Fleet typeIdentity
Asset-based
63 power units. Brokers price each fleet type apart.
Carrier profile · USDOT 188223 · MC-147554
ARAB CARTAGE & EXPRESS CO INC
63 power unitsavg 10.1 yrNational · 18 statesARAB, AL
CARRIER ACTIVEMC-147554 ACTIVERATED SATISFACTORYHAZMAT
Observed fleet · trailing 24 mo daily
63Power units
47 observed · MCS-150
58Trailers seen
Decoded · vPIC
10.1Avg age (yr)
2000–2026 · vPIC
Click to see how we scored it
Load decision · FMCSA snapshot · 2026-07-04
Review before loading
Operating, but with flags a broker should weigh before tendering freight.
Active operating authorityInsurance on fileVehicle out-of-service rate well above average
Watch · 2
Operating authority5252 yr active
since 1974Insurance (BIPD)On file
FMCSA L&IVehicle OOS · 24mo45.245.2 %
▲ 22.26% nat'lCrashes · fatal22
3 in 24moVektor intelligence · beyond the federal recordProprietary signals computed from VIN-decoded inspections & daily FMCSA snapshots
Fleet age vs peersTypical
10.1 yr
Model years 2000–2026 · peer benchmark computing.
Identity stabilityStable
52 yr unchanged
Same registration since 1974 — no chameleon / reincarnation signal.
AI readFull read
Is ARAB CARTAGE & EXPRESS CO INC safe to work with?
Is ARAB CARTAGE & EXPRESS CO INC safe to load? ARAB CARTAGE & EXPRESS CO INC (USDOT 188223, MC-147554) is an active asset-based motor carrier based in ARAB, AL, operating 63 power units and 52 drivers. Operating authority has been active 52 years (past the 24-month broker-confidence threshold). Across 115 roadside inspections, its vehicle out-of-service rate is 45.2% (above the 22.26% national average), with 3 reportable crashes in the last 24 months. FMCSA rates it Satisfactory. Vektor rates it review before loading (74/100), with the leading concern: vehicle out-of-service rate well above average. Source: FMCSA SAFER/MCMIS, last updated 2026-07-04.
FMCSA fields + Vektor analysis · updated 2026-07-04
ACARAB CARTAGE & EXPRESS CO INC 74
01
Safety
115 inspections · 24 mo · vs national benchmarks
Out-of-service rate· trailing 24 months vs national benchmark
Vehicle OOS 45.2% (24-mo)42 veh insp · 24-mo · nat'l 22.26%
050%nat'l 22.26%
Driver OOS 1.2% (24-mo)86 drv insp · 24-mo · nat'l 6.67%
030%nat'l 6.67%
OOS trajectory· trailing 6-mo vehicle-OOS rate vs national
27.8% 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
≈0.7 / unit·yr
thin signalabundant signal
Roadside-inspection volume is about what you'd expect for a 63-unit fleet — enough signal to read the safety record, though not a heavy sample.
- Registered power units
- 63
- Inspections · 24 mo
- 86
- Annualized
- ≈43 / yr
- Coverage
- ≈0.7 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.
- 395.24 ELD — record edits / dataHOS Compliance15
- 393.9 Inoperative required lampsVehicle Maintenance14 · 5 OOS
- 395.8 Record of duty status (log / ELD) not current or missingHOS Compliance13 · 4 OOS
- 392.2 State/local traffic law violation (speeding, etc.)Unsafe Driving13
- 393.45 Brake tubing / hose defectsVehicle Maintenance11 · 1 OOS
- 393.75 Tires (defective / underinflated / worn)Vehicle Maintenance9 · 8 OOS
- 393.47 Brake actuators / linings / componentsVehicle Maintenance9
- 396.3 Inspection / repair / maintenance not performedVehicle Maintenance8 · 5 OOS
- 396.5 Oil and/or grease leakVehicle Maintenance6 · 1 OOS
- 390.21 USDOT number marking on vehicleUnsafe Driving5
02
Authority & insurance
Can they legally + adequately haul your load?
Operating authority· 49 CFR · per type
Operating authority
- Common
- Active
- Contract
- Active
- Broker
- Inactive
Insurance & bonds
BIPD / liability (required)Filed with FMCSA
CargoFiled with FMCSA
Surety bond (BMC-84)None
Insurance continuity· insurer · policy · lapses
$750k BIPD · 9 insurers · 0 lapsesInsurer churn
+3 earlier
St Paul · 95–98
Wausau Business · 98–01
Lincoln General · 01–08
State Nationalspecialty · 09–12
National Interstate · 13–20
Arch · 20–26
19932026
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.
