced from FMCSA's Safety Measurement System (02-APR-26 – 31-AUG-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.