FIRSTEXPRESS INC
(615) 244-1425
sonnypetty@firstexpress.net
1135 Freightliner Drive, Nashville TN 37210
85
tractors · all owned
76 drivers
8.5M mi/yr · ~100k per unit
HazMat
Satisfactory
FRED Score 70.2 / 100
High confidence
32 yrs history · 270 roadside inspections
FMCSA Live Status
Checking FMCSA…
Fleet & equipment
- Power units
- 85
- Drivers · CDL
- 76 · 76
- Annual miles
- 8.5M
| Type | Own | Term | Trip | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trucks | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tractors | 85 | 0 | 0 | 85 |
| Trailers | 295 | 0 | 0 | 295 |
Registration
- Organization
- CORPORATION
- FMCSA Rating
- Satisfactory (06-14-2006) · 20 yr old
- Registered
- 04-06-1994 (32 yrs)
- MCS-150 Update
- 04-15-2026 (Address Change)
- FRED Score Date
- Nov 07, 2026
- Officer
- JAMES KEITH
Cargo
55.3
medium risk
Metal: Sheets/Coils/Rolls
General Freight
Building Materials
Beverages
Paper Products
Farm Supplies
Construction
- 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 probably lower than similar fleets (about an 80% chance), but the record is too thin to say by how much.
Similar fleets: for-hire fleets of 100–199 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 0.81×
ExcellentStrongSatisf.SatisfactoryMarginalPoorCritical
▲ Similar fleets 1.0×
Expected crashes, next 12 months
4.6 vs 5.7 for similar fleets
Likely 1–9 crashes
This motor carrier
4.6
Similar fleets
5.7
Chance of a fatal crash, next 12 months
~12%
About typical for similar fleets.
What's driving the grade
Crash history
betterworse
About typical. 9 crashes on the FMCSA record in 24 months (about 4.5 a year), including 3 with injuries; similar fleets have about 5.7 a year. The grade counts 12 crashes in its 36-month scoring window, recent ones weighted most.
Roadside inspections
betterworse
Better than peers. Violations 0.38× and out-of-service orders 0.67× the rate expected for its inspections. Together they move its crash estimate -11%: 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.
-
Injury crashes3 crashes with 4 people hurt in 24 months.Ask: claim status and driver history for these crashes.
-
Driver qualification5 out-of-service violations against drivers: 3 no valid CDL, 2 medical certificate (Sep 2024 – Jun 2026).Ask: driver qualification files and hiring standards.
-
Tires and brakesTires are 24 of 85 violations (28%). Tire or brake defects led to 24 out-of-service orders.Ask: the preventive-maintenance schedule and shop records.
Strengths
- Driver out-of-service rate 1.9% vs 6.7% national.
- No FMCSA BASIC alerts.
Data flags
-
Dangerous driving: 8
-
Excessive speeding: 12
Track record
FMCSA record, Sep 2024 – Sep 2026
· grade scored on Sep 1, 2023 → Sep 30, 2026
Crashes
9
0 fatalities · 4 injuries · 0 tow-aways
Inspections
270
73% clean (no violations)
Vehicle out-of-service
17.8%
28 of 157
National avg 22.3%
Driver out-of-service
1.9%
5 of 270
National avg 6.7%
Violations
85
34 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 2 inspections.
vs 4,520 peer fleets
| This motor carrier | Peers | |
|---|---|---|
| Crashes | 0.053 | 0.025 |
| Inspections | 2.45 | 0.91 |
| Violations | 0.50 | 0.53 |
| Critical violations | 0.25 | 0.11 |
Yearly rates from the last 24 months. Peers: 50–99 power units, medium-risk cargo.
What they get cited for
85 violations · 24 months-
Vehicle maintenance No alert36 · 29 OOSTires 24 · Brakes 4 · Lights 4 · Steering & suspension 1 · Wheels & hubs 1 · 2 more
-
Unsafe driving No alert31 · 0 OOSReckless / lane 13 · Speeding 13 · Phone use 2 · Other 3
-
Hours of service No alert12 · 0 OOSLogbook / ELD paperwork 8 · Over hours limit 3 · False log 1
-
Driver fitness No alert6 · 5 OOSNo valid CDL 4 · Medical certificate 2
-
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-
Apr162026TennesseeProperty damage onlyDaylight, two-way trafficway divided unprotected median.
-
Feb32026TennesseeProperty damage onlyDaylight, two-way trafficway divided unprotected median.
-
Dec12025IndianaProperty damage onlySnow road, dark - not lighted, snow. FMCSA: not preventable.
-
Aug202025OhioInjury · 1 person hurtDaylight, one-way trafficway not divided. FMCSA: not preventable.
