Fleet typeIdentity
Small fleet
26 power units. Brokers price each fleet type apart.
Carrier profile · USDOT 76114 · MC-170654
CHIEF FREIGHT LINES INC
26 power unitsavg 12.3 yrRegional · 6 statesPORTAGE, IN
CARRIER ACTIVEMC-170654 ACTIVERATED SATISFACTORY
Observed fleet · trailing 24 mo daily
26Power units
16 observed · MCS-150
14Trailers seen
Decoded · vPIC
12.3Avg age (yr)
1999–2023 · vPIC
Click to see how we scored it
Load decision · FMCSA snapshot · 2026-07-18
Clear to load
Active authority and a clean federal record. No blocking issues found.
Active operating authorityInsurance on fileFatal crash on record
In good standing · 4
Active operating authorityActive for-hire authority is on file with FMCSA.Insurance on fileBIPD (liability) insurance is on file with FMCSA.Established 52 yearsOperating authority has been on file since 1974.Out-of-service rates below national averageBoth vehicle and driver OOS rates beat the national benchmark across 34 inspections.
Operating authority5252 yr active
since 1974Insurance (BIPD)On file
FMCSA L&IVehicle OOS · 24mo18.218.2 %
▼ 22.26% nat'lCrashes · fatal11
1 in 24moVektor intelligence · beyond the federal recordProprietary signals computed from VIN-decoded inspections & daily FMCSA snapshots
Fleet age vs peersOlder
12.3 yr
Model years 1999–2023 · peer benchmark computing.
Identity stabilityStable
52 yr unchanged
Same registration since 1974 — no chameleon / reincarnation signal.
AI readFull read
Is CHIEF FREIGHT LINES INC safe to work with?
Is CHIEF FREIGHT LINES INC safe to load? CHIEF FREIGHT LINES INC (USDOT 76114, MC-170654) is an active small-fleet motor carrier based in PORTAGE, IN, operating 26 power units and 26 drivers. Operating authority has been active 52 years (past the 24-month broker-confidence threshold). Across 34 roadside inspections, its vehicle out-of-service rate is 18.2% (below the 22.26% national average), with 1 reportable crash in the last 24 months. FMCSA rates it Satisfactory. Vektor rates it clear to load (88/100), with the leading concern: fatal crash on record. Source: FMCSA SAFER/MCMIS, last updated 2026-07-18.
FMCSA fields + Vektor analysis · updated 2026-07-18
CFCHIEF FREIGHT LINES INC 88
01
Safety
34 inspections · 24 mo · vs national benchmarks
Out-of-service rate· trailing 24 months vs national benchmark
Vehicle OOS 18.2% (24-mo)11 veh insp · 24-mo · nat'l 22.26%
050%nat'l 22.26%
Driver OOS 0.0% (24-mo)23 drv insp · 24-mo · nat'l 6.67%
030%nat'l 6.67%
OOS trajectory· trailing 6-mo vehicle-OOS rate vs national
11.1% 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
≈0.4 / unit·yr
thin signalabundant signal
Roadside-inspection volume is about what you'd expect for a 26-unit fleet — enough signal to read the safety record, though not a heavy sample.
- Registered power units
- 26
- Inspections · 24 mo
- 23
- Annualized
- ≈12 / yr
- Coverage
- ≈0.4 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.
- 393.9 Inoperative required lampsVehicle Maintenance17 · 1 OOS
- 392.2 State/local traffic law violation (speeding, etc.)Unsafe Driving15
- 392.16 Failure to use seat beltUnsafe Driving3
- 396.3 Inspection / repair / maintenance not performedVehicle Maintenance3 · 3 OOS
- 393.207 Parts & accessories (vehicle condition)Vehicle Maintenance2 · 2 OOS
- 393.75 Tires (defective / underinflated / worn)Vehicle Maintenance2 · 1 OOS
- 393.95 Emergency equipment (extinguisher, triangles)Vehicle Maintenance1
- 393.47 Brake actuators / linings / componentsVehicle Maintenance1
- 393.203 Parts & accessories (vehicle condition)Vehicle Maintenance1
- 393.23 Parts & accessories (vehicle condition)Vehicle Maintenance1 · 1 OOS
02
Authority & insurance
Can they legally + adequately haul your load?
Operating authority· 49 CFR · per type
Operating authority
- Common
- Active
- Contract
- Active
- Broker
- Active
Insurance & bonds
BIPD / liability (required)Filed with FMCSA
CargoNone
Surety bond (BMC-84)Filed with FMCSA
Insurance continuity· insurer · policy · lapses
$750k BIPD · 11 insurers · 0 lapsesInsurer churn
+7 earlier
Empire Fire · 03–06
1st Security · 07–13
National · 08–11
Acuity A · 11–19
1st Security · 13–25
Carolina · 19–21
19942021
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.
