LIGHTNING EXPRESS LLC
USDOT 3976663MC-Docket MC804394AURORA, CO
Review before tendering2 power units
LIGHTNING EXPRESS LLC (USDOT 3976663) in AURORA, CO — 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.
- 2 prior insurance lapse(s) on record, most recent began 2016-07-25 — the carrier let required coverage lapse before.
- Unrated by FMCSA. Most carriers are unrated — unrated is not the same as unsafe.
- No BASIC alerts in any of the five public SMS categories.
- Driver out-of-service rate is above the national roadside average.
- 1 preventable crash(es) in the last 24 months; recordable crash rate 0.
- No fatal crashes in the last 24 months.
- No link to a prior revoked authority.
- Authority involuntarily revoked 5 times, most recent 2025-09-08 — recurring instability (typically insurance-lapse / reinstate cycles).
- 1 other active carrier(s) operate from this exact street + ZIP. High counts are often legitimate registered-agent / virtual-office addresses — treat as context, not a verdict.
- 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 5.71
Hours of service
No alert
measure 8.5
Driver fitness
No alert
measure 3.38
Controlled substance
No alert
measure 0
Vehicle maintenance
No alert
measure 4.27
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
0
Injuries
1
Crashes
9
Inspections
6
OOS inspections
11
OOS violations
Insurance
- BIPD on file
- $750,000 below $1M baseline
- Cargo insurance
- No
- Bond on file
- No
Fleet
- Power units
- 2
- Total drivers
- 2
- Years in business
- 4
- Hazmat authority
- No
Crash risk
- Preventable crashes (24 mo)
- 1 of 1 total crash(es)
- Recordable crash rate
- 0
- Driver OOS rate
- 66.7%Above national
- Vehicle OOS rate
- 11.1%
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
- 5 times last 2025-09-08
- Physical address
- 1 other carrier(s) at this address
- Federal OOS / safety action
- None on file
- MCS-150 self-report
- 2025-10-29
- Insurance lapse history
- 2 lapse(s) most recent 2016-07-25
- Last compliance review
- None on file
Inspection history (all-time)
11
Inspections
8
OOS inspections
52
Violations
14
OOS violations
0
Post-accident
Record spans 2023-11-27 → 2026-01-10.
Crash history (last 24 months)
2025-06-19
TX
Tow-away
Violation pattern (all-time, by area)
| Area (49 CFR part) | Violations | Out of service | Most recent |
|---|---|---|---|
Hours of service 395
|
21 | 8 | 2026-01-10 |
Vehicle parts & maintenance 393
|
14 | 0 | 2026-01-10 |
Driver qualifications 391
|
6 | 4 | 2026-01-10 |
Unsafe driving 392
|
5 | 1 | 2025-10-24 |
General safety regulations 390
|
4 | 0 | 2024-09-27 |
CDL standards 383
|
1 | 1 | 2026-01-10 |
Vehicle inspection & repair 396
|
1 | 0 | 2026-01-10 |
Recent violations (last 24 months, worst first)
| Date | Category | Violation | OOS |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-10 | Driver Fitness | Restriction - (CDL) - Operate a CMV in violation of a restriction | OOS |
| 2026-01-10 | Hours-of-Service Compliance | HOS (Property) - Driver driving beyond the 14 hour after coming on duty following 10 consecutive hours off duty at the t | OOS |
| 2026-01-10 | Hours-of-Service Compliance | HOS (Property) - Driving more than 11 hours following 10 consecutive hours off duty at the time of inspection. Time | OOS |
| 2026-01-10 | Hours-of-Service Compliance | HOS (Property) - No driver may make a false report in connection with a duty status. Explain | OOS |
| 2026-01-10 | Hours-of-Service Compliance | HOS (Property) - Driving more than 11 hours following 10 consecutive hours off duty during the current 8 consecutive day | — |
| 2026-01-10 | Hours-of-Service Compliance | HOS (Property) - Driving beyond the 14 hour after coming on duty following 10 consecutive hours off duty during the curr | — |
