HIGHLANDER TRANSPORTATION INC
USDOT 2533966MC-Docket MC880891DES PLAINES, IL
Do not tender115 power units
HIGHLANDER TRANSPORTATION INC (USDOT 2533966) in DES PLAINES, IL — carries a hard disqualifier. 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.
- No history of insurance lapses.
- Current BIPD policy (CAROLINA CASUALTY INSURANCE CO.) was filed 27 day(s) after the last involuntary revocation (2024-04-11) — a refile-to-reinstate pattern worth a closer look.
- 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 and vehicle out-of-service rates are at or below the national roadside average.
- 12 preventable crash(es) in the last 24 months; recordable crash rate 0.
- 2 fatal crash(es) in the last 24 months.
- No link to a prior revoked authority.
- Authority involuntarily revoked 5 times, most recent 2024-04-11 — recurring instability (typically insurance-lapse / reinstate cycles).
- 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
- Active
- Contract authority
- Active
Safety & BASIC scorecard
BASIC safety measures
Unsafe driving
No alert
measure 3.83
Hours of service
No alert
measure 0.39
Driver fitness
No alert
measure 0.06
Controlled substance
No alert
measure 0
Vehicle maintenance
No alert
measure 2.89
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
2
Fatalities
3
Injuries
16
Crashes
298
Inspections
31
OOS inspections
36
OOS violations
Insurance
- BIPD on file
- $750,000 below $1M baseline
- Cargo insurance
- No
- Bond on file
- No
Fleet
- Power units
- 115
- Total drivers
- 115
- Years in business
- 12
- Hazmat authority
- No
Crash risk
- Preventable crashes (24 mo)
- 12 of 16 total crash(es)
- Recordable crash rate
- 0
- Driver OOS rate
- 1.6%
- Vehicle OOS rate
- 18.6%
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 2024-04-11
- Physical address
- No address flags
- Federal OOS / safety action
- None on file
- MCS-150 self-report
- 2025-12-30
- Insurance lapse history
- No lapses on record
- Last compliance review
- None on file
Inspection history (all-time)
391
Inspections
44
OOS inspections
300
Violations
53
OOS violations
5
Post-accident
Record spans 2023-06-06 → 2026-05-21.
Crash history (last 24 months)
2026-01-26
IN
Tow-away
2025-12-31
CA
Tow-away
2025-12-22
IL
1 injuredTow-away
2025-12-22
NV
1 injuredTow-away
2025-11-03
AZ
Tow-away
2025-06-05
IN
Tow-away
2025-02-06
CA
Tow-away
2025-02-04
CA
2 fatal1 injuredTow-away
2025-01-11
MO
Tow-away
2024-12-14
IL
Tow-away
2024-12-05
CA
Tow-away
2024-11-18
NE
Tow-away
2024-11-13
NM
Tow-away
2024-10-16
TX
Tow-away
2024-10-06
AZ
Tow-away
2024-07-01
CA
Tow-away
Violation pattern (all-time, by area)
| Area (49 CFR part) | Violations | Out of service | Most recent |
|---|---|---|---|
Unsafe driving 392
|
87 | 2 | 2026-04-22 |
Vehicle parts & maintenance 393
|
83 | 33 | 2026-04-20 |
Hours of service 395
|
34 | 2 | 2026-03-31 |
Vehicle inspection & repair 396
|
13 | 2 | 2026-04-14 |
Driver qualifications 391
|
4 | 3 | 2025-07-31 |
General safety regulations 390
|
2 | 0 | 2026-02-01 |
CDL standards 383
|
1 | 1 | 2025-07-13 |
Financial responsibility (insurance) 387
|
1 | 0 | 2025-07-31 |
Recent violations (last 24 months, worst first)
| Date | Category | Violation | OOS |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-22 | Unsafe Driving | State/Local Laws - Speeding 6-10 miles per hour over the speed limit | — |
| 2026-04-14 | Vehicle Maintenance | Lubrication - Oil or grease leak | — |
| 2026-04-12 | Vehicle Maintenance | Tires - All others leaking or inflation less than 50% of the maximum inflation pressure on tire not equipped with ATIS | OOS |
| 2026-04-12 | Vehicle Maintenance | Weight carried exceeds tire load limit | OOS |
| 2026-04-12 | Vehicle Maintenance | Truck-Tractor lower rear mud flaps retroreflective sheeting / reflex reflective material requirements for vehicles manuf | — |
| 2026-04-07 | Vehicle Maintenance | Air Brake - Hose/tubing with a bulge/swelling when air pressure is applied | OOS |
| 2026-03-31 | Hours-of-Service Compliance | HOS - False record of duty status driver improper use of Personal Conveyance - Not OOS | — |
| 2026-03-24 | Unsafe Driving | State/Local Laws - Speeding 11-14 miles per hour over the speed limit | — |
| 2026-03-20 | Hours-of-Service Compliance | HOS (ELD) - Driver failed to review any unassigned driving time when prompted by the ELD | — |
| 2026-03-20 | Unsafe Driving | State/Local Laws - Lane restriction violation | — |
