Fleet typeIdentity
Small fleet
21 power units. Brokers price each fleet type apart.
Carrier profile · USDOT 1190564 · MC-475426
KOUNKEL TRUCKING INC
21 power unitsavg 7.5 yrMulti-region · 13 statesMERRILL, IA
CARRIER ACTIVEMC-475426 ACTIVERATED SATISFACTORY
Observed fleet · trailing 24 mo daily
21Power units
20 observed · MCS-150
23Trailers seen
Decoded · vPIC
7.5Avg age (yr)
2001–2026 · vPIC
Click to see how we scored it
Load decision · FMCSA snapshot · 2026-06-13
Review before loading
Operating, but with flags a broker should weigh before tendering freight.
Active operating authorityInsurance on fileVehicle out-of-service rate above average
Watch · 3
Vehicle out-of-service rate above average28.6% vs the 22.3% national average.Reincarnated carrier — prior authority revokedFMCSA links this carrier to a previously revoked operating authority — the classic chameleon-carrier pattern. Verify it is not evading an enforcement history.Multiple injury crashes7 crashes involving injuries are on record.
Operating authority2222 yr active
since 2003Insurance (BIPD)On file
FMCSA L&IVehicle OOS · 24mo28.628.6 %
▲ 22.26% nat'lCrashes · fatal00
5 in 24moVektor intelligence · beyond the federal recordProprietary signals computed from VIN-decoded inspections & daily FMCSA snapshots
Fleet age vs peersTypical
7.5 yr
Model years 2001–2026 · peer benchmark computing.
Identity stabilityFlagged
22 yr unchanged
Linked to a previously revoked authority — verify before tendering.
AI readFull read
Is KOUNKEL TRUCKING INC safe to work with?
Is KOUNKEL TRUCKING INC safe to load? KOUNKEL TRUCKING INC (USDOT 1190564, MC-475426) is an active small-fleet motor carrier based in MERRILL, IA, operating 21 power units and 21 drivers. Operating authority has been active 22 years (past the 24-month broker-confidence threshold). Across 65 roadside inspections, its vehicle out-of-service rate is 28.6% (above the 22.26% national average), with 5 reportable crashes in the last 24 months. FMCSA rates it Satisfactory. Vektor rates it review before loading (72/100), with the leading concern: reincarnated carrier — prior authority revoked. Source: FMCSA SAFER/MCMIS, last updated 2026-06-13.
FMCSA fields + Vektor analysis · updated 2026-06-13
KTKOUNKEL TRUCKING INC 72
01
Safety
65 inspections · 24 mo · vs national benchmarks
Out-of-service rate· trailing 24 months vs national benchmark
Vehicle OOS 28.6% (24-mo)7 veh insp · 24-mo · nat'l 22.26%
050%nat'l 22.26%
Driver OOS 6.7% (24-mo)45 drv insp · 24-mo · nat'l 6.67%
030%nat'l 6.67%
OOS trajectory· trailing 6-mo vehicle-OOS rate vs national
0.0% now▲ Worsening
Inspection coverage· expected vs observed · the fraud signal
Inspection coverage
How heavily FMCSA inspects this fleet for its size — it tells you how much to trust the safety signals above. Thin coverage on a young authority is a fraud signal nobody else surfaces.
Under-inspected
Expected
Well-monitored
Heavily inspected
≈1.1 / unit·yr
thin signalabundant signal
Within the expected band for a 21-unit fleet — FMCSA has inspected this carrier often enough that the out-of-service and violation signals above are statistically trustworthy.
- Registered power units
- 21
- Inspections · 24 mo
- 45
- Annualized
- ≈23 / yr
- Coverage
- ≈1.1 inspections / unit · yr
Violation themes· decoded · grouped by BASIC
What this carrier actually gets cited for — FMCSA violation codes decoded into plain English, ranked by frequency.
- 392.2 State/local traffic law violation (speeding, etc.)Unsafe Driving62
- 395.8 Record of duty status (log / ELD) not current or missingHOS Compliance9 · 2 OOS
- 396.17 Periodic (annual) inspectionVehicle Maintenance5
- 390.21 USDOT number marking on vehicleUnsafe Driving4
- 393.9 Inoperative required lampsVehicle Maintenance3
- 393.45 Brake tubing / hose defectsVehicle Maintenance3 · 1 OOS
- 393.11 Required lamps/reflectors missingVehicle Maintenance2
- 393.60 Windshield / glazingVehicle Maintenance1
- 383.23 Operating without a valid CDLDriver Fitness1 · 1 OOS
- 396.3 Inspection / repair / maintenance not performedVehicle Maintenance1 · 1 OOS
02
Authority & insurance
Can they legally + adequately haul your load?
Operating authority· 49 CFR · per type
Operating authority
- Common
- None
- Contract
- Active
- Broker
- None
Insurance & bonds
BIPD / liability (required)Filed with FMCSA
CargoNone
Surety bond (BMC-84)None
Insurance continuity· insurer · policy · lapses
$750k BIPD · 4 insurers · 0 lapsesInsurer churn
+2 earlier
Great West · 03–18
Berkshire Hathaway · 18–20
Progressive Northern · 21–25
20032026
No BIPD policy is currently in force in the filing history. The authority record may still list one on file — request a COI to confirm current coverage.
