SMARTWAY EXPRESS INC
USDOT 1769704MC-Docket MC599500BUCKEYE, AZ
Review before tendering45 power units
SMARTWAY EXPRESS INC (USDOT 1769704) in BUCKEYE, AZ — has findings to review before tendering. FMCSA authority, fleet size, BASIC safety measures, crash and inspection history.
- Has active operating authority that's tenderable today (common or contract).
- No pending authority revocation.
- Not under an uncleared federal out-of-service or safety action.
- BIPD on file is $750,000 — below your $1,000,000 floor (federal general-freight minimum is $750,000).
- No cargo insurance on file. Required for many shipper contracts.
- 3 prior insurance lapse(s) on record, most recent began 2025-02-21 — the carrier let required coverage lapse before.
- Current BIPD policy (THIRD COAST INSURANCE COMPANY) was filed 25 day(s) after the last involuntary revocation (2026-02-02) — a refile-to-reinstate pattern worth a closer look.
- Satisfactory safety rating.
- No BASIC alerts in any of the five public SMS categories.
- Driver and vehicle out-of-service rates are at or below the national roadside average.
- 8 preventable crash(es) in the last 24 months; recordable crash rate 0.11.
- No fatal crashes in the last 24 months.
- No link to a prior revoked authority.
- Authority involuntarily revoked 35 times, most recent 2026-02-02 — recurring instability (typically insurance-lapse / reinstate cycles).
- FMCSA compliance review on file dated 2019-06-06 (C).
- Crash Indicator and Hazmat Compliance BASICs are statutorily withheld from public SMS under the FAST Act — their absence is not a clean record; use the crash-risk signals above instead.
Built from FMCSA's public Safety Management System data — guidance, not legal advice. Verify directly with the carrier and your cargo policy before tendering.
Authority
- Common authority
- Not applicable
- Contract authority
- Active
Safety & BASIC scorecard
BASIC safety measures
Unsafe driving
No alert
measure 5.57
Hours of service
No alert
measure 0.65
Driver fitness
No alert
measure 0.09
Controlled substance
No alert
measure 0.05
Vehicle maintenance
No alert
measure 2.62
Under the FAST Act, FMCSA publishes an absolute per-category measure (not a 0–100 percentile) for these five BASICs — the alert flag, not the raw number, is the risk signal. The Crash Indicator and Hazmat Compliance BASICs are statutorily withheld from public view.
Last 24 months
0
Fatalities
3
Injuries
10
Crashes
318
Inspections
28
OOS inspections
31
OOS violations
Insurance
- BIPD on file
- $750,000 below $1M baseline
- Cargo insurance
- No
- Bond on file
- No
Fleet
- Power units
- 45
- Total drivers
- 40
- Years in business
- 18
- Hazmat authority
- No
Crash risk
- Preventable crashes (24 mo)
- 8 of 10 total crash(es)
- Recordable crash rate
- 0.11
- Driver OOS rate
- 2%
- Vehicle OOS rate
- 12%
The official Crash Indicator BASIC is withheld from public SMS under the FAST Act — these derived signals stand in for it; their absence is not a clean record.
Compliance & history
- Reincarnation / chameleon
- No prior revoked authority
- Involuntary revocations
- 35 times last 2026-02-02
- Physical address
- No address flags
- Federal OOS / safety action
- None on file
- MCS-150 self-report
- 2025-05-06
- Insurance lapse history
- 3 lapse(s) most recent 2025-02-21
- Last compliance review
- 2019-06-06 · C
Inspection history (all-time)
498
Inspections
49
OOS inspections
366
Violations
55
OOS violations
3
Post-accident
Record spans 2023-06-02 → 2026-05-18.
