HOWELL'S MOTOR FREIGHT INC
(540) 591-3205
fred_lackey@howellsmotor.com
51 Simmons Drive, Cloverdale VA 24077-3131
1
tractors · all owned
1 drivers
Satisfactory
FRED Score 57.4 / 100
Moderate confidence
52 yrs history · 78 roadside inspections
FMCSA Live Status
Checking FMCSA…
Fleet & equipment
- Power units
- 1
- Drivers · CDL
- 1 · 1
- Annual miles
- 5.1M unreliable
| Type | Own | Term | Trip | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trucks | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tractors | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Trailers | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
Registration
- Organization
- CORPORATION
- Cargo Operation
- Interstate
- Scope
- Interstate (Beyond 100 miles)
- FMCSA Rating
- Satisfactory (12-17-2003) · 22 yr old
- Registered
- 06-01-1974 (52 yrs)
- MCS-150 Update
- 09-11-2026 (Biennial Update)
- FRED Score Date
- Nov 08, 2026
- Officer
- CHADWICK NORRIS
- Officer
- Jeff Shepard
Cargo
61.2
medium risk
Meat
Refrigerated Food
General Freight
Beverages
Other: PHARMACEUTICALS
- 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.
Mileage Unreliable
MCS-150 annual mileage appears implausibly high for fleet size. The per-100k-mile rate benchmarks on this page are excluded; the FRED grade does not use mileage (crash exposure is power-unit-years, violation exposure is inspection counts).
Expected crash rate is about the same as similar fleets.
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 0.97×
ExcellentStrongSatisf.SatisfactoryMarginalPoorCritical
▲ Similar fleets 1.0×
Expected crashes, next 12 months
3.0 vs 3.2 for similar fleets
Likely 1–6 crashes
This motor carrier
3.0
Similar fleets
3.2
Chance of a fatal crash, next 12 months
~8%
About typical for similar fleets.
What's driving the grade
Crash history
betterworse
About typical. 6 crashes on the FMCSA record in 24 months (about 3 a year), including 3 with injuries; similar fleets have about 3.2 a year. The grade counts 10 crashes in its 36-month scoring window, recent ones weighted most.
Roadside inspections
betterworse
Better than peers. Violations 0.64×, out-of-service orders 0.72× and unsafe-driving and hours-of-service violations 0.74× the rate expected for its inspections. Together they move its crash estimate -9%: 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 crashes3 crashes with 4 people hurt in 24 months.Ask: claim status and driver history for these crashes.
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Brakes and lightsBrakes are 13 of 37 violations (35%). Brake or light defects led to 4 out-of-service orders.Ask: the preventive-maintenance schedule and shop records.
Strengths
- Driver out-of-service rate 1.3% vs 6.7% national.
- No FMCSA BASIC alerts.
Data flags
-
Dangerous driving: 1
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Unreliable reported mileageThe motor carrier's self-reported annual mileage (MCS-150) looks implausible, so exposure- and mileage-based figures may be distorted.
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Unusual inspection rateInspections per truck fall outside the normal range (1st–99th percentile), which can point to a mis-reported fleet size or data issues.
Track record
FMCSA record, Sep 2024 – Jun 2026
· grade scored on Oct 1, 2023 → Oct 31, 2026
Crashes
6
0 fatalities · 4 injuries · 0 tow-aways
Inspections
78
70% clean (no violations)
Vehicle out-of-service
25.8%
8 of 31
National avg 22.3%
Driver out-of-service
1.3%
1 of 78
National avg 6.7%
Violations
37
9 out-of-service
Inspected more often than interstate fleets of 1 truck in Virginia (about 1 in 24 months would be typical; 61% of them had none).
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 29,409 peer fleets
Inspections per power unit look like an outlier vs peers; read these rates with care.
| This motor carrier | Peers | |
|---|---|---|
| Crashes | 3.000 | 0.055 |
| Inspections | 62.00 | 2.38 |
| Violations | 18.50 | 2.14 |
| Critical violations | 5.00 | 0.42 |
Yearly rates from the last 24 months. Peers: interstate fleets, Owner-Operator power units, medium-risk cargo.
What they get cited for
37 violations · 24 months-
Vehicle maintenance No alert26 · 8 OOSBrakes 13 · Lights 4 · Tires 4 · Cargo securement 1 · Wheels & hubs 1 · 3 more
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Unsafe driving No alert8 · 0 OOSReckless / lane 2 · Seat belt 2 · Phone use 1 · Speeding 1 · Other 2
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Hours of service No alert2 · 0 OOSLogbook / ELD paperwork 1 · Over hours limit 1
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Driver fitness No alert1 · 1 OOSOther qualification 1
-
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-
Apr122026VirginiaProperty damage onlyDark - not lighted, two-way trafficway divided unprotected median.