5 insurer eras · collapsed from 13 filings
| Insurer | Period | Limit | Renewals |
|---|---|---|---|
| BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY HOMESTATE INSURANCE COMPAN | Jan 2025 → Jan 2026 | $750k | 1 |
| PROGRESSIVE NORTHERN INSURANCE COMPANY | Jan 2021 → Jan 2025 | $750k | 1 |
| NORTHLAND INSURANCE COMPANY | Jan 2020 → Jan 2021 | $750k | 2 |
| BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY HOMESTATE INSURANCE COMPAN | Jan 2018 → Jan 2020 | $750k | 6 |
| GREAT WEST CASUALTY CO. | Dec 2003 → Jan 2018 | $750k | 3 |
03
Equipment & fleet
VIN-decoded · NHTSA vPIC
Capacity· power units = haulable capacity; trailers are towed
- Registered power units (MCS-150)
- 21
- Observed power (24 mo)
- 20
- Trailers (towed)
- 23
Capacity is power units only — trailers are towed equipment and are never summed into a fleet-size figure.
Fleet age· model years · decoded VINs
Average age
2026
Newest model yr
2001
Oldest model yr
VINs decoded
04
Operations & lanes
Revealed by inspection density across 13 states · 24 mo
Operating footprint· revealed by roadside-inspection geography
Operating radiusMulti-region
revealedStates observed1313
US statesInspections · 24 mo4545
IA busiestInspection density by state· each tile = a state · shade = inspections, last 24 mo
Home base
MERRILL, IA
Top corridor
IA
Density
fewermore
05
Network & fraud
Affiliated entities & reincarnation signals · for review, not a verdict
Reincarnated carrier — prior authority was revoked
FMCSA links this carrier to a previously revoked authority: USDOT 1190564. Reincarnation is a primary chameleon-carrier pattern.
Named as the prior authority of newer carriers
1 carrier list this USDOT as their revoked predecessor: USDOT 1190564.
Last 12 months: 1 truck also ran under 1 other carrier
VINs inspected under this carrier were recently inspected under other USDOTs too — the active double-broker / shared-equipment signal: USDOT 2573120Some overlap is legitimate (leased or sold equipment); review alongside the other signals.
Show all-time history (12 trucks · 10 carriers)
Across all inspections on record: USDOT 224485USDOT 319001USDOT 2573120USDOT 4140680USDOT 3078729USDOT 4025995USDOT 2940226USDOT 1107551
Shares a registration email domain with other carriers
@netzero.net — 1207 carriers: USDOT 37605USDOT 57445USDOT 90672USDOT 105678USDOT 169618USDOT 183779USDOT 186999USDOT 190805
Shares a company officer with other carriers
chad kounkel — 4 carriers: USDOT 1819806USDOT 2573120USDOT 4116984
Capacity consistency· registered vs roadside-observed power units
Registered (MCS-150)2121
Observed (24 mo)2020
Shared w/ other carriers1212
Registered and roadside-observed capacity are broadly consistent.
06
Identity & contact
FMCSA census + L&I dossier
Location
- Physical address
- 29792 280TH ST, MERRILL, IA, 51038
- Operation
- Interstate
Contact
- Phone
- (712) 251-5615
- Web domain
- netzero.net
Registration
- Officers
- Chad Kounkel · Derek Kounkel
- USDOT / docket
- 1190564 · MC-475426
- First registered
- 12/02/2003
- Last MCS-150
- 03/30/2026 · 2,065,378 mi (2025)
- FMCSA safety rating
- Satisfactory · 09/25/2012
- Recordable crash rate
- 0.00
- D-U-N-S
- —
Fleet (self-reported · MCS-150)
07
Federal activity
Daily-captured FMCSA licensing & insurance changes — monitored by Vektor
Federal record activity· monitored daily by Vektor
No licensing or insurance changes captured since Vektor began monitoring this carrier (June 2026). Quiet is usually good.
08
Reviews
Verified broker, shipper & driver reviews — moderated
Performance ratings only — never the Vektor risk score
No verified reviews yet
Be the first broker or shipper to rate KOUNKEL TRUCKING INC. Reviews cover performance only — on-time delivery, payment speed, communication — and never affect the Vektor risk score.
Leave a review09
Frequently asked
What is KOUNKEL TRUCKING INC's USDOT number?
KOUNKEL TRUCKING INC's USDOT number is 1190564, and its motor carrier number is MC-475426.
Is KOUNKEL TRUCKING INC authorized to operate?
As of 2026-06-13, KOUNKEL TRUCKING INC is active in the FMCSA register with common, contract, broker operating authority on file.
What is KOUNKEL TRUCKING INC's safety record?
KOUNKEL TRUCKING INC has a 28.6% vehicle out-of-service rate (national average 22.26%) across 65 roadside inspections, with 5 reportable crashes in the last 24 months, and an FMCSA "Satisfactory" safety rating. Vektor's computed risk score is 72/100 (tier: review).
How big is KOUNKEL TRUCKING INC's fleet?
KOUNKEL TRUCKING INC operates 21 power units and 21 drivers per its most recent MCS-150 filing.
Where is KOUNKEL TRUCKING INC based?
KOUNKEL TRUCKING INC is based in MERRILL, IA, with roadside inspections recorded across 13 states.