HaulerCheck · https://haulercheck.com/carrier/48104-merchants-transport-of-hickory-llc/ · Checked 2026-10-20 06:04 UTC · Census and inspections Oct 19, 2026 · Authority and insurance: FMCSA Motus · Oct 19, 2026
MERCHANTS TRANSPORT OF HICKORY LLC
Carrier & Broker
Motor carrier & Broker under MC162035
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, (828) 725-4259, not a number from an email or load board.
- Check that the MC number you were given is MC162035.
- Ask for a certificate of insurance naming you as holder, with cargo coverage that fits your load; if it brokers your load, ask for proof of its BMC-84/85 bond or trust instead.
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) | MC162035 | Primary | Safety National Casualty Corporation Policy CAS4045852 · BMC-91X | $3,000,000 | Jun 29, 2013 | Active |
| Surety Bond | MC162035 | — | LM Insurance Corporation Policy 018009219 · BMC-84 | $75,000 | Oct 1, 2013 | Active |
Source: FMCSA Motus · Oct 19, 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 19, 2024 – Oct 19, 2026
16 of 368 · North Carolina avg 21.9%
1 of 761 · North Carolina avg 5.9%
10 most recent inspections
| Date | State | Level | Violations | Out of service |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 17, 2026 | NC | 3 | 0 | No |
| Oct 15, 2026 | NC | 1 | 0 | No |
| Oct 15, 2026 | TN | 1 | 0 | No |
| Oct 14, 2026 | NC | 2 | 0 | No |
| Oct 13, 2026 | NC | 3 | 0 | No |
| Oct 13, 2026 | NC | 2 | 0 | No |
| Oct 12, 2026 | NC | 1 | 0 | No |
| Oct 12, 2026 | FL | 2 | 0 | No |
| Oct 11, 2026 | NC | 1 | 0 | No |
| Oct 11, 2026 | NC | 3 | 1 | No |
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 North Carolina average covers 60,599 vehicle and 118,016 driver inspections of all North Carolina-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
92 violations counted in FMCSA's Safety Measurement System (SMS), 22 of them serious enough to put the driver or vehicle out of service.
Why is this different from the 139 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 | North Carolina share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Maintenance | 44 | 20 | 47.8% | 63.4% |
| Unsafe Driving | 30 | 0 | 32.6% | 13.4% |
| Hours-of-Service Compliance | 18 | 2 | 19.6% | 15.9% |
10 most frequent violations
| Violation | Times | Out of service |
|---|---|---|
| State/Local Laws - Lane restriction violation Misc Violations · Unsafe Driving · code 3922SLLLR | 11 | 0 |
| Inoperative Brake Lamps Lighting · Vehicle Maintenance · code 3939BRKLAMP | 4 | 4 |
| Flat tire or fabric exposed Tires · Vehicle Maintenance · code 39375A | 4 | 4 |
| Inoperative turn signal Lighting · Vehicle Maintenance · code 3939TS | 4 | 1 |
| HOS (ELD) - ELD Form and Manner Other Log/Form & Manner · Hours-of-Service Compliance · code 39524 | 4 | 0 |
| State/Local Laws - Failed to obey a traffic control device - Permanent or Temporary - e.g. safety official signal sign light lane marking other Dangerous Driving · Unsafe Driving · code 3922SLLTCD | 4 | 0 |
| State/Local Laws - Speeding 6-10 miles per hour over the speed limit Speeding 2 · Unsafe Driving · code 3922SLLS2 | 4 | 0 |
| HOS (ELD) - In-Vehicle Information - Failing to have a supply of blank driver's records of duty status graph-grids sufficient to record the driver's duty status a EOBR Related · Hours-of-Service Compliance · code 39522H4ELDBRODS | 3 | 0 |
| HOS (ELD) - Driver failing to review records and certify the accuracy of the information. Other Log/Form & Manner · Hours-of-Service Compliance · code 39530B1ELDDFR | 3 | 0 |
| Lane Restriction violation Misc Violations · Unsafe Driving · code 3922LV | 3 | 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 North Carolina column is the mix across all North Carolina-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
10 most recent crashes
| Date | Location | Fatalities | Injuries |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 8, 2026 | Charlotte, NC | 0 | 0 |
| Oct 6, 2026 | Not Reported, VA | 0 | 0 |
| May 11, 2026 | Decatur, GA | 0 | 0 |
| May 8, 2026 | Wendell, NC | 0 | 1 |
| Apr 10, 2026 | Doraville, GA | 0 | 1 |
| Feb 28, 2026 | Newton Grove, NC | 0 | 0 |
| Feb 3, 2026 | Kernersville, NC | 0 | 0 |
| Jan 22, 2026 | Morgantown, WV | 0 | 0 |
| Jan 3, 2026 | Magnolia, NC | 0 | 0 |
| Oct 26, 2025 | Jacksonville, FL | 0 | 0 |
Reportable crashes do not imply the carrier was at fault.
Company details FMCSA census · Oct 19, 2026
| USDOT number | 48104 |
|---|---|
| MC / docket | MC162035 |
| Legal name | MERCHANTS TRANSPORT OF HICKORY LLC |
| Operation | Interstate |
| Business type | Corporation |
| Power units | 274 |
| Drivers | 347 |
| Annual mileage | 25,861,000 (2025) |
| Hazmat | No |
| Safety rating | Satisfactory (Dec 14, 2000) |
| USDOT number added | Jun 1, 1974 · 52 years ago |
| Last MCS-150 update | Apr 3, 2026 |
Cargo carried
General FreightHousehold GoodsFresh ProduceLiquids/GasesMeatChemicalsCommodities Dry BulkRefrigerated FoodBeveragesPaper Products
Change history since Oct 18, 2026
1 change
| Date | What changed | Before | After |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 19, 2026 | Operating authority | MC162035: Broker of Property (Except Household Goods): Active; Motor Carrier of Property (Except Household Goods): Active | MC162035: Motor Carrier of Property (Except Household Goods): Active; Broker of Property (Except Household Goods): Active |
Changes we detected between daily FMCSA data refreshes.
Questions about MERCHANTS TRANSPORT OF HICKORY LLC
Is MERCHANTS TRANSPORT OF HICKORY LLC a broker or a carrier?
Both. MERCHANTS TRANSPORT OF HICKORY LLC holds active broker authority and active authority to haul freight. Check which role it is acting in on your load: as a broker it arranges another carrier; as a carrier it hauls with its own trucks.
What does MERCHANTS TRANSPORT OF HICKORY LLC's operating authority allow?
MC162035: Motor carrier (may haul regulated property for hire); Broker (may arrange transportation by other authorized carriers, but may not haul the freight itself under this authority).
Which information about MERCHANTS TRANSPORT OF HICKORY LLC is old or missing?
Nothing notable: authority and insurance come from current Motus data and there is enough inspection history to compare.
What should I verify before booking MERCHANTS TRANSPORT OF HICKORY LLC?
Confirm the authority and insurance on the Motus record for USDOT 48104. Call the company back on the phone number on file, (828) 725-4259, not a number from an email or load board message. Check that the MC number the dispatcher gave you matches MC162035, and ask for a certificate of insurance naming you as holder, with cargo coverage that fits your load; if it brokers your load, ask for proof of its BMC-84/85 bond or trust instead.
Other trucking companies in Hickory, NC →
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 06:04 UTC.