Facts from the FMCSA record that call for a closer look. They are not a finding of wrongdoing.
- Phone number shared with 17 other companiesNormal for dispatch services and related companies, but confirm who you are talking to.
FF13022: Freight forwarder active
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, (800) 233-9445, not a number from an email or load board.
- Check that the MC number you were given is FF13022 or FF13022.
- Ask the insurer for a certificate of insurance naming you as holder, with cargo coverage that fits your load.
Bond & 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Surety Bond | FF13022 | — | Cherokee Insurance Company Policy SB200015 · BMC-84 | $75,000 | Jun 1, 2020 | Active |
Source: FMCSA Motus · —. 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.
Company details FMCSA census · Oct 18, 2026
| USDOT number | 568488 |
|---|---|
| MC / docket | FF13022, FF13022 |
| Legal name | SOUTHERN COUNTIES EXPRESS INC |
| DBA name | UNIVERSAL |
| Operation | Interstate |
| Business type | Corporation |
| Power units | 8 |
| Drivers | 16 |
| Annual mileage | 83,618 (2025) |
| Hazmat | No |
| Safety rating | Satisfactory (Oct 12, 2000) |
| USDOT number added | Jul 11, 1994 · 32 years ago |
| Last MCS-150 update | Aug 28, 2026 |
Cargo carried
General FreightHousehold GoodsMetal: Sheets, Coils, RollsMachinery, Large ObjectsIntermodal ContainersCommodities Dry BulkPaper Products
Roadside inspections Oct 18, 2024 – Oct 18, 2026
This company holds broker authority only; these inspections come from trucks operating under its USDOT number.
1 of 12 · Michigan avg 21.2%
0 of 15 · Michigan avg 3.9%
10 most recent inspections
| Date | State | Level | Violations | Out of service |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 16, 2026 | CA | 2 | 0 | No |
| Dec 19, 2025 | CA | 3 | 1 | No |
| Oct 27, 2025 | CA | 3 | 0 | No |
| Aug 14, 2025 | CA | 2 | 1 | No |
| May 7, 2025 | CA | 1 | 0 | No |
| Feb 11, 2025 | CA | 2 | 0 | No |
| Jan 24, 2025 | CA | 1 | 4 | Yes |
| Jan 24, 2025 | CA | 1 | 0 | No |
| Jan 15, 2025 | CA | 3 | 0 | No |
| Dec 13, 2024 | CA | 1 | 0 | No |
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 Michigan average covers 51,399 vehicle and 85,567 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
5 violations counted in FMCSA's Safety Measurement System (SMS), 2 of them serious enough to put the driver or vehicle out of service.
Why is this different from the 6 violations above?
The inspections section's number counts every violation written on the inspection reports in our Oct 18, 2024 – Oct 18, 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 | 4 | 2 | 80.0% | 63.8% |
| Unsafe Driving | 1 | 0 | 20.0% | 19.2% |
5 most frequent violations
| Violation | Times | Out of service |
|---|---|---|
| Lighting - Stop lamps - Both inoperative when required to be on Lighting · Vehicle Maintenance · code 3939ALSLIWR | 1 | 1 |
| Tires - All others leaking or inflation less than 50% of the maximum inflation pressure on tire not equipped with ATIS Tires · Vehicle Maintenance · code 39375A3TAOL | 1 | 1 |
| State/Local Laws - Operate a CMV while using a cellular phone Texting · Unsafe Driving · code 3922SLLCP | 1 | 0 |
| Brake - Audible air leak from a brake chamber Brakes All Others · Vehicle Maintenance · code 3963A1BALAC | 1 | 0 |
| Lighting - Lamps (other than headlamps) not steady burning as required Lighting · Vehicle Maintenance · code 39325EL | 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 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 18, 2024 – Oct 18, 2026
No reportable crashes in this period.
Questions about SOUTHERN COUNTIES EXPRESS INC
Is SOUTHERN COUNTIES EXPRESS INC a broker or a carrier?
SOUTHERN COUNTIES EXPRESS INC is a freight forwarder with no active authority to haul freight itself. It may arrange loads with authorized carriers, but should not be dispatching its own trucks under this docket. Brokers must keep $75,000 of financial security (a BMC-84 bond or BMC-85 trust fund) on file with FMCSA.
What does SOUTHERN COUNTIES EXPRESS INC's operating authority allow?
FF13022: Freight forwarder (may assemble and consolidate shipments and arrange their transportation, taking responsibility for them). FF13022: Freight forwarder (may assemble and consolidate shipments and arrange their transportation, taking responsibility for them).
Which information about SOUTHERN COUNTIES EXPRESS INC 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 SOUTHERN COUNTIES EXPRESS INC?
