Asset-based
258 power units. Brokers price each fleet type apart.
DBA MERCHANTS FOODSERVICE
Load decision · FMCSA snapshot · Aug 4, 2026
Clear under the current scoring — review the flagged signal below before loading.
Asset-based
258 power units. Brokers price each fleet type apart.
4.8 yr
Model years 2006–2026 · peer benchmark unavailable.
52 yr unchanged
Same registration since 1974 — no chameleon / reincarnation signal.
THE MERCHANTS COMPANY (USDOT 78889) has a Vektor safety score of 88/100 and a Clear to load verdict, from the carrier's FMCSA record refreshed Aug 4, 2026.
The carrier holds active common for-hire operating authority per FMCSA L&I as of Aug 4, 2026.
It has an active BIPD insurance filing with a $0 limit in force from LIBERTY MUTUAL INSURANCE CO. effective Aug 1, 2022 in FMCSA L&I's current snapshot as of Aug 4, 2026.
Its vehicle out-of-service rate was 15.9% over the last 24 months, versus the 22.26% CVSA national average, from FMCSA roadside-inspection data refreshed Aug 4, 2026.
The carrier received 143 roadside inspections in the last 24 months — 63 vehicle-level and 143 driver-level — across 8 states, according to FMCSA roadside-inspection data refreshed Aug 4, 2026.
The carrier has 14 reportable crashes in the last 24 months and 5 fatal crashes across the full FMCSA crash record available as of Aug 4, 2026.
It reports 258 power units and 276 drivers in its most recent MCS-150 filing dated Oct 28, 2025.
It has an FMCSA safety rating of Satisfactory assigned May 29, 2002 in the federal record refreshed Aug 4, 2026.
THE MERCHANTS COMPANY's USDOT number is 78889, and its motor carrier number is MC-350289.
As of Aug 4, 2026, THE MERCHANTS COMPANY is active in the FMCSA register with common, contract, broker operating authority on file.
THE MERCHANTS COMPANY has a 15.9% vehicle out-of-service rate (national average 22.26%) across 248 roadside inspections, with 14 reportable crashes in the last 24 months, and an FMCSA "Satisfactory" safety rating. Vektor's computed risk score is 88/100 (tier: clear).
THE MERCHANTS COMPANY operates 258 power units and 276 drivers per its most recent MCS-150 filing.
THE MERCHANTS COMPANY is based in HATTIESBURG, MS, with roadside inspections recorded across 8 states.
We could not retrieve a reliable peer set for this profile right now.
Other FMCSA-registered carriers near this one in the directory, by USDOT number.
143 inspections · 24 mo · vs national benchmarks
Out-of-service rate· 24-mo cumulative · vs national
Vehicle OOS rate· vehicle OOS · vehicle-level inspections · 6-month trailing
Roadside inspection history· 24 charted calendar months · vehicle / driver level · any-OOS overlay
139 inspections in the charted months · busiest month Feb '25 · 12
Inspection coverage· expected vs observed · the fraud signal
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.
Violation themes· decoded · grouped by BASIC
What this carrier actually gets cited for — FMCSA violation codes decoded into plain English, ranked by frequency.
Can they legally + adequately haul your load?
Operating authority· 49 CFR · per type
Operating authority
Insurance & bonds
Insurance adequacy· filed BIPD vs the $750K federal floor
Insurance continuity· insurer · policy · lapses
Shorter eras are too brief to label at this scale — all 9 insurers are named in the list below.
BIPD in force — $0 · LIBERTY MUTUAL INSURANCE CO. · since Aug 2022
| Insurer | Period | Limit | Renewals |
|---|---|---|---|
| SENTRY SELECT INSURANCE COMPANY | Dec 2020 → Aug 2022 | $750K | 1 |
| TRAVELERS PROPERTY CASUALTY CO. OF AMERICA | Dec 2017 → Dec 2020 | $750K | 1 |
| ZURICH AMERICAN INSURANCE COMPANY | Dec 2015 → Dec 2017 | $750K | 1 |
| STATE NATIONAL INSURANCE CO., INC. | Dec 2013 → Dec 2015 | $750K | 1 |
| COMPANION PROPERTY & CASUALTY INS. CO. | Dec 2011 → Dec 2011 | $750K | 4 |
| WAUSAU UNDERWRITERS INSURANCE COMPANY | Dec 2009 → Jan 2012 | $750K | 2 |
| GREAT WEST CASUALTY CO. | Aug 2004 → Jan 2010 | $750K | 4 |
| FIREMAN'S FUND INSURANCE CO. | Oct 1999 → Aug 2004 | $750K | 1 |
| AUDUBON INSURANCE COMPANY | Sep 1998 → Nov 1999 | $750K | 1 |
VIN-decoded · NHTSA vPIC
Capacity· power units = haulable capacity; trailers are towed
Capacity is power units only — trailers are towed equipment and are never summed into a fleet-size figure.
Fleet age· model years · decoded VINs
Revealed by inspection density across 8 states · 24 mo
Operating footprint· revealed by roadside-inspection geography
Inspection density by state· each tile = a state · shade = inspections, last 24 mo
Affiliated entities & reincarnation signals · for review, not a verdict
Last 12 months: 13 trucks also ran under 2 other carriers
Shares a registration email domain with other carriers
Capacity consistency· registered vs roadside-observed power units
Registered capacity materially exceeds what is observed roadside — the MCS-150 may be stale or the fleet under-utilized.
FMCSA census + L&I dossier
Location
Contact
Registration
Fleet (self-reported · MCS-150)
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.
Verified broker, shipper & driver reviews — moderated
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