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Dec162025VirginiaInjury · 2 people hurtDaylight, two-way trafficway divided unprotected median.
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Nov192025VirginiaInjury · 1 person hurtDaylight, two-way trafficway divided unprotected median.
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Oct242025South CarolinaProperty damage onlyDaylight, two-way trafficway divided unprotected median. FMCSA: not preventable.
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Aug192025North CarolinaInjury · 1 person hurtDaylight, two-way trafficway divided unprotected median.
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Feb132025VirginiaProperty damage onlyDark - lighted, two-way trafficway divided positive barrier. FMCSA: not preventable.
3 of the 6 crashes hurt someone but killed no one.
Insurance filed with FMCSA
FMCSA record through Nov 7, 2026Today · live FMCSA check
Checking FMCSA…
- Liability (BIPD)
-
$1,000,000 · ACUITY, A MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANYon record since Aug 1, 2026 · FMCSA minimum $750,000 · no gap on FMCSA's record since Apr 19911 other liability filing also on file
- Cargo filing
- not required by FMCSA (household-goods motor carriers only); the cargo policy is not on FMCSA's record
- Broker or forwarder bond
- required · none on file
36 months to Nov 7, 2026
- 2 liability insurers on FMCSA's record, 1 change: THE TRAVELERS INDEMNITY CO. OF CONNECTICUT → ACUITY, A MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY (Aug 2026)
Authority
- FMCSA's record shows a suspension of the operating authority on Aug 1, 2026 while a filing by DISCOVER PROPERTY & CASUALTY INSURANCE CO. was in force; FMCSA has corrected suspensions its new system issued in error. 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 notice served Aug 3, 2026 (suspension effective Sep 2, 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 notice resolved in time: 1
Operating authority active (FMCSA's new registration system, status since Aug 5, 2026)
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 13 authority events since 1977 · FMCSA record through Nov 7, 2026
Every insurance filing on the FMCSA record
24 filings and 13 authority events since 1977 · FMCSA record through Nov 7, 2026
Newest first. Insurer names as filed. FMCSA does not publish why a filing was cancelled.
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Aug 5, 2026Operating authority reinstatedFMCSA's new system
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Aug 3, 2026FMCSA suspension notice for the operating authority, effective Sep 2, 2026the authority stayed activeFMCSA's new system
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Aug 1, 2026ACUITY, A MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANYLiability · $1,000,000 · on filean entry on FMCSA's file showed the limit as 1000FMCSA's new system
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Aug 1, 2026Operating authority suspended: no insurance filing meeting the FMCSA minimum on filea liability filing was in force on FMCSA's record that dayFMCSA's new system
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Jul 30, 2026Voluntary suspension of the operating authority requested, effective (date not stated)FMCSA's new system
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Jul 30, 2026Broker authority voluntarily suspended or withdrawnFMCSA's new system
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Mar 1, 2014THE TRAVELERS INDEMNITY CO. OF CONNECTICUTLiability · $750,000 · on fileFMCSA's new system
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Dec 2, 2013Broker authority revoked (cause not stated)L&I to May 14, 2026
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Mar 1, 2013DISCOVER PROPERTY & CASUALTY INSURANCE CO.Liability · $750,000 · 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 · $750,000 · 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 · $750,000 · ended Mar 1, 2012 · replaced by the same insurer (renewal)12 months in forceL&I to May 14, 2026
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Apr 1, 2010THE PHOENIX INSURANCE COCargo · ended Apr 20, 2017 · cancellation notice took effect85 months in forceL&I to May 14, 2026
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Mar 1, 2010DISCOVER PROPERTY & CASUALTY INSURANCE CO.Liability · $750,000 · ended Mar 1, 2011 · replaced by the same insurer (renewal)12 months in forceL&I to May 14, 2026
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Oct 20, 2009AMERICAN CONTRACTORS INDEMNITY COMPANYBroker bond (BMC-84) · ended Oct 1, 2013 · cancellation notice took effect47 months in forceL&I to May 14, 2026
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Sep 18, 2009FMCSA revocation notice for the broker authority, dropped Oct 21, 2009cause not stated in FMCSA's older recordsL&I to May 14, 2026
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Apr 3, 2009FMCSA revocation notice for the operating authority, dropped Apr 7, 2009cause not stated in FMCSA's older recordsL&I to May 14, 2026
