HaulerCheck · https://haulercheck.com/carrier/678969-sterling-freight-lines-inc/ · Checked 2026-10-19 11:24 UTC · Census and inspections Oct 18, 2026 · Authority and insurance: FMCSA Motus · Oct 18, 2026
STERLING FREIGHT LINES INC
Carrier & Broker
Motor carrier & Broker under MC145996
Review before booking · 1 signal
How risk signals workFacts from the FMCSA record that call for a closer look. They are not a finding of wrongdoing.
- Phone number shared with 6 other companiesNormal for dispatch services and related companies, but confirm who you are talking to.
- Registration (MCS-150) last updated 2 years agoFleet size and contact details on the registration may be out of date.
Cargo cover filed: $5,000
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, (313) 299-2167, not a number from an email or load board.
- Check that the MC number you were given is MC145996.
- 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. Cargo cover filed: $5,000.
| Type | Docket | Layer | Insurer | Coverage | Effective | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cargo | MC145996 | — | RLI INSURANCE COMPANY Policy ILM0700378 · BMC-34 | $5,000 | Nov 1, 2010 | Active |
| Liability (BI&PD) | MC145996 | Primary | Great West Casualty Co Policy GRT47900A · BMC-91X | $1,000,000 | Nov 1, 2025 | Active |
| Surety Bond | MC145996 | — | Merchants Bonding Company (Mutual) Policy 101581877 · BMC-84 | $75,000 | Nov 1, 2025 | 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
4 of 40 · Michigan avg 21.2%
0 of 43 · Michigan avg 3.9%
10 most recent inspections
| Date | State | Level | Violations | Out of service |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 8, 2026 | TX | 2 | 0 | No |
| Sep 30, 2026 | TX | 2 | 0 | No |
| Sep 23, 2026 | TX | 2 | 2 | Yes |
| Sep 3, 2026 | US | 2 | 9 | No |
| Sep 2, 2026 | TX | 2 | 0 | No |
| Aug 13, 2026 | TX | 2 | 1 | No |
| Aug 10, 2026 | TX | 2 | 0 | No |
| Aug 10, 2026 | TX | 2 | 0 | No |
| Aug 5, 2026 | NM | 2 | 0 | No |
| Aug 3, 2026 | TX | 2 | 2 | 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
31 violations counted in FMCSA's Safety Measurement System (SMS), 7 of them serious enough to put the driver or vehicle out of service.
Why is this different from the 45 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 | 26 | 7 | 83.9% | 63.8% |
| Hours-of-Service Compliance | 5 | 0 | 16.1% | 12.5% |
10 most frequent violations
| Violation | Times | Out of service |
|---|---|---|
| No or defective lighting devices or reflective material as required Reflective Sheeting · Vehicle Maintenance · code 39311 | 4 | 0 |
| Driving beyond 8 hour driving limit since the end of the last on duty off duty or sleeper period of at least 30 minutes Hours · Hours-of-Service Compliance · code 3953A3II | 2 | 0 |
| Air Brake - Hose/tubing damaged or not secured Brakes All Others · Vehicle Maintenance · code 39345B2BAIR | 2 | 0 |
| No or Defective ABS Malfunction Indicator for towed vehicles on vehicles manufactured after February 2001 Brakes All Others · Vehicle Maintenance · code 39355D3 | 2 | 0 |
| Brake Hose or Tubing Chafing and/or Kinking - Connection to Power Unit Brakes All Others · Vehicle Maintenance · code 39345B2PC | 1 | 1 |
| Brake Hose or Tubing Chafing and/or Kinking Under Vehicle Brakes All Others · Vehicle Maintenance · code 39345B2UV | 1 | 1 |
| Inadequate brakes for safe stopping - Brake Lining condition Brakes All Others · Vehicle Maintenance · code 39347A | 1 | 1 |
| Inoperative/defective brakes Brakes All Others · Vehicle Maintenance · code 39348A | 1 | 1 |
| Tire-flat and/or audible air leak Tires · Vehicle Maintenance · code 39375A3 | 1 | 1 |
| Wheel fasteners loose and/or missing Wheels Studs Clamps Etc. · Vehicle Maintenance · code 393205C | 1 | 1 |
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
4 most recent crashes
| Date | Location | Fatalities | Injuries |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 6, 2026 | Not Listed, TX | 0 | 2 |
| May 11, 2026 | El Paso, TX | 0 | 1 |
| Mar 12, 2025 | Austin, TX | 0 | 0 |
| Feb 12, 2025 | Not Listed, TX | 0 | 1 |
Reportable crashes do not imply the carrier was at fault.
Company details FMCSA census · Oct 18, 2026
| USDOT number | 678969 |
|---|---|
| MC / docket | MC145996 |
| Legal name | STERLING FREIGHT LINES INC |
| Operation | Interstate |
| Business type | — |
| Power units | 1 |
| Drivers | 1 |
| Annual mileage | 174,994 (2023) |
| Hazmat | Yes |
| Safety rating | Not rated (no compliance review on record) |
| USDOT number added | Mar 4, 1997 · 29 years ago |
| Last MCS-150 update | May 14, 2024 |
Cargo carried
General FreightOtherAuto Parts
Questions about STERLING FREIGHT LINES INC
Is STERLING FREIGHT LINES INC a broker or a carrier?
Both. STERLING FREIGHT LINES INC 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 STERLING FREIGHT LINES INC's operating authority allow?
MC145996: 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 STERLING FREIGHT LINES 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. The MCS-150 was last updated May 14, 2024, so fleet size and contact details may be out of date.
What should I verify before booking STERLING FREIGHT LINES INC?
Confirm the authority and insurance on the Motus record for USDOT 678969. Call the company back on the phone number on file, (313) 299-2167, not a number from an email or load board message. Check that the MC number the dispatcher gave you matches MC145996, 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 companies using (313) 299-2167
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.
6 companies
| Company | Location | USDOT | Docket | Trucks | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B & W CARTAGE COMPANY INC Carrier & broker |
Taylor, MI | 128493 | MC120924 | 518 | Active Current · Motus |
| T V MINORITY COMPANY INC Carrier & broker |
Taylor, MI | 520220 | MC212047 | 120 | Active Current · Motus |
| DBC ENTERPRISES INC Carrier & broker |
Grand Rapids, MI | 418669 | MC217401 | 27 | Active Current · Motus |
| RUSS'S MOTOR SERVICEINC Carrier & broker |
Dearborn Heights, MI | 104267 | MC145574 | 22 | Active Current · Motus |
| AUTO PROCESSING SOLUTIONS INC Carrier |
Taylor, MI | 4012539 | MC1523115 | 10 | Active Current · Motus |
| CHAT OF MICHIGAN INC Forwarder |
Canton, MI | 29590 | FF5587 | 2 | Active Current · Motus |
Other trucking companies in Taylor, MI →
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 11:24 UTC.