| 2026-03-05 | Unsafe Driving | State/Local Laws - Speeding 6-10 miles per hour over the speed limit | — |
| 2026-03-03 | Vehicle Maintenance | Windshield - Damaged or Discolored | — |
| 2026-02-16 | Vehicle Maintenance | State/Local Laws - Wheel (mud) flaps missing or defective | — |
| 2026-02-13 | Vehicle Maintenance | Tires - All others leaking in tread area and inflation less than 50% of the maximum inflation pressure on tire equipped | OOS |
| 2026-02-02 | Hours-of-Service Compliance | HOS (ELD) - ELD Form and Manner | — |
| 2026-02-01 | Unsafe Driving | Driver - Using a hand-held mobile telephone | — |
| 2026-02-01 | Hours-of-Service Compliance | False report of drivers record of duty status | — |
| 2026-02-01 | Hours-of-Service Compliance | Driver failed to assume or decline unassigned driving time | — |
| 2026-01-21 | Vehicle Maintenance | Suspension - Leaking 3 PSI in 5 minutes | — |
| 2026-01-21 | Vehicle Maintenance | Steering - Power steering leaking anywhere. | — |
| 2026-01-21 | Vehicle Maintenance | Hubs - Wheel seal leaking | OOS |
| 2026-01-19 | Driver Fitness | Medical (Certificate) - Operating a CMV while in violation of state medical certification regulations | — |
| 2026-01-15 | Vehicle Maintenance | Lighting - Tail lamp - Any inoperative | — |
| 2026-01-13 | Vehicle Maintenance | Conspicuity Systems - Truck tractor lower rear retro reflective sheeting missing on vehicle manufactured on or after Jul | — |
| 2026-01-13 | Vehicle Maintenance | Emergency Equipment - Fire Extinguishers - unsecured | — |
| 2026-01-12 | Unsafe Driving | State/Local Laws - Lane restriction violation | — |
| 2026-01-08 | Unsafe Driving | State/Local Laws - Speeding 6-10 miles per hour over the speed limit | — |
| 2026-01-05 | Vehicle Maintenance | Air Brake - Audible air leak at a proper connection | — |
| 2025-12-30 | Unsafe Driving | State/Local Laws - Speeding 15 or more miles per hour over the speed limit | — |
| 2025-12-22 | Vehicle Maintenance | Lighting - Stop lamps - Both inoperative when required to be on | OOS |
| 2025-12-22 | Vehicle Maintenance | Washers - Inoperative washing system. | — |
| 2025-12-05 | Vehicle Maintenance | Drum Brake - Inoperative other than a steering axle | — |
| 2025-12-05 | Vehicle Maintenance | Lighting - License plate lamp inoperative | — |
| 2025-11-19 | Hours-of-Service Compliance | HOS - False record of duty status driver improper use of Personal Conveyance - Not OOS | — |
| 2025-11-19 | Hours-of-Service Compliance | HOS (ELD) - ELD Form and Manner | — |
| 2025-11-10 | Unsafe Driving | State/Local Laws - Speeding 11-14 miles per hour over the speed limit | — |
| 2025-11-03 | Unsafe Driving | State/Local Laws - Speeding 6-10 miles per hour over the speed limit | — |
| 2025-11-01 | Vehicle Maintenance | Tires - All others leaking or inflation less than 50% of the maximum inflation pressure on tire not equipped with ATIS | OOS |
| 2025-10-30 | Vehicle Maintenance | Lighting - Turn signal - Any inoperative on the rearmost vehicle. | OOS |
| 2025-10-30 | Vehicle Maintenance | Lighting - Headlamp(s) - Any inoperative | — |
| 2025-10-29 | Unsafe Driving | State/Local Laws - Speeding 6-10 miles per hour over the speed limit | — |
| 2025-10-29 | Hours-of-Service Compliance | HOS (ELD) - In-Vehicle Information - Failing to have a supply of blank driver's records of duty status graph-grids suffi | — |
| 2025-10-19 | Vehicle Maintenance | Emergency Equipment - Fire Extinguishers - unsecured | — |
| 2025-10-19 | Vehicle Maintenance | Washers - Inoperative washing system. | — |
| 2025-10-08 | Unsafe Driving | State/Local Laws - Speeding 11-14 miles per hour over the speed limit | — |
| 2025-10-08 | Hours-of-Service Compliance | HOS (Property) - No driver may make a false report in connection with a duty status. Explain | — |
| 2025-10-07 | Unsafe Driving | State/Local Laws - Operate a CMV while using a cellular phone | — |
| 2025-09-11 | Hours-of-Service Compliance | HOS - False record of duty status driver improper use of Personal Conveyance - Not OOS | — |
| 2025-09-11 | Hours-of-Service Compliance | HOS (ELD) - ELD Form and Manner | — |
| 2025-09-10 | Unsafe Driving | State/Local Laws - Speeding 6-10 miles per hour over the speed limit | — |
Recent inspections (with violations, newest first)
Showing the 25 most-recent inspections that had violations. Clean inspections aren't listed here — they're counted in the all-time inspection totals above.
