HaulerCheck · https://haulercheck.com/carrier/84329-howells-motor-freight-inc/ · Checked 2026-10-19 22:16 UTC · Census and inspections Oct 19, 2026 · Authority and insurance: FMCSA Motus · Oct 19, 2026 / Last known · FMCSA snapshot May 14, 2026
HOWELL'S MOTOR FREIGHT INC
Carrier & Broker
Motor carrier & Broker under MC116886
Do not book until these are resolved · 1 signal
How risk signals workAt least one fact in the FMCSA record should stop a booking until it is cleared up. Confirm the current record on Motus first; it is not a finding of wrongdoing. Authority and insurance are last known from May 14, 2026.
- No broker bond or trust fund on fileBrokers must keep $75,000 of financial security (BMC-84 or BMC-85) on file.
MC311263: Broker pending
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.
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, (540) 591-3205, not a number from an email or load board.
- Check that the MC number you were given is MC116886 or MC311263.
- 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) | MC116886 | — | ACUITY, A MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY Policy CAZU1883 · BMC-91X | $1,000,000 | Aug 1, 2026 | Active |
| Liability (BI&PD) | MC116886 | Primary | THE TRAVELERS INDEMNITY CO. OF CONNECTICUT Policy HE8409C585812TCT14 · BMC-91X | $750,000 | Mar 1, 2014 | 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
8 of 30 · Virginia avg 21.3%
1 of 78 · Virginia avg 6.0%
10 most recent inspections
| Date | State | Level | Violations | Out of service |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 30, 2026 | NC | 2 | 1 | Yes |
| Jun 22, 2026 | NC | 2 | 1 | Yes |
| Jun 9, 2026 | PA | 3 | 0 | No |
| May 27, 2026 | NC | 3 | 0 | No |
| May 26, 2026 | NC | 3 | 0 | No |
| Apr 22, 2026 | NC | 3 | 0 | No |
| Apr 15, 2026 | VA | 1 | 0 | No |
| Apr 7, 2026 | TN | 3 | 0 | No |
| Apr 5, 2026 | KY | 1 | 0 | No |
| Apr 1, 2026 | SC | 3 | 0 | 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 Virginia average covers 31,578 vehicle and 51,675 driver inspections of all Virginia-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
37 violations counted in FMCSA's Safety Measurement System (SMS), 9 of them serious enough to put the driver or vehicle out of service.
Why is this different from the 51 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 | Virginia share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Maintenance | 26 | 8 | 70.3% | 67.5% |
| Unsafe Driving | 8 | 0 | 21.6% | 13.5% |
| Hours-of-Service Compliance | 2 | 0 | 5.4% | 12.8% |
| Driver Fitness | 1 | 1 | 2.7% | 4.8% |
10 most frequent violations
| Violation | Times | Out of service |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 3 | 3 |
| Driver - Failed to use seat belt while operating a CMV Seat Belt · Unsafe Driving · code 39216D | 2 | 0 |
| Air Brake - CMV manufactured on or after 10/20/1994 has an automatic airbrake adjustment system that fails to compensate for wear Brakes All Others · Vehicle Maintenance · code 39353BB | 2 | 0 |
| Brake Out of Adjustment - Roto Clamp (Short & Long) DD-3 or Bolt Brakes Out of Adjustment · Vehicle Maintenance · code 39347E | 2 | 0 |
| Lighting - Headlamp(s) - Any inoperative Lighting · Vehicle Maintenance · code 3939ALHLI | 2 | 0 |
| Inoperative turn signal Lighting · Vehicle Maintenance · code 3939TS | 2 | 0 |
| Driver operating a CMV without proper endorsements or in violation of restrictions License-related: High · Driver Fitness · code 39111B4DEN | 1 | 1 |
| Brake - Defective brake(s) are equal to or greater than 20% of the service brakes on the vehicle/combination Brake Out Of Service · Vehicle Maintenance · code 3963A1BOS | 1 | 1 |
| Air Brake - Hose/tubing damage into the outer reinforcement ply. Brakes All Others · Vehicle Maintenance · code 39345B2BHTD | 1 | 1 |
| Air Brake - Audible air leak at other than a proper connection Brakes All Others · Vehicle Maintenance · code 39345DBAAL | 1 | 1 |
Source: FMCSA SMS violation file, inspections in the last 24 months, published Oct 19, 2026. "Share" is this company's mix of violations; the Virginia column is the mix across all Virginia-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
6 most recent crashes
| Date | Location | Fatalities | Injuries |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 12, 2026 | Not Reported, VA | 0 | 0 |
| Dec 16, 2025 | Not Reported, VA | 0 | 2 |
| Nov 19, 2025 | Not Reported, VA | 0 | 1 |
| Oct 24, 2025 | Newberry, SC | 0 | 0 |
| Aug 19, 2025 | Thomasville, NC | 0 | 1 |
| Feb 13, 2025 | Hampton City, VA | 0 | 0 |
Reportable crashes do not imply the carrier was at fault.
Company details FMCSA census · Oct 19, 2026
| USDOT number | 84329 |
|---|---|
| MC / docket | MC116886, MC311263 |
| Legal name | HOWELL'S MOTOR FREIGHT INC |
| Operation | Interstate |
| Business type | Corporation |
| Power units | 1 |
| Drivers | 1 |
| Annual mileage | 5,073,833 (2026) |
| Hazmat | No |
| Safety rating | Satisfactory (Dec 17, 2003) |
| USDOT number added | Jun 1, 1974 · 52 years ago |
| Last MCS-150 update | Sep 11, 2026 |
Cargo carried
General FreightMeatRefrigerated FoodBeveragesOtherPharmaceuticals
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 HOWELL'S MOTOR FREIGHT INC
Is HOWELL'S MOTOR FREIGHT INC a broker or a carrier?
Both. HOWELL'S MOTOR FREIGHT 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 HOWELL'S MOTOR FREIGHT INC's operating authority allow?
MC116886: 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 HOWELL'S MOTOR FREIGHT INC is old or missing?
Operating authority is the last known status from the FMCSA snapshot of May 14, 2026, not a current check.
What should I verify before booking HOWELL'S MOTOR FREIGHT INC?
Confirm the authority and insurance on the Motus record for USDOT 84329. Call the company back on the phone number on file, (540) 591-3205, not a number from an email or load board message. Check that the MC number the dispatcher gave you matches MC116886 or MC311263, 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 Cloverdale, VA →
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 2026-10-19 22:16 UTC.