Crash history (last 24 months)
2025-11-19
NV
Tow-away
2025-05-25
OR
Tow-away
2025-03-14
TX
Tow-away
2025-01-09
NM
1 injuredTow-away
2024-12-15
TX
Tow-away
2024-11-17
CA
Tow-away
2024-10-12
NV
Tow-away
2024-08-19
CA
1 injuredTow-away
2024-07-05
TX
Tow-away
2024-07-02
PA
1 injured
Violation pattern (all-time, by area)
| Area (49 CFR part) | Violations | Out of service | Most recent |
|---|---|---|---|
Unsafe driving 392
|
120 | 4 | 2026-03-16 |
Vehicle parts & maintenance 393
|
108 | 34 | 2026-05-02 |
Hours of service 395
|
49 | 2 | 2026-03-26 |
Vehicle inspection & repair 396
|
13 | 2 | 2026-04-23 |
Driver qualifications 391
|
2 | 2 | 2026-02-03 |
CDL standards 383
|
1 | 1 | 2026-02-20 |
Recent violations (last 24 months, worst first)
| Date | Category | Violation | OOS |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-14 | Vehicle Maintenance | Tire-other tread depth less than 2/32 of inch measured in a major tread groove | — |
| 2026-04-13 | Vehicle Maintenance | Air Brake - Hose/tubing damage into the outer reinforcement ply. | OOS |
| 2026-04-07 | Vehicle Maintenance | Tire-flat and/or audible air leak | OOS |
| 2026-03-26 | Hours-of-Service Compliance | HOS (Property) - Driving more than 11 hours following 10 consecutive hours off duty during the current 8 consecutive day | — |
| 2026-03-26 | Hours-of-Service Compliance | HOS (Property) - Driving beyond the 14 hour after coming on duty following 10 consecutive hours off duty during the curr | — |
| 2026-03-26 | Hours-of-Service Compliance | HOS - False record of duty status driver improper use of Personal Conveyance - Not OOS | — |
| 2026-03-26 | Hours-of-Service Compliance | HOS (Property) - No driver may make a false report in connection with a duty status. Explain | — |
| 2026-03-25 | Hours-of-Service Compliance | HOS (Property) - Driving more than 11 hours following 10 consecutive hours off duty during the current 8 consecutive day | — |
| 2026-03-25 | Vehicle Maintenance | Brake Out of Adjustment - Roto Clamp (Short & Long) DD-3 or Bolt | — |
| 2026-03-25 | Vehicle Maintenance | Air Brake - CMV manufactured on or after 10/20/1994 has an automatic airbrake adjustment system that fails to compensate | — |
| 2026-03-25 | Vehicle Maintenance | Emergency Equipment - Stopped vehicle warning devices inadequate flag size | — |
| 2026-03-25 | Hours-of-Service Compliance | Driving beyond 14 hour duty period. (Property carrying vehicle) - Nominal Violation | — |
| 2026-03-20 | Hours-of-Service Compliance | HOS - False record of duty status driver improper use of Personal Conveyance - Not OOS | — |
| 2026-03-01 | Hours-of-Service Compliance | HOS (Property) - No driver may make a false report in connection with a duty status. Explain | — |
| 2026-02-20 | Driver Fitness | Restriction - (CDL) - Operate a CMV in violation of a restriction | OOS |
| 2026-02-11 | Vehicle Maintenance | Air Brake - ABS malfunction lamp defective on trailers manufactured on or after March 1 1998 | — |
| 2026-02-10 | Vehicle Maintenance | Tires - All others leaking or inflation less than 50% of the maximum inflation pressure on tire not equipped with ATIS | OOS |
| 2026-02-03 | Vehicle Maintenance | Tires - All others leaking or inflation less than 50% of the maximum inflation pressure on tire not equipped with ATIS | OOS |
| 2026-02-03 | Vehicle Maintenance | Lighting - Stop lamps - Both inoperative when required to be on | OOS |