Confirm the authority and insurance on the Motus record for USDOT 568488. Call the company back on the phone number on file, (800) 233-9445, not a number from an email or load board message. Check that the MC number the dispatcher gave you matches FF13022 or FF13022, and ask the insurer for a certificate of insurance naming you as certificate holder.
Other companies using (800) 233-9445
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.
17 companies
| Company | USDOT | Docket | Trucks | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UNIVERSMICHIGAN LLC DBA UNIVERSAL UNIVERSAL MI |
4292328 | MC1670397 | 382 | Active Current · Motus |
| UNIVERSAL DEDICATED OF SMYRNA TN LLC DBA UNIVERSAL |
3221080 | MC1008085 | 319 | Active Current · Motus |
| UNIVERSAL DEDICATED OF FORT WAYNE IN LLC DBA UNIVERSAL |
3222281 | MC1008679 | 314 | Active Current · Motus |
| UNIVERSAL DEDICATED OF DETROIT MI LLC DBA UNIVERSAL |
3221607 | MC1008350 | 281 | Active Current · Motus |
| UNIVERSAL DEDICATED OF ROMULUS MI LLC DBA UNIVERSAL |
3220765 | MC1007917 | 221 | Active Current · Motus |
| UNIVERSAL DEDICATED OF ARLINGTON TX LLC DBA UNIVERSAL |
3223377 | MC1009225 | 162 | Active Current · Motus |
| UNIVERSCAL LLC DBA UNIVERSAL |
4292326 | MC1670395 | 140 | Active Current · Motus |
| UNIVERSTEXAS LLC DBA UNIVERSAL |
4292338 | MC1670405 | 133 | Last known: Active FMCSA snapshot May 14, 2026 |
| UNIVERSAL DEDICATED OF GREER SC LLC DBA UNIVERSAL |
3996508 | MC1500816 | 107 | Active Current · Motus |
| UNIVERSCAROLINA LLC DBA UNIVERSAL |
4292331 | MC1670400 | 107 | Active Current · Motus |
| UNIVERSAL SPECIALIZED SOLUTIONS, LLC DBA UACL SPECIALIZED, LLC |
854744 | MC376139 | 98 | Active Current · Motus |
| CENTRAL CAL TRANSPORTATION LLC DBA UNIVERSAL |
714367 | MC260612 | 40 | Active Current · Motus |
| WESTPORT AXLE COMPANY LLC DBA UNIVERSAL VALUE ADDED SERVICES |
1408051 | MC1249950 | 19 | Active Current · Motus |
| UNIVERSAL AGGREGATE LLC | 4058711 | MC1539569 | 18 | Active Current · Motus |
| BIG WHEELS LLC | 4219376 | MC1630651 | 6 | Active Current · Motus |
| UNIVERSAL LOGISTICS SOLUTIONS CANADA LTD | 2790108 | MC930536 | 1 | Active Current · Motus |
| UNIVERSAL CAPACITY SOLUTIONS LLC DBA UNIVERSAL |
2215648 | MC251704 | 0 | Last known: Inactive FMCSA snapshot May 14, 2026 |
Other trucking companies in Warren
All in Warren →Largest fleets
| Company | USDOT | Docket | Trucks | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CENTRAL TRANSPORT LLC DBA CENTRAL TRANSPORT |
661173 | MC302382 | 4,944 | Active Current · Motus |
| UNIVERSAL TRUCKLOAD SOLUTIONS, LLC | 4747893 | MC53828687 | 950 | Active Current · Motus |
| LIPARI FOODS OPERATING COMPANY LLC DBA LIPARI FOODS |
252402 | MC179155 | 544 | Active Current · Motus |
| UACL LOGISTICS LLC DBA UNIVERSAL |
41208 | MC59583 | 476 | Active Current · Motus |
| MIDWEST FREIGHT SYSTEMS CORP | 2074894 | MC724874 | 382 | Active Current · Motus |
| UNIVERSMICHIGAN LLC DBA UNIVERSAL UNIVERSAL MI |
4292328 | MC1670397 | 382 | Active Current · Motus |
| UNIVERSAL DEDICATED OF SMYRNA TN LLC DBA UNIVERSAL |
3221080 | MC1008085 | 319 | Active Current · Motus |
| UNIVERSAL DEDICATED OF FORT WAYNE IN LLC DBA UNIVERSAL |
3222281 | MC1008679 | 314 | Active Current · Motus |
| UNIVERSAL DEDICATED OF DETROIT MI LLC DBA UNIVERSAL |
3221607 | MC1008350 | 281 | Active Current · Motus |
| UNIVERSAL DEDICATED OF ROMULUS MI LLC DBA UNIVERSAL |
3220765 | MC1007917 | 221 | Active Current · Motus |
Company details from the FMCSA Company Census File (Oct 18, 2026). Inspections and crashes from FMCSA MCMIS files. About our data · Report an error.