| 2026-01-10 | Driver Fitness | Driver cannot satisfy the English language proficiency requirements of 391.11(b)(2) as per FMCSA Enforcement Guidance M | OOS |
| 2026-01-10 | Vehicle Maintenance | Failing to correct the violation(s)/defect(s) noted on the roadside inspection report | — |
| 2026-01-10 | Hours-of-Service Compliance | Driving after 70 hours on duty in a 8 day period at time of inspection. (Property carrying vehicle) - Nominal Violation | OOS |
| 2026-01-10 | 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 | — |
| 2026-01-10 | Vehicle Maintenance | Windshield / Windows - Tinting permits less than 70% of light transmittance | — |
| 2026-01-10 | Vehicle Maintenance | Windshield - Obstructed | — |
| 2026-01-10 | Hours-of-Service Compliance | HOS (ELD) - A portable ELD is not mounted in a fixed position and visible to the driver when seated in the normal drivin | — |
| 2025-10-24 | Hours-of-Service Compliance | HOS (Property) - Failing to have a record of duty status using the method prescribed | OOS |
| 2025-10-24 | Vehicle Maintenance | Lighting - Headlamp(s) - Any inoperative | — |
| 2025-10-24 | Vehicle Maintenance | Windshield / Windows - Tinting permits less than 70% of light transmittance | — |
| 2025-07-31 | Hours-of-Service Compliance | HOS (Property) - Driver produces a false record of duty status that concealed an HOS limitation violation after the last | — |
| 2025-07-31 | Vehicle Maintenance | Horn - Inoperative or defective | — |
| 2025-07-30 | Unsafe Driving | State/Local Laws - Failed to obey a traffic control device - Permanent or Temporary - e.g. safety official signal sign l | — |
| 2025-07-30 | Driver Fitness | Medical (Certificate) - Operating a CDL (passenger or property carrying) vehicle that is non-excepted and the driver has | OOS |
| 2025-07-10 | Unsafe Driving | State/Local Laws - Failed to obey a traffic control device - Permanent or Temporary - e.g. safety official signal sign l | — |
| 2025-06-19 | Hours-of-Service Compliance | ELD - No record of duty status (ELD Required) | OOS |
| 2025-06-19 | Vehicle Maintenance | No or defective lighting devices or reflective material as required | — |
| 2025-06-19 | Vehicle Maintenance | No/discharged/unsecured fire extinguisher | — |
| 2025-06-19 | Vehicle Maintenance | Windshield / Windows - Tinting permits less than 70% of light transmittance | — |
| 2024-09-27 | Hours-of-Service Compliance | HOS (Property) - Failing to have a record of duty status using the method prescribed | OOS |
| 2024-09-27 | Vehicle Maintenance | Lighting - Clearance lamp(s) inoperative | — |
| 2024-09-27 | Driver Fitness | Medical (Certificate) - Operating a commercial motor vehicle without showing proof of a valid medical certification upo | — |
| 2024-09-27 | Vehicle Maintenance | State/Local Laws - Wheel (mud) flaps missing or defective | — |
| 2024-09-27 | Vehicle Maintenance | Windshield / Windows - Tinting permits less than 70% of light transmittance | — |
| 2024-09-27 | Vehicle Maintenance | Windshield - Obstructed | — |
| 2024-06-27 | Vehicle Maintenance | Tires - Less than 2/32 inch tread depth | — |
| 2024-06-27 | Hours-of-Service Compliance | HOS (Property) - Failing to have a record of duty status using the method prescribed | OOS |
| 2024-06-27 | Vehicle Maintenance | Lighting - Headlamp(s) fail to operate on low and high beam | — |
| 2024-06-27 | Driver Fitness | Driver cannot satisfy the English language proficiency requirements of 391.11(b)(2) as per FMCSA Enforcement Guidance M | — |
| 2024-06-27 | Vehicle Maintenance | Windshield - Damaged or Discolored | — |
Recent inspections (with violations, newest first)
Showing the 10 most-recent inspections that had violations. Clean inspections aren't listed here — they're counted in the all-time inspection totals above.