9 insurer eras · collapsed from 19 filings
| Insurer | Period | Limit | Renewals |
|---|---|---|---|
| ARCH INSURANCE COMPANY | Jun 2020 → Jan 2026 | $750k | 6 |
| NATIONAL INTERSTATE INSURANCE COMPANY | Jun 2013 → Jun 2020 | $750k | 1 |
| COMPANION PROPERTY & CASUALTY INS. CO. | Jun 2012 → Jun 2013 | $750k | 1 |
| STATE NATIONALSPECIALTY INSCO/NATIONAL SPECIA | Jun 2009 → Jun 2012 | $750k | 2 |
| STATE NATIONAL INSURANCE CO., INC. | Jun 2008 → Jun 2009 | $750k | 1 |
| LINCOLN GENERAL INSURANCE COMPANY | Jun 2001 → Jun 2008 | $750k | 3 |
| WAUSAU BUSINESS INSURANCE COMPANY | Jun 1998 → Jun 2001 | $750k | 3 |
| ST. PAUL MEDICAL LIABILITY INSURANCE COMPANY | Jun 1995 → Jun 1998 | $750k | 1 |
| GENERAL INSURANCE COMPANY OF AMERICA | Jun 1993 → Jun 1995 | $750k | 1 |
03
Equipment & fleet
VIN-decoded · NHTSA vPIC
Capacity· power units = haulable capacity; trailers are towed
- Registered power units (MCS-150)
- 63
- Observed power (24 mo)
- 47
- Trailers (towed)
- 58
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
2000
Oldest model yr
VINs decoded
04
Operations & lanes
Revealed by inspection density across 18 states · 24 mo
Operating footprint· revealed by roadside-inspection geography
Operating radiusNational
revealedStates observed1717
US statesInspections · 24 mo8383
TN busiestInspection density by state· each tile = a state · shade = inspections, last 24 mo
Home base
ARAB, AL
Top corridor
TN ⇄ AL
Density
fewermore
05
Network & fraud
Affiliated entities & reincarnation signals · for review, not a verdict
Last 12 months: 5 trucks also ran under 4 other carriers
VINs inspected under this carrier were recently inspected under other USDOTs too — the active double-broker / shared-equipment signal: USDOT 1941086USDOT 154913USDOT 4216487USDOT 842593Some overlap is legitimate (leased or sold equipment); review alongside the other signals.
Show all-time history (16 trucks · 11 carriers)
Across all inspections on record: USDOT 1243338USDOT 3604017USDOT 2834777USDOT 1812747USDOT 4216487USDOT 178538USDOT 154913USDOT 87409
Capacity consistency· registered vs roadside-observed power units
Registered (MCS-150)6363
Observed (24 mo)4747
Shared w/ other carriers1616
Registered and roadside-observed capacity are broadly consistent.
06
Identity & contact
FMCSA census + L&I dossier
Location
- Physical address
- 1101 NATHAN RD SW, ARAB, AL, 35016
- Operation
- Interstate· Hazmat
Contact
- Phone
- (256) 586-3018
- Fax
- (256) 586-8881
- Web domain
- ac-an.com
Registration
- Officers
- Bob Elrod · Ben Elrod
- USDOT / docket
- 188223 · MC-147554
- First registered
- 06/01/1974
- Last MCS-150
- 04/01/2025 · 2,756,586 mi (2024)
- FMCSA safety rating
- Satisfactory · 05/04/2004
- D-U-N-S
- 53579777
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 ARAB CARTAGE & EXPRESS CO 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 ARAB CARTAGE & EXPRESS CO INC's USDOT number?
ARAB CARTAGE & EXPRESS CO INC's USDOT number is 188223, and its motor carrier number is MC-147554.
Is ARAB CARTAGE & EXPRESS CO INC authorized to operate?
As of 2026-07-04, ARAB CARTAGE & EXPRESS CO INC is active in the FMCSA register with common, contract, broker operating authority on file.
What is ARAB CARTAGE & EXPRESS CO INC's safety record?
ARAB CARTAGE & EXPRESS CO INC has a 45.2% vehicle out-of-service rate (national average 22.26%) across 115 roadside inspections, with 3 reportable crashes in the last 24 months, and an FMCSA "Satisfactory" safety rating. Vektor's computed risk score is 74/100 (tier: review).
How big is ARAB CARTAGE & EXPRESS CO INC's fleet?
ARAB CARTAGE & EXPRESS CO INC operates 63 power units and 52 drivers per its most recent MCS-150 filing.
Where is ARAB CARTAGE & EXPRESS CO INC based?
ARAB CARTAGE & EXPRESS CO INC is based in ARAB, AL, with roadside inspections recorded across 18 states.