2026-04-22 1 viol
| Area (part) | Section | OOS | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unsafe driving 392 | 2-SLLS2 | — | — |
2026-04-20 1 viol· 1 OOS
| Area (part) | Section | OOS | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle parts & maintenance 393 | 75A3-TAOL | OOS | — |
2026-04-14 1 viol
| Area (part) | Section | OOS | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle inspection & repair 396 | 5B-L | — | — |
2026-04-12 3 viols· 2 OOS
| Area (part) | Section | OOS | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle parts & maintenance 393 | 75A3-TAOL | OOS | — |
| Vehicle parts & maintenance 393 | 75G-LOAD | OOS | — |
| Vehicle parts & maintenance 393 | 11TL | — | — |
2026-04-07 1 viol· 1 OOS
| Area (part) | Section | OOS | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle parts & maintenance 393 | 45A-BHTBS | OOS | — |
2026-03-31 1 viol
| Area (part) | Section | OOS | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hours of service 395 | 8E1PC | — | — |
2026-03-24 1 viol
| Area (part) | Section | OOS | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unsafe driving 392 | 2-SLLS3 | — | — |
2026-03-20 4 viols
| Area (part) | Section | OOS | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hours of service 395 | 32B-ELDDFR | — | — |
| Unsafe driving 392 | 2-SLLLR | — | — |
| Hours of service 395 | 32B-ELDDFR | — | — |
| Hours of service 395 | 32B-ELDDFR | — | — |
2026-03-05 1 viol
| Area (part) | Section | OOS | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unsafe driving 392 | 2-SLLS2 | — | — |
2026-03-03 1 viol
| Area (part) | Section | OOS | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle parts & maintenance 393 | 60C | — | — |
2026-02-16 1 viol
| Area (part) | Section | OOS | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unsafe driving 392 | 2-SLLMF | — | — |
2026-02-13 1 viol· 1 OOS
| Area (part) | Section | OOS | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle parts & maintenance 393 | 75A3-TAOLTIS | OOS | — |
2026-02-03 1 viol
| Area (part) | Section | OOS | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unsafe driving 392 | 2-SLLEWA1 | — | — |
2026-02-03 1 viol
| Area (part) | Section | OOS | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unsafe driving 392 | 2W | — | — |
2026-02-02 2 viols
| Area (part) | Section | OOS | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hours of service 395 | 24 | — | — |
| Vehicle inspection & repair 396 | 17C-PI | — | — |
2026-02-01 5 viols
| Area (part) | Section | OOS | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unsafe driving 392 | 82DUMT | — | — |
| General safety regulations 390 | 21TC | — | — |
| Hours of service 395 | 32B | — | — |
| Hours of service 395 | 8E | — | — |
| Hours of service 395 | 8E | — | — |
2026-01-21 3 viols· 1 OOS
| Area (part) | Section | OOS | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle inspection & repair 396 | 5B-HWSL | OOS | — |
| Vehicle parts & maintenance 393 | 207F-SLAS | — | — |
| Vehicle parts & maintenance 393 | 209E-SPSLA | — | — |
2026-01-19 1 viol
| Area (part) | Section | OOS | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unsafe driving 392 | 2-MCSR | — | — |
2026-01-15 1 viol
| Area (part) | Section | OOS | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle parts & maintenance 393 | 9A-LRLI | — | — |
2026-01-13 2 viols
| Area (part) | Section | OOS | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle parts & maintenance 393 | 11A1-CSLRR | — | — |
| Vehicle parts & maintenance 393 | 95A4-EEUS | — | — |
2026-01-12 1 viol
| Area (part) | Section | OOS | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unsafe driving 392 | 2-SLLLR | — | — |
2026-01-08 1 viol
| Area (part) | Section | OOS | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unsafe driving 392 | 2-SLLS2 | — | — |
2026-01-05 1 viol
| Area (part) | Section | OOS | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle parts & maintenance 393 | 45D-B | — | — |
2025-12-30 1 viol
| Area (part) | Section | OOS | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unsafe driving 392 | 2-SLLS4 | — | — |
2025-12-23 1 viol
| Area (part) | Section | OOS | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unsafe driving 392 | 2-SLLED | — | — |
Verify on FMCSA
FMCSA is the system of record. One click through to the official source.