2026-01-10 21 viols· 6 OOS
| Area (part) | Section | OOS | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|
| CDL standards 383 | 95A-LCDL | OOS | — |
| Hours of service 395 | 24D-ELDPT | — | — |
| Hours of service 395 | 3A2-HOSPDIT | OOS | — |
| Hours of service 395 | 3A3I-HOSPDIT | OOS | — |
| Driver qualifications 391 | 11B2-Q | OOS | — |
| Hours of service 395 | 22G-ELDMFV | — | — |
| Hours of service 395 | 8E-HOSPD | — | — |
| Hours of service 395 | 3A1-HOSPD | — | — |
| Hours of service 395 | 3A2-HOSPD | — | — |
| Hours of service 395 | 3A1-HOSPD | — | — |
| Hours of service 395 | 3A1-HOSPD | — | — |
| Hours of service 395 | 3A2-HOSPD | — | — |
| Hours of service 395 | 3A1-HOSPD | — | — |
| Hours of service 395 | 3A2-HOSPD | — | — |
| Hours of service 395 | 8E-HOSPD | OOS | — |
| Hours of service 395 | 3A1-HOSPD | — | — |
| Hours of service 395 | 3A2-HOSPD | — | — |
| Hours of service 395 | 3B2-HOSPRNC | OOS | — |
| Vehicle parts & maintenance 393 | 60E | — | — |
| Vehicle parts & maintenance 393 | 60D | — | — |
| Vehicle inspection & repair 396 | 9D2-FTF | — | — |
2025-10-24 4 viols· 2 OOS
| Area (part) | Section | OOS | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle parts & maintenance 393 | 60D | — | — |
| Hours of service 395 | 8A1-HOSP | OOS | — |
| Vehicle parts & maintenance 393 | 9A-LHLI | — | — |
| Unsafe driving 392 | 9AA2-OA | OOS | — |
2025-07-31 2 viols
| Area (part) | Section | OOS | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hours of service 395 | 8E-HOSPDOOS | — | — |
| Vehicle parts & maintenance 393 | 81-H | — | — |
2025-07-30 3 viols· 1 OOS
| Area (part) | Section | OOS | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unsafe driving 392 | 2-SLLTCD | — | — |
| Unsafe driving 392 | 2-SLLSR | — | — |
| Driver qualifications 391 | 11B4 | OOS | — |
2025-07-10 1 viol
| Area (part) | Section | OOS | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unsafe driving 392 | 2-SLLTCD | — | — |
2025-06-19 4 viols· 1 OOS
| Area (part) | Section | OOS | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle parts & maintenance 393 | 11 | — | — |
| Vehicle parts & maintenance 393 | 60D | — | — |
| Vehicle parts & maintenance 393 | 95A | — | — |
| Hours of service 395 | 8A-ELD | OOS | — |
2024-09-27 7 viols· 1 OOS
| Area (part) | Section | OOS | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unsafe driving 392 | 2 | — | — |
| Vehicle parts & maintenance 393 | 60(e) | — | — |
| Vehicle parts & maintenance 393 | 60(d) | — | — |
| General safety regulations 390 | 21T(b)(1) | — | — |
| Vehicle parts & maintenance 393 | 9(a) | — | — |
| Hours of service 395 | 8(a)(1) | OOS | — |
| Driver qualifications 391 | 41(a) | — | — |
2024-06-27 7 viols· 1 OOS
| Area (part) | Section | OOS | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|
| General safety regulations 390 | 21T(b)(1) | — | — |
| General safety regulations 390 | 21T(b)(2) | — | — |
| Vehicle parts & maintenance 393 | 60(c) | — | — |
| Vehicle parts & maintenance 393 | 9(a) | — | — |
| Vehicle parts & maintenance 393 | 75(c) | — | — |
| Driver qualifications 391 | 11(b)(2) | — | — |
| Hours of service 395 | 8(a)(1) | OOS | — |
2023-11-30 2 viols· 1 OOS
| Area (part) | Section | OOS | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|
| General safety regulations 390 | 21TB | — | — |
| Driver qualifications 391 | 11B5-LNCDLNVL | OOS | Conviction of Original Charge |
2023-11-27 1 viol· 1 OOS
| Area (part) | Section | OOS | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Driver qualifications 391 | 11(b)(5) | OOS | — |
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