-
Aug202025TennesseeProperty damage onlyDark - not lighted, two-way trafficway divided unprotected median. Citation issued. FMCSA: not preventable.
-
Jun232025West VirginiaProperty damage onlyDaylight, two-way trafficway divided unprotected median.
-
May122025North CarolinaProperty damage onlyWet road, daylight, rain, two-way trafficway not divided.
-
Mar202025TennesseeInjury · 2 people hurtDaylight, two-way trafficway divided positive barrier. FMCSA: not preventable.
-
Mar192025GeorgiaInjury · 1 person hurtDaylight, two-way trafficway divided unprotected median. FMCSA: not preventable.
1 more in the FMCSA records below.
3 of the 9 crashes hurt someone but killed no one.
Insurance filed with FMCSA
FMCSA record through Nov 2, 2026Today · live FMCSA check
Checking FMCSA…
- Liability (BIPD)
-
$1,000,000 · Great West Casualty Coon record since Oct 1, 2022 · FMCSA minimum $1,000,000 · no gap on FMCSA's record since Mar 1994
- 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) · Travelers Casualty and Surety Company of America 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 May 23, 2000)
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
23 filings and 3 authority events since 1994 · FMCSA record through Nov 2, 2026
Every insurance filing on the FMCSA record
23 filings and 3 authority events since 1994 · FMCSA record through Nov 2, 2026
Newest first. Insurer names as filed. FMCSA does not publish why a filing was cancelled.
-
Oct 1, 2022Great West Casualty CoLiability · $1,000,000 · on fileFMCSA's new system
-
Oct 1, 2021UNITED STATES FIRE INSURANCE CO.Liability bond (BMC-82) · ended Oct 1, 2022 · replaced by another insurer12 months in forceL&I to May 14, 2026
-
Oct 1, 2017PROTECTIVE INSURANCE CO.Liability bond (BMC-82) · ended Oct 1, 2021 · replaced by another insurer48 months in forceL&I to May 14, 2026
-
Oct 1, 2013Travelers Casualty and Surety Company of AmericaBroker bond (BMC-84) · on file · on fileFMCSA's new system
-
Jul 1, 2011GREAT WEST CASUALTY CO.Liability · $1,000,000 · ended Oct 1, 2017 · replaced by another insurera cancellation notice effective Oct 31, 2017 came after the replacement; 75 months in forceL&I to May 14, 2026
-
Jun 30, 2010TRAVELERS PROPERTY CASUALTY CO. OF AMERICACargo · ended Feb 14, 2018 · cancellation notice took effect92 months in forceL&I to May 14, 2026
-
Jun 30, 2010CONTINENTAL CASUALTY CO.Liability · $1,000,000 · ended Jul 1, 2011 · replaced by another insurera cancellation notice effective Jul 30, 2011 came after the replacement; 12 months in forceL&I to May 14, 2026
-
Jun 29, 2010FMCSA revocation notice for the operating authority, dropped Jul 7, 2010opened after GREAT WEST CASUALTY CO. filed a cancellation notice (effective Jul 26, 2010)L&I to May 14, 2026
-
May 9, 2009TRAVELERS CASUALTY & SURETY CO. OF AMERICABroker bond (BMC-84) · ended Oct 1, 2013 · replaced by the same insurer (renewal)a cancellation notice effective Nov 2, 2013 came after the replacement; 53 months in forceL&I to May 14, 2026
-
Apr 1, 2003GREAT WEST CASUALTY CO.Cargo · ended Jun 30, 2010 · replaced by another insurera cancellation notice effective Jul 26, 2010 came after the replacement; 87 months in forceL&I to May 14, 2026
-
Apr 1, 2003GREAT WEST CASUALTY CO.Liability · $1,000,000 · ended Jun 30, 2010 · replaced by another insurera cancellation notice effective Jul 26, 2010 came after the replacement; 87 months in forceL&I to May 14, 2026
-
Apr 1, 2002FIREMAN'S FUND INSURANCE CO.Cargo · ended Apr 1, 2003 · replaced by another insurer12 months in forceL&I to May 14, 2026
-
Apr 1, 2002THE INSURANCE CORPORATION OF NEW YORKLiability · $1,000,000 · ended Apr 1, 2003 · cancellation notice took effect12 months in forceL&I to May 14, 2026
-
May 23, 2000Broker authority grantedL&I to May 14, 2026
-
May 9, 2000THE CINCINNATI INSURANCE CO.Broker bond (BMC-84) · ended May 9, 2009 · replaced by another insurera cancellation notice effective May 10, 2009 came after the replacement; 108 months in forceL&I to May 14, 2026
-
