Motor Carrier Trust Index: Which States Have the Highest-Scoring Trucking Companies?

When your small business depends on reliable freight transportation, choosing the right motor carrier partner can make or break your supply chain. Yet most business owners lack visibility into which trucking companies maintain strong safety records, regulatory compliance, and operational reliability. That's where data-driven trust scores become invaluable.

Verdica's Motor Carrier platform has analyzed 17,000 records from the FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration) database, scoring 1,000 motor carriers and freight companies on an 850-point scale. The results reveal significant variation in carrier quality—and understanding these patterns can help you make smarter logistics decisions.

The Current State of Motor Carrier Compliance

The motor carrier industry shows a generally positive compliance landscape, though with notable exceptions that demand attention. Of the 1,000 scored entities in Verdica's database, the average score stands at 686 out of 850—a solid B grade that reflects an industry where most carriers maintain acceptable standards.

The grade distribution tells an interesting story:

• A grade (751-850 points): 62 carriers (6.2%)
• B grade (601-750 points): 869 carriers (86.9%)
• C grade (451-600 points): 64 carriers (6.4%)
• D grade (300-450 points): 5 carriers (0.5%)

This distribution reveals that while the vast majority of motor carriers maintain B-level compliance, only about 6% achieve excellence with an A grade. More concerning, 69 carriers—nearly 7% of those scored—fall into C or D territory, indicating compliance challenges that small business owners should carefully evaluate before forming partnerships.

Understanding FMCSA Data and Why It Matters

The FMCSA serves as the primary regulatory body overseeing the trucking industry in the United States. Their comprehensive database tracks safety records, violations, inspections, crashes, and compliance reviews for every registered motor carrier. This regulatory oversight exists for one critical reason: commercial motor vehicle safety directly impacts public safety on our highways.

For small business owners, FMCSA data provides a window into carrier reliability that goes far beyond marketing materials and sales pitches. The database tracks:

• Safety ratings based on on-site compliance reviews
• Inspection violations from roadside checks
• Crash history including severity and frequency
• Hours of service compliance indicating driver fatigue management
• Vehicle maintenance records showing equipment reliability
• Insurance coverage confirming financial responsibility

Verdica's latest data refresh, completed on September 28, 2026, incorporates all of these factors into a single trust score, making it easier for business owners to quickly assess carrier quality without becoming FMCSA data experts themselves.

The Top-Performing Motor Carriers

While Verdica's platform protects sensitive competitive information by not publishing complete rankings, the data shows that 62 motor carriers have achieved A-grade status with scores between 751 and 850 points. These elite performers represent the gold standard in the industry—carriers that consistently demonstrate:

• Clean safety records with minimal violations
• Proactive compliance management
• Well-maintained vehicle fleets
• Proper driver qualification and training programs
• Strong insurance coverage
• Effective hours-of-service compliance

For small businesses seeking freight partners, these A-grade carriers offer the lowest risk profile. They're statistically less likely to experience service disruptions due to regulatory enforcement actions, equipment failures, or safety incidents. While they may not always offer the lowest rates, the reduced operational risk often justifies any price premium.

The concentration of high-scoring carriers varies significantly by state and region—a pattern that reflects both regulatory enforcement intensity and industry culture in different parts of the country. States with robust transportation infrastructure and strong regulatory oversight tend to cultivate carriers with better compliance records.

Red Flags: The Lowest-Scoring Carriers

On the opposite end of the spectrum, Verdica's data identifies motor carriers with significant compliance challenges. The five lowest-scoring entities in the database are:

1. LEE RAY EDENS - 503/850
2. ELLIOTT MANUFACTURED HOMES INC - 503/850
3. JUDY CARROLL - 504/850
4. AM-TRANS INC - 504/850
5. HAMILTON JIM & SONS INC - 506/850

These C-grade scores (all falling in the 451-600 range) indicate documented compliance issues that warrant serious consideration. Low scores can result from various factors: multiple safety violations, poor vehicle maintenance records, driver qualification deficiencies, hours-of-service violations, or a combination of these issues.

For small business owners, partnering with carriers in this score range carries tangible risks:

• Service disruption risk: Carriers with compliance issues face higher probabilities of being placed out of service during inspections
• Liability exposure: If a carrier's safety failures contribute to an incident involving your freight, your business could face legal complications
• Reputation damage: Association with poorly-rated carriers can reflect negatively on your brand
• Insurance implications: Some business insurance policies may have requirements about carrier selection

This doesn't mean every low-scoring carrier should be automatically disqualified—some may be addressing past issues or operating in specialized niches with different risk profiles. However, these scores should trigger deeper due diligence conversations.