13 insurer eras · collapsed from 23 filings
| Insurer | Period | Limit | Renewals |
|---|---|---|---|
| CAROLINA CASUALTY INSURANCE CO. | Oct 2019 → Oct 2021 | $750k | 1 |
| 1ST SECURITY FINANCIAL CORPORATION | Oct 2013 → Jul 2025 | $750k | 1 |
| ACUITY, A MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY | Oct 2011 → Oct 2019 | $750k | 1 |
| NATIONAL CASUALTY COMPANY | Oct 2008 → Oct 2011 | $750k | 3 |
| REDLAND INSURANCE CO. | Oct 2007 → Oct 2008 | $750k | 1 |
| 1ST SECURITY FINANCIAL CORPORATION | May 2007 → Oct 2013 | $750k | 1 |
| SENTRY SELECT INSURANCE COMPANY | Oct 2006 → Oct 2007 | $750k | 1 |
| EMPIRE FIRE & MARINE INSURANCE CO. | Apr 2003 → Oct 2006 | $750k | 6 |
| CAROLINA CASUALTY INSURANCE CO. | Apr 2002 → Apr 2003 | $750k | 3 |
| STAR INSURANCE COMPANY | Feb 2000 → Apr 2002 | $750k | 1 |
| CONTINENTAL WESTERN INSURANCE CO. | Feb 1997 → Feb 2000 | $750k | 2 |
| AMERICAN EAGLE INSURANCE CO | Apr 1995 → Feb 1997 | $750k | 1 |
| SAFECO INSURANCE COMPANY OF AMERICA | Apr 1994 → Apr 1995 | $750k | 1 |
03
Equipment & fleet
VIN-decoded · NHTSA vPIC
Capacity· power units = haulable capacity; trailers are towed
- Registered power units (MCS-150)
- 26
- Observed power (24 mo)
- 16
- Trailers (towed)
- 14
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
2023
Newest model yr
1999
Oldest model yr
VINs decoded
04
Operations & lanes
Revealed by inspection density across 6 states · 24 mo
Operating footprint· revealed by roadside-inspection geography
Operating radiusRegional
revealedStates observed66
US statesInspections · 24 mo2323
OH busiestInspection density by state· each tile = a state · shade = inspections, last 24 mo
Home base
PORTAGE, IN
Top corridor
OH ⇄ IN
Density
fewermore
05
Network & fraud
Affiliated entities & reincarnation signals · for review, not a verdict
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 1278724Some overlap is legitimate (leased or sold equipment); review alongside the other signals.
Show all-time history (8 trucks · 6 carriers)
Across all inspections on record: USDOT 1278724USDOT 192897USDOT 3691895USDOT 162408USDOT 3209436USDOT 332335
Shares a registration email domain with other carriers
@truckinit.com — 18 carriers: USDOT 247353USDOT 616294USDOT 624355USDOT 729408USDOT 952537USDOT 1227359USDOT 1231134USDOT 1278718
Capacity consistency· registered vs roadside-observed power units
Registered (MCS-150)2626
Observed (24 mo)1616
Shared w/ other carriers88
Registered capacity materially exceeds what is observed roadside — the MCS-150 may be stale or the fleet under-utilized.
06
Identity & contact
FMCSA census + L&I dossier
Location
- Physical address
- 1201 MARINE VIEW ST, PORTAGE, IN, 46368
- Operation
- Interstate
Contact
- Phone
- (219) 787-8868
- linda@truckinit.com
- Web domain
- truckinit.com
Registration
- Officer
- Kermit Bryan
- USDOT / docket
- 76114 · MC-170654
- First registered
- 06/01/1974
- Last MCS-150
- 04/07/2026 · 1,002,000 mi (2025)
- FMCSA safety rating
- Satisfactory · 12/06/2005
- D-U-N-S
- 878529718
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
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Leave a review09
Frequently asked
What is CHIEF FREIGHT LINES INC's USDOT number?
CHIEF FREIGHT LINES INC's USDOT number is 76114, and its motor carrier number is MC-170654.
Is CHIEF FREIGHT LINES INC authorized to operate?
As of 2026-07-18, CHIEF FREIGHT LINES INC is active in the FMCSA register with common, contract, broker operating authority on file.
What is CHIEF FREIGHT LINES INC's safety record?
CHIEF FREIGHT LINES INC has a 18.2% vehicle out-of-service rate (national average 22.26%) across 34 roadside inspections, with 1 reportable crash in the last 24 months, and an FMCSA "Satisfactory" safety rating. Vektor's computed risk score is 88/100 (tier: clear).
How big is CHIEF FREIGHT LINES INC's fleet?
CHIEF FREIGHT LINES INC operates 26 power units and 26 drivers per its most recent MCS-150 filing.
Where is CHIEF FREIGHT LINES INC based?
CHIEF FREIGHT LINES INC is based in PORTAGE, IN, with roadside inspections recorded across 6 states.