HaulerCheck · https://haulercheck.com/carrier/1653475-merles-garage-and-towing-inc/ · Checked 2026-10-20 05:58 UTC · Census and inspections Oct 19, 2026 · Authority and insurance: Last known · FMCSA snapshot May 14, 2026
MERLE'S GARAGE AND TOWING INC
No risk signals in the last-known data
How risk signals workNothing in the FMCSA record matched our risk signals. That is not a guarantee, and it does not confirm who you are talking to; follow the checks below. Authority and insurance are last known from May 14, 2026.
No cargo cover filed with FMCSA
Not a live check. FMCSA has not published a Motus record for this carrier, so authority and insurance show the last known status from May 14, 2026. Confirm on Motus ↗ before booking.
What to verify next
- Confirm authority and insurance on the official Motus record ↗: our copy is the last known status from May 14, 2026. Safety record: SAFER ↗.
- Call back on the number on file, (906) 630-3583, not a number from an email or load board.
- Check that the MC number you were given is MC786941.
- Ask the insurer for a certificate of insurance naming you as holder, with cargo coverage that fits your load.
Insurance on file
Liability (BI&PD) pays for injury and damage to other people and property; it does not cover the freight. Cargo insurance covers the freight. FMCSA only requires cargo filings from household goods carriers and freight forwarders, so most carriers file none: ask for a cargo certificate that fits your load. No cargo cover filed with FMCSA.
| Type | Docket | Layer | Insurer | Coverage | Effective | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liability (BI&PD) | MC786941 | Primary | FREMONT INSURANCE COMPANY Policy CAP 0035985 · 91X | $1,000,000 | Sep 15, 2020 | Active |
Source: Last known · FMCSA snapshot May 14, 2026. Identical filings repeated in the FMCSA data are shown once; a filing listed under two dockets is one policy, not extra coverage. Coverage is the maximum amount filed with FMCSA, not the full policy.
Last known filings. Insurance for this carrier comes from the FMCSA snapshot of May 14, 2026. Policies may have been cancelled or replaced since. Confirm current filings: Motus record ↗ and ask the insurer for a certificate naming you as holder.
Roadside inspections Oct 19, 2024 – Oct 19, 2026
1 of 1 · Michigan avg 21.2%
0 of 2 · Michigan avg 3.9%
2 most recent inspections
| Date | State | Level | Violations | Out of service |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 21, 2026 | MI | 3 | 1 | No |
| Dec 10, 2025 | MI | 1 | 13 | Yes |
How these rates are calculated
Period: Oct 19, 2024 – Oct 19, 2026. Vehicle rate = vehicle inspections with a vehicle out-of-service order ÷ vehicle inspections (levels 1, 2, 5 and 6). Driver rate uses levels 1, 2, 3 and 6. The Michigan average covers 51,411 vehicle and 85,596 driver inspections of all Michigan-based carriers in this period. It mixes every type of operation, so compare with care; rates based on a handful of inspections say little. FMCSA's own SMS measures are weighted differently: SMS profile ↗ · SAFER snapshot ↗
Violations in FMCSA's SMS last 24 months
11 violations counted in FMCSA's Safety Measurement System (SMS), 4 of them serious enough to put the driver or vehicle out of service.
Why is this different from the 14 violations above?
The inspections section's number counts every violation written on the inspection reports in our Oct 19, 2024 – Oct 19, 2026 window. The SMS count comes from FMCSA's own monthly SMS snapshot, which uses its own 24-month window and only the violations it scores. Both are FMCSA figures; they measure different things.
