HaulerCheck · https://haulercheck.com/carrier/2872386-sm-lightning-inc/ · Checked 2026-10-19 11:37 UTC · Census and inspections Oct 18, 2026 · Authority and insurance: FMCSA Motus · Oct 18, 2026
SM LIGHTNING INC
No risk signals found
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.
No cargo cover filed with FMCSA
Green means the FMCSA record shows it. It does not confirm who you are talking to, or that a policy covers your specific load.
What to verify next
- Confirm authority and insurance on the official Motus record ↗. Safety record: SAFER ↗.
- Call back on the number on file, (209) 277-8031, not a number from an email or load board.
- Check that the MC number you were given is MC963557.
- 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) | MC963557 | — | UNITED FINANCIAL CASUALTY COMPANY Policy CA875331809 · BMC-91X | $750,000 | Jun 12, 2026 | Active |
Source: FMCSA Motus · Oct 18, 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.
Confirm current filings: Motus record ↗ and ask the insurer for a certificate naming you as holder.
Roadside inspections Oct 18, 2024 – Oct 18, 2026
1 of 9 · California avg 19.8%
2 of 7 · California avg 6.3%
9 most recent inspections
| Date | State | Level | Violations | Out of service |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 24, 2026 | UT | 1 | 0 | No |
| Apr 30, 2026 | CA | 1 | 1 | No |
| Apr 29, 2026 | CA | 1 | 1 | No |
| Feb 13, 2026 | CA | 5 | 0 | No |
| Feb 13, 2026 | CA | 5 | 1 | Yes |
| Jan 9, 2026 | CA | 1 | 1 | Yes |
| Nov 4, 2025 | CA | 2 | 8 | No |
| Aug 15, 2025 | CA | 2 | 0 | No |
| Oct 24, 2024 | CA | 1 | 2 | Yes |
How these rates are calculated
Period: Oct 18, 2024 – Oct 18, 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 California average covers 398,428 vehicle and 509,934 driver inspections of all California-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
14 violations counted in FMCSA's Safety Measurement System (SMS), 4 of them serious enough to put the driver or vehicle out of service.
| Category (FMCSA BASIC) | Violations | Out of service | Share | California share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Maintenance | 4 | 1 | 28.6% | 71.7% |
| Driver Fitness | 3 | 2 | 21.4% | 3.2% |
| Hours-of-Service Compliance | 3 | 0 | 21.4% | 16.6% |
| Unsafe Driving | 3 | 0 | 21.4% | 8.0% |
| Controlled Substances/Alcohol | 1 | 1 | 7.1% | 0.1% |
10 most frequent violations
| Violation | Times | Out of service |
|---|---|---|
| Drugs/Other Substances - Operating a CMV while recorded as prohibited from performing safety-sensitive functions. Alcohol Jumping OOS · Controlled Substances/Alcohol · code 39215SSF | 1 | 1 |
| License (CDL) - Operate a CMV and does not possess a valid CDL License-related: High · Driver Fitness · code 38323A2LCDLN | 1 | 1 |
| Operating a property-carrying vehicle without a valid medical certificate in possession or on file with the state drivers licensing agency. History of either fail Medical Certificate · Driver Fitness · code 39141A | 1 | 1 |
| Air Brake - Inoperative/defective primary or secondary pressure gauge Brakes All Others · Vehicle Maintenance · code 39351CBAPG | 1 | 1 |
| Medical (Certificate) - Operating a commercial motor vehicle without showing proof of a valid medical certification upon request but presents proof prior to com Medical Certificate · Driver Fitness · code 39141AMCPC | 1 | 0 |
| HOS (ELD) - On request by an authorized safety official a driver must produce and transfer from an ELD the driver's hours of service records in accordance with t Fail to transfer ELD records · Hours-of-Service Compliance · code 39524DELDPT | 1 | 0 |
| HOS (ELD) - Driver failing to manually input or verify CMV trailer number. Other Log/Form & Manner · Hours-of-Service Compliance · code 39524C2IIELDTN | 1 | 0 |
| HOS (ELD) - Driver failing to manually input or verify shipping document number. Other Log/Form & Manner · Hours-of-Service Compliance · code 39524C2IIIELDSDN | 1 | 0 |
| State/Local Laws - Lane restriction violation Misc Violations · Unsafe Driving · code 3922SLLLR | 1 | 0 |
| State/Local Laws - Speeding 6-10 miles per hour over the speed limit Speeding 2 · Unsafe Driving · code 3922SLLS2 | 1 | 0 |
Source: FMCSA SMS violation file, inspections in the last 24 months, published Oct 18, 2026. "Share" is this company's mix of violations; the California column is the mix across all California-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 18, 2024 – Oct 18, 2026
No reportable crashes in this period.
Company details FMCSA census · Oct 18, 2026
| USDOT number | 2872386 |
|---|---|
| MC / docket | MC963557 |
| Legal name | SM LIGHTNING INC |
| Operation | Interstate |
| Business type | — |
| Power units | 6 |
| Drivers | 6 |
| Annual mileage | 1,000,000 (2026) |
| Hazmat | No |
| Safety rating | Not rated (no compliance review on record) |
| USDOT number added | Mar 30, 2016 · 10 years ago |
| Last MCS-150 update | Sep 1, 2026 |
Cargo carried
General FreightBuilding MaterialsFresh ProduceIntermodal ContainersMeatU.S. MailCommodities Dry BulkRefrigerated FoodBeveragesPaper ProductsConstruction
Questions about SM LIGHTNING INC
What does SM LIGHTNING INC's operating authority allow?
MC963557: Motor carrier (may haul regulated property for hire).
Which information about SM LIGHTNING INC is old or missing?
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 SM LIGHTNING INC?
Confirm the authority and insurance on the Motus record for USDOT 2872386. Call the company back on the phone number on file, (209) 277-8031, not a number from an email or load board message. Check that the MC number the dispatcher gave you matches MC963557, and ask the insurer for a certificate of insurance naming you as holder, with cargo coverage that fits your load.
Other trucking companies in Turlock, CA →
Company details from the FMCSA Company Census File (Oct 18, 2026). Inspections and crashes from FMCSA MCMIS files. About our data · Report an error on this page (how corrections work).
Page generated 2026-10-19 11:37 UTC.