Safety Measurement System - Overview (U.S. DOT# 48104)

MERCHANTS TRANSPORT OF HICKORY LLC

U.S. DOT#: 48104

Address: 5005 ALEX LEE BLVD
HICKORY, NC 28601
Number of Vehicles: 308
Number of Drivers: 347
Number of Inspections: 701

Safety Rating & OOS Rates

(As of 01/21/2026 updated daily from SAFER )

SATISFACTORY

(Rating Date: 12/14/2000)

Out of Service Rates

Type	OOS %	National Avg %
Vehicle	7.6	23.2
Driver	0.0	6.4
Hazmat	0.0	4.4

Licensing and Insurance

(As of 01/21/2026 updated hourly from L&I )

Active For-Hire Authority
Type	Yes/No	MC#/MX#
Property	Yes	MC-162035
Passenger	No
Household Goods	No
Broker	Yes	MC-162035

BASIC Status (Public Property Carrier View)

Behavior Analysis & Safety Improvement Categories (BASICs) Based on a 24-month record ending December 26, 2025

Select a BASIC icon above to get details, or view your Complete SMS Profile.

Summary of Activities

The summary includes information on the 5 most recent investigations and 24 months of inspections and crash history.

Most Recent Investigation: 11/1/2000 (Compliance Review)
Total Inspections: 701
- Total Inspections without Violations used in SMS: 618
- Total Inspections with Violations used in SMS: 83
Total Crashes* : 18

*Crashes listed represent a motor carrier’s involvement in reportable crashes, regardless of the carrier’s or driver’s role in the crash. Continue for details.

Continue for more Crash, Inspection & Investigation Details

Carrier Registration

Carrier Registration Details Subject to General Threshold Update Registration Info

Enforcement Cases

(Six years as of 01/21/2026 updated monthly from FMCSA )

No penalties found

Tools/Resources

SMS Methodology How to Improve Request a Data Review

For U.S. DOT# 48104

Complete SMS Profile Carrier History Downloads

Summary of Activities (as of 12/26/2025, updated monthly)

The summary includes information on the 5 most recent investigations and 24 months of inspections and crash history.

Most Recent Investigation: 11/1/2000 (Compliance Review)	Total Inspections: 701 Total inspections without violations used in SMS: 618 Total inspections with violations used in SMS: 83	Total Crashes: 18*
11/1/2000 (Compliance Review) 12/14/1990 (Compliance Review) 3/10/1988 (Compliance Review)	# Insp. OOS Driver Inspections 701 0.0% Vehicle Inspections 341 7.9% Placardable HM Inspections 0 0.0% % Placardable HM Inspections 0.0%	Fatal Crashes 0 Injury Crashes 5 Towaway Crashes 13

*Crashes listed represent a motor carrier’s involvement in reportable crashes, regardless of the carrier’s or driver’s role in the crash. Continue for details.

Downloads

Select a focus and file type to download SMS data.

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Average PU × Utilization Factor (as of 12/26/2025, updated monthly)

The SMS normalizes the Unsafe Driving and Crash Indicator BASICs measure by carrier size (i.e., a hybrid power unit and vehicle miles travelled measure) to account for exposure. Carrier size is defined as average power units multiplied by the utilization factor.

323.4 Average PU × Utilization Factor = 308 Average Power Units × 1.0501 Utilization Factor

Average Power Units
Utilization Factor

In order to account for changes in a carrier's fleet size during the previous 24 months an average power unit value is used in the calculation to determine a carrier's Unsafe Driving BASIC and Crash Indicator measures.

308 Average Power Units = 308 Current Power Units + 308 Power Units 6 Months Ago + 308 Power Units 18 Months Ago
3

The Utilization Factor is a multiplier that adjusted the average PU values based on the utilization in terms of VMT per average PU.

Determine Carrier Segment: Combo
Combination trucks/motor coach buses constituting 70% or more of the total PU
U.S. DOT# 48104 = 99% Combination trucks/motor coach buses
Determine VMT per Average Power Unit
86,675 VMT per Average Power Unit = 26,696,000 VMT From Registration (MCS-150) ÷ 308 Average Power Units

Based on Step 1 and 2 calculate the Utilization Factor

Combo Segment
Meets Criteria	VMT per Avgerage PU	Utilization Factor
	< 80,000	1
	80,000 – 160,000	1.0501 = 1 + ( 86,675 VMT per PU − 80,000) ÷ 133,333
	160,000 – 200,000	1.6
	> 200,000	1
	No Recent VMT Information	1

Use of SMS Data/Information

FAST Act of 2015:

Readers should not draw conclusions about a carrier's overall safety condition simply based on the data displayed in this system. Unless a motor carrier has received an UNSATISFACTORY safety rating under part 385 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, or has otherwise been ordered to discontinue operations by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, it is authorized to operate on the Nation's roadways.

Safety Measurement System:

The data in the Safety Measurement System (SMS) is performance data used by the Agency and Enforcement Community. A Carrier may be prioritized for an intervention action and roadside inspection. symbol, based on that data, indicates that FMCSA may prioritize a motor carrier for further monitoring.

The Carrier may be prioritized for an intervention action and roadside inspection. symbol is not intended to imply any federal safety rating of the carrier pursuant to 49 USC 31144. Readers should not draw conclusions about a carrier's overall safety condition simply based on the data displayed in this system. Unless a motor carrier in the SMS has received an UNSATISFACTORY safety rating pursuant to 49 CFR Part 385, or has otherwise been ordered to discontinue operations by the FMCSA, it is authorized to operate on the nation's roadways.

Motor carrier safety ratings are available at http://safer.fmcsa.dot.gov and motor carrier licensing and insurance status are available at http://li-public.fmcsa.dot.gov/.