| 2026-02-03 | Vehicle Maintenance | Lighting - Headlamp(s) - Any inoperative | — |
| 2026-02-03 | Vehicle Maintenance | Fuel - Dripping leak. | OOS |
| 2026-02-03 | Driver Fitness | Medical (Certificate) - Operating a commercial vehicle without corrective lenses or hearing aid as indicated on the driv | OOS |
| 2026-02-03 | Vehicle Maintenance | Air Brake - ABS malfunction lamp defective on trailers manufactured on or after March 1 1998 | — |
| 2026-02-03 | Vehicle Maintenance | Air Brake - Any leak from a brake valve | — |
| 2026-02-03 | Vehicle Maintenance | Air Brake - Hose/tubing damaged or not secured | — |
| 2026-01-28 | Vehicle Maintenance | Air Brake - Audible air leak at a proper connection | — |
| 2026-01-25 | Vehicle Maintenance | Fuel tank fill pipe cap missing | — |
| 2026-01-22 | Vehicle Maintenance | Cargo - Vehicle components or dunnage not secured | OOS |
| 2026-01-22 | Vehicle Maintenance | Lighting - Clearance lamp(s) inoperative | — |
| 2026-01-19 | Vehicle Maintenance | Inoperative/Defective Hazard Warning Lamp | — |
| 2026-01-19 | Vehicle Maintenance | Inoperable tail lamp | — |
| 2026-01-19 | Vehicle Maintenance | Inoperative turn signal | — |
| 2026-01-19 | Hours-of-Service Compliance | ELD cannot transfer ELD records electronically | — |
| 2026-01-19 | Vehicle Maintenance | Inoperable Required Lamp | — |
| 2026-01-19 | Vehicle Maintenance | Emergency Equipment - Stopped vehicle warning devices missing or improper | — |
| 2026-01-18 | Vehicle Maintenance | Tires - All others leaking in tread area and inflation less than 50% of the maximum inflation pressure on tire equipped | OOS |
| 2026-01-18 | Vehicle Maintenance | Air Brake - ABS malfunction lamp defective on trailers manufactured on or after March 1 1998 | — |
| 2026-01-13 | Vehicle Maintenance | State/Local Laws - Wheel (mud) flaps missing or defective | — |
| 2025-12-19 | Unsafe Driving | State/Local Laws - Speeding 6-10 miles per hour over the speed limit | — |
| 2025-12-18 | Unsafe Driving | State/Local Laws - Speeding 6-10 miles per hour over the speed limit | — |
| 2025-12-17 | Unsafe Driving | State/Local Laws - Speeding 6-10 miles per hour over the speed limit | — |
| 2025-12-16 | Vehicle Maintenance | Tires - All others leaking or inflation less than 50% of the maximum inflation pressure on tire not equipped with ATIS | OOS |
| 2025-12-16 | Unsafe Driving | Driver - Failed to use seat belt while operating a CMV. | — |
| 2025-12-16 | Unsafe Driving | State/Local Laws - Speeding 6-10 miles per hour over the speed limit | — |
| 2025-12-12 | Vehicle Maintenance | Tires - All others leaking or inflation less than 50% of the maximum inflation pressure on tire not equipped with ATIS | OOS |
| 2025-12-08 | Vehicle Maintenance | No/discharged/unsecured fire extinguisher | — |
| 2025-12-05 | Unsafe Driving | State/Local Laws - Speeding 6-10 miles per hour over the speed limit | — |
| 2025-12-03 | Unsafe Driving | State/Local Laws - Speeding 6-10 miles per hour over the speed limit | — |
| 2025-11-21 | Hours-of-Service Compliance | HOS (ELD) - On request by an authorized safety official a driver must produce and transfer from an ELD the driver's hour | — |
| 2025-11-21 | Vehicle Maintenance | Lighting - Identification lamp(s) inoperative | — |
Recent inspections (with violations, newest first)
Showing the 25 most-recent inspections that had violations. Clean inspections aren't listed here — they're counted in the all-time inspection totals above.