Apr 1, 2000ST. PAUL FIRE & MARINE INSURANCE CO.Cargo · ended Apr 1, 2002 · replaced by another insurera cancellation notice effective Apr 29, 2002 came after the replacement; 24 months in forceL&I to May 14, 2026
-
Apr 1, 1999ST. PAUL FIRE & MARINE INSURANCE CO.Cargo · ended Apr 1, 2000 · replaced by the same insurer (renewal)12 months in forceL&I to May 14, 2026
-
Apr 1, 1999ST. PAUL FIRE & MARINE INSURANCE CO.Cargo · ended Sep 16, 1999 · superseded by the same policy6 months in forceL&I to May 14, 2026
-
Apr 1, 1999ST. PAUL FIRE & MARINE INSURANCE CO.Liability · $500,000 · ended Apr 1, 2002 · replaced by another insurera cancellation notice effective Apr 29, 2002 came after the replacement; 36 months in forceL&I to May 14, 2026
-
Apr 1, 1998LIBERTY MUTUAL INSURANCE CO.Cargo · ended Apr 1, 1999 · replaced by another insurer12 months in forceL&I to May 14, 2026
-
Apr 1, 1998LIBERTY MUTUAL INSURANCE CO.Liability · $1,000,000 · ended Apr 1, 1999 · replaced by another insurer12 months in forceL&I to May 14, 2026
-
Apr 1, 1995LIBERTY MUTUAL INSURANCE CO.Cargo · ended Apr 1, 1998 · replaced by the same insurer (renewal)36 months in forceL&I to May 14, 2026
-
Apr 1, 1995LIBERTY MUTUAL INSURANCE CO.Liability · $1,000,000 · ended Apr 1, 1998 · replaced by the same insurer (renewal)36 months in forceL&I to May 14, 2026
-
May 26, 1994Operating authority grantedL&I to May 14, 2026
-
Mar 24, 1994THE RELIANCE INSURANCE CO.Cargo · ended Apr 1, 1995 · replaced by another insurer12 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
- Tennessee (HQ) 124
- North Carolina 64
- Kentucky 16
- Indiana 11
- South Carolina 9
- Georgia 8
- Ohio 7
- Missouri 6
46% 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 (109 power units: 85 filed, 109 seen roadside in 24 months).
Crash Outlook vs Peer Fleet
crashes per year · same scale
Average peer fleet
5.7
Actual, per year in window
4.0
Projected, next 12 mo
4.6
0
3.5
7
We'd expect a typical fleet of 109 power units this active to have about 5.7 crashes a year (sized from the 109 units seen roadside; 85 filed). This motor carrier recorded 12 in its scoring window (Sep 1, 2023 → Aug 31, 2026, about 4.0 a year) — fewer than a typical fleet. Factoring in its inspection and violation record inside that window and the credibility of its own experience, the model projects about 4.6 over the next 12 — below a typical fleet. 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 12% 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:
266 inspections
and 12 crashes.
The FMCSA record tables now hold 268 inspections and 9 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
- Out-of-service inspection Sep 25, 2024 · NC · level 3 · 1 driver OOS · 1 violation
- 1 further inspection with no out-of-service result
Confidence: High · Z = 0.67
Satisfactory — 0.81x its class rate (cuts: Excellent <0.60, Strong <0.76, Satisfactory <1.06, Marginal <1.57, Poor <2.11). Class rate 0.052 crashes per power-unit-year for a 109-unit for-hire fleet (pu100_199). Violations 0.89x (driver behaviour 0.95x, out-of-service 0.67x, all violations 0.38x; 266 inspections). Experience 0.91x: 6.8 decayed crashes against 7.9 expected over 36 months (credibility 0.67, a 3.82). 80% range 0.50–1.16x. Fleet sized at 109 units from roadside VINs (85 filed). 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
5.2 crashes per 100 power-unit-years
109 power units (85 filed, 109 seen roadside) · 5.72 expected crashes a year
Violation relativity
0.89×
266 inspections in window
Crash experience
0.91×
6.8 decayed crashes vs 7.9 expected · credibility 0.67
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 0.81× (80% range 0.50–1.16×)
· 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
270
Driver Insp
270
Driver OOS
5
Vehicle Insp
157
Vehicle OOS
28
| BASIC | Insp w/ Viol | Measure | Alert |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unsafe Driving | 29 | 3.69 | |
| HOS Compliance | 10 | 0.12 | |
| Driver Fitness | 6 | 0.15 | |
| Controlled Substances | 0 | 0.00 | |
| Vehicle Maintenance | 34 | 1.97 |
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.