| Category (FMCSA BASIC) | Violations | Out of service | Share | Michigan share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Maintenance | 10 | 4 | 90.9% | 63.8% |
| Unsafe Driving | 1 | 0 | 9.1% | 19.2% |
10 most frequent violations
| Violation | Times | Out of service |
|---|---|---|
| Lighting - Stop lamps - Driveaway - both missing. Lighting · Vehicle Maintenance · code 39317B2LSLDMWR | 1 | 1 |
| Lighting - Turn signal - Driveaway - any missing. Lighting · Vehicle Maintenance · code 39317B2LTSDM | 1 | 1 |
| Steering - Pitman arm loose on the output shaft Steering Mechanism · Vehicle Maintenance · code 393209DSTPAL | 1 | 1 |
| Tires - All others weight carried exceeds tire load limit Tire vs. Load · Vehicle Maintenance · code 39375GTAOW | 1 | 1 |
| State/Local Laws - Following too closely Dangerous Driving · Unsafe Driving · code 3922SLLFC | 1 | 0 |
| Lighting - Identification lamp(s) missing Clearance Identification Lamps/Other · Vehicle Maintenance · code 39311A1LIL | 1 | 0 |
| Emergency Equipment - Fire Extinguishers - no fire extinguisher present or not properly rated. Emergency Equipment · Vehicle Maintenance · code 39395A1 | 1 | 0 |
| Lighting - Backup lamp inoperative Lighting · Vehicle Maintenance · code 3939ALBL | 1 | 0 |
| Lighting - Headlamp(s) - Any inoperative Lighting · Vehicle Maintenance · code 3939ALHLI | 1 | 0 |
| Windshield / Windows - Tinting permits less than 70% of light transmittance Windshield/ Glass/ Markings · Vehicle Maintenance · code 39360D | 1 | 0 |
Source: FMCSA SMS violation file, inspections in the last 24 months, published Oct 19, 2026. "Share" is this company's mix of violations; the Michigan column is the mix across all Michigan-based carriers, so you can see which kinds of problems stand out. A high count partly reflects fleet size and how often trucks are inspected.
Crashes Oct 19, 2024 – Oct 19, 2026
No reportable crashes in this period.
Company details FMCSA census · Oct 19, 2026
| USDOT number | 1653475 |
|---|---|
| MC / docket | MC786941 |
| Legal name | MERLE'S GARAGE AND TOWING INC |
| Operation | Interstate |
| Business type | — |
| Power units | 10 |
| Drivers | 12 |
| Annual mileage | 220,000 (2024) |
| Hazmat | Yes |
| Safety rating | Not rated (no compliance review on record) |
| USDOT number added | Jun 7, 2007 · 19 years ago |
| Last MCS-150 update | Jul 3, 2025 |
Cargo carried
General FreightMotor VehiclesDrive/Tow Away
Change history
No changes to name, contact details, authority or insurance since we started tracking on Oct 18, 2026. We compare every company's FMCSA record each day.
to see it on your watchlist when something changes.
Questions about MERLE'S GARAGE AND TOWING INC
What does MERLE'S GARAGE AND TOWING INC's operating authority allow?
MC786941: Contract carrier (may haul regulated property for hire under continuing contracts with specific shippers).
Which information about MERLE'S GARAGE AND TOWING INC is old or missing?
Operating authority is the last known status from the FMCSA snapshot of May 14, 2026, not a current check. Insurance filings are from the same May 14, 2026 snapshot. There are too few vehicle inspections in the last 24 months to judge the out-of-service rate. FMCSA has not issued a safety rating, which means no compliance review is on record, not that the carrier is unsafe.
What should I verify before booking MERLE'S GARAGE AND TOWING INC?
Confirm the authority and insurance on the Motus record for USDOT 1653475. Call the company back on the phone number on file, (906) 630-3583, not a number from an email or load board message. Check that the MC number the dispatcher gave you matches MC786941, and ask the insurer for a certificate of insurance naming you as holder, with cargo coverage that fits your load.
Other companies using (906) 630-3583
A shared number is common for related companies, dispatch services and family businesses. It is not proof of fraud, but it is worth knowing which company you are dealing with.
1 company
| Company | Location | USDOT | Docket | Trucks | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MARK VOLLICK High risk Carrier · DBA MARK VOLLICK TRUCKING |
Sault Sainte Marie, MI | 2107871 | MC780169 | 1 | Inactive Last known · May 14, 2026 |
Other trucking companies in Sault Sainte Marie, MI →
Company details from the FMCSA Company Census File (Oct 19, 2026). Inspections and crashes from FMCSA MCMIS files. About our data · Report an error on this page (how corrections work).
Page generated 2026-10-20 05:58 UTC.