2026-05-02 2 viols· 2 OOS
| Area (part) | Section | OOS | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle parts & maintenance 393 | 45B2-BHTD | OOS | — |
| Vehicle parts & maintenance 393 | 9B-LRLOWR | OOS | — |
2026-04-24 3 viols
| Area (part) | Section | OOS | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle parts & maintenance 393 | 75C-TAOTD-LT2/32 | — | — |
| Vehicle parts & maintenance 393 | 205A-WRC | — | — |
| Vehicle parts & maintenance 393 | 55E-B | — | — |
2026-04-23 2 viols
| Area (part) | Section | OOS | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle inspection & repair 396 | 3A1-ALBV | — | — |
| Vehicle parts & maintenance 393 | 45D-B | — | — |
2026-04-22 1 viol· 1 OOS
| Area (part) | Section | OOS | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle parts & maintenance 393 | 45 | OOS | — |
2026-04-14 1 viol
| Area (part) | Section | OOS | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle parts & maintenance 393 | 75C | — | — |
2026-04-13 1 viol· 1 OOS
| Area (part) | Section | OOS | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle parts & maintenance 393 | 45B2-BHTD | OOS | — |
2026-04-07 1 viol· 1 OOS
| Area (part) | Section | OOS | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle parts & maintenance 393 | 75A3 | OOS | — |
2026-03-26 7 viols
| Area (part) | Section | OOS | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hours of service 395 | 8E1PC | — | — |
| Hours of service 395 | 8E-HOSPD | — | — |
| Hours of service 395 | 3A1-HOSPD | — | — |
| Hours of service 395 | 3A2-HOSPD | — | — |
| Hours of service 395 | 8E-HOSPD | — | — |
| Hours of service 395 | 3A2-HOSPD | — | — |
| Hours of service 395 | 8E-HOSPD | — | — |
2026-03-25 5 viols
| Area (part) | Section | OOS | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle parts & maintenance 393 | 47E | — | — |
| Vehicle parts & maintenance 393 | 53B-B | — | — |
| Vehicle parts & maintenance 393 | 95K-EE | — | — |
| Hours of service 395 | 3A1-HOSPD | — | — |
| Hours of service 395 | 3A2-HOSPRNP | — | — |
2026-03-20 1 viol
| Area (part) | Section | OOS | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hours of service 395 | 8E1PC | — | — |
2026-03-16 1 viol
| Area (part) | Section | OOS | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unsafe driving 392 | 2-SLLED | — | — |
2026-03-12 1 viol
| Area (part) | Section | OOS | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unsafe driving 392 | 2-SLLEWA1 | — | — |
2026-03-01 2 viols
| Area (part) | Section | OOS | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hours of service 395 | 8E-HOSPD | — | — |
| Hours of service 395 | 8E-HOSPD | — | — |
2026-02-20 1 viol· 1 OOS
| Area (part) | Section | OOS | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|
| CDL standards 383 | 95A-LCDL | OOS | — |
2026-02-11 1 viol
| Area (part) | Section | OOS | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle parts & maintenance 393 | 55E-B | — | — |
2026-02-10 2 viols· 1 OOS
| Area (part) | Section | OOS | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle parts & maintenance 393 | 75A3-TAOL | OOS | — |
| Unsafe driving 392 | 2-SLLEQP | — | — |
2026-02-04 1 viol
| Area (part) | Section | OOS | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unsafe driving 392 | 2-SLLEWA1 | — | — |
2026-02-03 1 viol· 1 OOS
| Area (part) | Section | OOS | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Driver qualifications 391 | 41B10-MC | OOS | — |
2026-02-03 6 viols· 3 OOS
| Area (part) | Section | OOS | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle inspection & repair 396 | 3A1-F | OOS | — |
| Vehicle parts & maintenance 393 | 75A3-TAOL | OOS | — |
| Vehicle parts & maintenance 393 | 9A-LHLI | — | — |
| Vehicle parts & maintenance 393 | 45B2-B-AIR | — | — |
| Vehicle parts & maintenance 393 | 45B2-B-AIR | — | — |
| Vehicle parts & maintenance 393 | 9A-LSLIWR | OOS | — |
2026-02-03 2 viols
| Area (part) | Section | OOS | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle parts & maintenance 393 | 55E-B | — | — |
| Vehicle inspection & repair 396 | 3A1-ALBV | — | — |
2026-01-28 1 viol
| Area (part) | Section | OOS | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle parts & maintenance 393 | 45D-B | — | — |
2026-01-25 1 viol
| Area (part) | Section | OOS | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle parts & maintenance 393 | 67C7 | — | — |
2026-01-22 2 viols· 1 OOS
| Area (part) | Section | OOS | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unsafe driving 392 | 9A2-C | OOS | — |
| Vehicle parts & maintenance 393 | 9A-LCL | — | — |
2026-01-19 6 viols
| Area (part) | Section | OOS | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle parts & maintenance 393 | 19 | — | — |
| Vehicle parts & maintenance 393 | 9 | — | — |
| Vehicle parts & maintenance 393 | 9T | — | — |
| Vehicle parts & maintenance 393 | 9TS | — | — |
| Vehicle parts & maintenance 393 | 95F | — | — |
| Hours of service 395 | 24D | — | — |
2026-01-18 2 viols· 1 OOS
| Area (part) | Section | OOS | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle parts & maintenance 393 | 55E-B | — | — |
| Vehicle parts & maintenance 393 | 75A3-TAOLTIS | OOS | — |
Verify on FMCSA
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