Geographic Patterns in Carrier Performance

While Verdica's current dataset of 1,000 scored entities represents a snapshot rather than comprehensive state-by-state rankings, patterns emerge when examining carrier performance across different regions. Understanding these geographic trends helps small businesses make more informed decisions about carrier selection.

Several factors influence regional variations in carrier scores:

Regulatory enforcement intensity: States with aggressive commercial vehicle enforcement programs tend to cultivate carriers with stronger compliance cultures. Frequent roadside inspections create natural selection pressure—carriers that don't maintain high standards struggle to operate profitably.

Infrastructure quality: Regions with well-maintained highways and modern truck stops make it easier for carriers to maintain vehicles and comply with hours-of-service regulations. Poor infrastructure increases operational stress and can contribute to compliance challenges.

Labor market dynamics: Areas with tight labor markets for commercial drivers may force carriers to lower qualification standards, potentially impacting safety scores. Conversely, regions with strong transportation workforce development programs often produce carriers with better-trained drivers.

Industry concentration: States with major freight hubs and distribution centers typically host more sophisticated carrier operations with better compliance infrastructure. Rural areas may have smaller carriers with fewer resources for compliance management.

Seasonal factors: Carriers operating in regions with extreme weather conditions face additional challenges in maintaining safety records and equipment reliability.

For small business owners shipping across multiple states, these geographic considerations should influence carrier selection strategies. A carrier with strong performance in one region may struggle when expanding into areas with different operational challenges.

How Verdica Calculates Motor Carrier Trust Scores

Transparency in scoring methodology matters when making business decisions based on trust indices. Verdica's 850-point scale synthesizes multiple FMCSA data points into a single actionable score.

The scoring algorithm evaluates:

Safety measurement system (SMS) scores: The FMCSA's behavior analysis and safety improvement categories (BASICs) track violations across seven categories. Carriers with high percentile rankings in unsafe driving, hours-of-service compliance, vehicle maintenance, or other categories see score reductions.

Crash history: Both the frequency and severity of crashes factor into scores, with preventable crashes weighted more heavily than unavoidable incidents.

Inspection results: Clean inspections boost scores, while violations—especially those resulting in vehicles or drivers being placed out of service—significantly reduce scores.

Insurance compliance: Proper insurance coverage and financial responsibility are baseline requirements that affect scoring.

Registration and authority status: Active, properly registered carriers score higher than those with expired or provisional authority.

The 850-point maximum allows for nuanced differentiation between carriers. The difference between a 680 and a 720 might seem small, but it often represents the distinction between a carrier that meets minimum standards and one that exceeds them consistently.

Updated regularly with FMCSA data refreshes (most recently September 28, 2026, incorporating 17,000 records), these scores reflect current compliance status rather than outdated information.

What Small Business Owners Should Look For

Navigating motor carrier selection requires balancing multiple priorities: cost, service quality, capacity, and compliance. Here's how to use trust scores effectively in your decision-making process:

Establish minimum thresholds: Consider setting a minimum acceptable score for your carrier partners. Many risk-conscious businesses won't work with carriers scoring below 650, while those handling high-value or sensitive freight might require 700 or higher.

Verify before signing contracts: Always check carrier scores before entering long-term contracts or high-volume agreements. A free search on Verdica's Motor Carrier platform takes minutes and could prevent costly mistakes.

Monitor ongoing performance: Carrier scores change as new inspection data, crashes, and violations are recorded. Periodically re-verify your regular carriers to catch deteriorating compliance before it impacts your operations.

Ask questions about low scores: If a carrier you're considering has a below-average score, ask them directly about it. Legitimate carriers will explain past issues and describe corrective actions. Evasive answers are red flags.

Consider score trends: A carrier improving from 620 to 680 over six months shows commitment to compliance. One declining from 720 to 650 may be experiencing operational or management problems.

Balance scores with other factors: The highest-scoring carrier isn't always the best fit. Specialized equipment needs, geographic coverage, or capacity considerations matter too. Use scores to identify unacceptable risks, not to make decisions in isolation.

Document your due diligence: Keep records of carrier verification activities. If problems arise later, documentation of reasonable pre-selection screening protects your business.

The B-Grade Majority: Good Enough or Room for Improvement?

With 869 carriers—86.9% of those scored—earning B grades (601-750 points), the motor carrier industry demonstrates broadly acceptable compliance. But should small business owners be satisfied with "acceptable"?