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Apr 1, 2009HANOVER INSURANCE CO.Cargo · ended Apr 1, 2010 · replaced by another insurer12 months in forceL&I to May 14, 2026
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Apr 1, 2009DISCOVER PROPERTY & CASUALTY INSURANCE CO.Liability · $750,000 · ended Mar 1, 2010 · replaced by the same insurer (renewal)11 months in forceL&I to May 14, 2026
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Apr 1, 2008TRAVELERS PROPERTY CASUALTY CO. OF AMERICACargo · ended Apr 1, 2009 · replaced by another insurera cancellation notice effective Apr 30, 2009 came after the replacement; 12 months in forceL&I to May 14, 2026
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Apr 1, 2007HANOVER INSURANCE CO.Cargo · ended Apr 1, 2008 · replaced by another insurer12 months in forceL&I to May 14, 2026
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Jan 13, 2006HARTFORD FIRE INSURANCE COMPANYCargo · ended Apr 1, 2007 · replaced by another insurer15 months in forceL&I to May 14, 2026
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Jan 9, 2006FMCSA revocation notice for the operating authority, dropped Jan 31, 2006cause not stated in FMCSA's older recordsL&I to May 14, 2026
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Apr 1, 2005FIREMAN'S FUND INSURANCE CO.Cargo · ended Jan 13, 2006 · replaced by another insurera cancellation notice effective Feb 5, 2006 came after the replacement; 9 months in forceL&I to May 14, 2026
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Apr 1, 2004NAVIGATORS INSURANCE COMPANYCargo · ended Apr 1, 2005 · replaced by another insurer12 months in forceL&I to May 14, 2026
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Apr 1, 2003LIBERTY MUTUAL FIRE INSURANCE CO.Liability · $750,000 · ended Apr 1, 2009 · replaced by another insurer72 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
- North Carolina 34
- Virginia (HQ) 16
- South Carolina 9
- Tennessee 8
- Pennsylvania 5
- Georgia 2
- Kentucky 2
- Maryland 1
21% 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 (60 power units: 1 filed, 60 seen roadside in 24 months).
Crash Outlook vs Peer Fleet
crashes per year · same scale
Average peer fleet
3.2
Actual, per year in window
3.3
Projected, next 12 mo
3.0
0
2
4
We'd expect a typical fleet of 60 power units this active to have about 3.2 crashes a year (sized from the 60 units seen roadside; 1 filed). This motor carrier recorded 10 in its scoring window (Oct 1, 2023 → Sep 30, 2026, about 3.3 a year). Factoring in its inspection and violation record inside that window and the credibility of its own experience, the model projects about 3.0 over the next 12. 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 8% 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 Oct 1, 2023 → Sep 30, 2026 · inspections Nov 1, 2024 → Oct 31, 2026 · data as of Nov 4, 2026
Inside that window:
71 inspections
and 10 crashes.
The FMCSA record tables now hold 71 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
Aged out — crashes before Oct 1, 2023, inspections before Nov 1, 2024
- Out-of-service inspection Oct 29, 2024 · SC · level 1 · 1 vehicle OOS · 3 violations
- Out-of-service inspection Oct 28, 2024 · PA · level 2 · 1 driver OOS · 2 violations
- 5 further inspections with no out-of-service result
Confidence: Moderate · Z = 0.44
Satisfactory — 0.97x its class rate (cuts: Excellent <0.60, Strong <0.76, Satisfactory <1.06, Marginal <1.57, Poor <2.11). Class rate 0.053 crashes per power-unit-year for a 60-unit for-hire fleet (pu50_99). Violations 0.91x (driver behaviour 0.74x, out-of-service 0.72x, all violations 0.64x; 71 inspections). Experience 1.06x: 5.1 decayed crashes against 4.4 expected over 36 months (credibility 0.44, a 5.60). 80% range 0.60–1.38x. Fleet sized at 60 units from roadside VINs (1 filed). Last change: a data correction.
Since the previous weekly run the risk relativity moved -2.9%, driven by a data correction in the FMCSA file.
Scoring flags
MCS-150 mileage unreliable (mileage is not in the grade)
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
5.3 crashes per 100 power-unit-years
60 power units (1 filed, 60 seen roadside) · 3.15 expected crashes a year
Violation relativity
0.91×
71 inspections in window
Crash experience
1.06×
5.1 decayed crashes vs 4.4 expected · credibility 0.44
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 0.97× (80% range 0.60–1.38×)
· 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
78
Driver Insp
78
Driver OOS
1
Vehicle Insp
31
Vehicle OOS
8
| BASIC | Insp w/ Viol | Measure | Alert |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unsafe Driving | 7 | 0.83 | |
| HOS Compliance | 2 | 0.06 | |
| Driver Fitness | 1 | 0.08 | |
| Controlled Substances | 0 | 0.00 | |
| Vehicle Maintenance | 17 | 4.21 |
SMS record data is sourced from FMCSA's Safety Measurement System (01-APR-26 – 31-OCT-24) and may cover a different time window than the scoring window used for the FRED grade (Oct 1, 2023 → Oct 31, 2026). Counts here may differ from the grade's in-window counts.