B-grade carriers generally maintain:

• Adequate safety records without major red flags
• Compliance with basic FMCSA requirements
• Acceptable vehicle maintenance standards
• Proper insurance and registration
• Manageable violation histories

For many small businesses, B-grade carriers offer an optimal balance of availability, pricing, and risk management. The pool of 869 carriers provides ample options for most shipping needs without restricting choices to only the elite 62 A-grade performers.

However, context matters. Businesses shipping hazardous materials, high-value goods, or temperature-sensitive products should strongly consider prioritizing A-grade carriers despite potentially higher costs. The specialized handling requirements for these shipments demand carriers with exceptional compliance records.

Conversely, businesses shipping low-value, durable goods on common routes might find mid-B-grade carriers (scores around 625-675) perfectly adequate while offering competitive pricing.

The key is making informed choices rather than defaulting to the cheapest available option without understanding the compliance tradeoffs.

Future Trends in Motor Carrier Compliance

The regulatory landscape for motor carriers continues evolving, with several trends likely to impact trust scores in coming years:

Electronic logging devices (ELDs): Mandatory ELD adoption has improved hours-of-service compliance tracking, making it harder for carriers to falsify driver logs. This should gradually improve industry-wide scores as non-compliant operators exit the market.

Advanced safety technologies: Carriers investing in collision avoidance systems, stability control, and other safety technologies typically see improved crash statistics, potentially boosting their scores.

Insurance market pressures: Rising insurance costs are forcing carriers to prioritize safety and compliance to maintain affordable coverage. This economic pressure complements regulatory enforcement.

Supply chain transparency demands: Major shippers increasingly require carrier compliance documentation, creating market incentives for higher scores beyond just regulatory requirements.

Driver shortage impacts: Ongoing driver shortages may pressure some carriers to lower qualification standards, potentially impacting safety scores negatively.

For small business owners, these trends suggest that carrier compliance scores will likely become even more important in coming years as a differentiator between sustainable, well-managed carriers and those struggling to adapt.

Taking Action: Using Trust Scores in Your Business

Data without action provides no value. Here's how to integrate motor carrier trust scores into your freight management processes:

Build a preferred carrier list: Screen carriers using Verdica's platform and create a list of approved partners meeting your minimum score requirements. Update this list quarterly as scores change.

Include compliance requirements in RFPs: When soliciting bids for freight services, specify minimum acceptable Verdica scores. This sets clear expectations and filters out non-compliant carriers early.

Train your team: Ensure that everyone involved in carrier selection—from purchasing managers to operations staff—understands how to check scores and what thresholds your company requires.

Monitor carrier performance: Create a simple spreadsheet tracking your regular carriers' scores over time. Set calendar reminders to re-verify scores quarterly.

Communicate expectations: Let carriers know you monitor compliance scores. This signals that your business takes supply chain risk seriously and may incentivize better performance.

Plan for carrier transitions: Identify backup carriers in case a primary partner's score deteriorates significantly. Having pre-vetted alternatives prevents rushed decisions under pressure.

Review after incidents: If a carrier causes a service disruption, check their current score and historical trend. Patterns often emerge that could have predicted problems.

The average score of 686/850 across Verdica's database means that finding compliant carriers isn't difficult—but identifying the truly excellent performers requires using data systematically.

Conclusion: Data-Driven Decisions for Smarter Logistics

The motor carrier industry's compliance landscape offers small business owners both opportunities and risks. With 62 A-grade carriers demonstrating excellence, 869 B-grade carriers providing reliable options, and 69 carriers in C or D territory signaling caution, the key is knowing which category your potential partners fall into.

FMCSA data, when properly analyzed and scored, transforms from overwhelming regulatory information into actionable business intelligence. The difference between partnering with a 750-score carrier versus a 505-score carrier like LEE RAY EDENS or ELLIOTT MANUFACTURED HOMES INC could mean the difference between smooth operations and costly disruptions.

As regulatory oversight intensifies and supply chain expectations rise, carrier compliance will only become more critical to business success. Small business owners who integrate trust scores into their carrier selection processes today position themselves ahead of this curve.

The data is clear, comprehensive, and updated regularly with FMCSA's latest information. The question is whether you'll use it to make better decisions.

Look up any motor carrier or freight company on Verdica Motor Carrier / Trucking — free for your first search. Verify compliance, check trust scores, and make data-driven decisions that protect your business and your customers.