What Verdica's 817 score means for BAKER IMPLEMENT COMPANY
Baker Implement Company's composite score of 817 out of 850 places it in Verdica's "excellent" band (800–850). This score reflects strong performance across the regulatory compliance dimensions that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) monitors: authority status, insurance coverage, safety record, and inspection history.
A score in this range indicates that Baker Implement Company demonstrates compliance well above the baseline required to operate as a motor carrier in Missouri. The company has maintained active operating authority, carries required insurance, and has generated a safety record and inspection history that rank in the upper percentile of trucking providers. For a business owner or freight buyer considering this provider, an 817 score suggests lower regulatory and operational risk compared to the industry median—though it does not eliminate the need for independent due diligence.
The score is composite, meaning it synthesizes data across multiple regulatory touchpoints. The sub-scores reveal where strength is distributed: near-perfect authority and insurance compliance, very strong safety metrics, and a solid but somewhat less robust inspection history. This profile is typical of established carriers that have invested in compliance infrastructure and driver training.
How the sub-scores break down
Authority & Insurance: 850
This perfect sub-score indicates that Baker Implement Company holds current, active operating authority from the FMCSA and maintains all required liability and cargo insurance in force. These are baseline requirements for legal operation; failure in this dimension results in immediate regulatory action, including out-of-service orders. A 850 here confirms the company is properly licensed and insured.
Safety Record: 845
The safety score reflects Baker Implement Company's performance on FMCSA BASIC (Behavior Analysis and Safety Improvement Categories) metrics, which measure crash involvement, unsafe driving citations, hours-of-service violations, and other safety-related infractions. An 845 indicates the company has few or no serious safety violations relative to its exposure (miles driven, number of inspections). This is a strong indicator of internal safety management and driver training.
Inspection History: 725
This sub-score is based on roadside safety inspections conducted by state and federal officers. These inspections examine vehicle condition (brakes, lights, tires, cargo securement), driver documentation, and hours-of-service compliance. A 725 is solid but the lowest of Baker Implement's three sub-scores, suggesting the company has accumulated some minor or moderate violations during inspections—nothing that would trigger out-of-service status, but enough to indicate room for improvement in vehicle maintenance or driver documentation practices.
What regulators in MO track for trucking providers
The FMCSA's oversight system relies on three main data streams: licensing and authority records (confirming the company is legally permitted to operate), insurance verification (proof of financial responsibility), and roadside inspection data combined with crash history.
Roadside inspections grade violations from Level 1 (critical safety defects) to Level 5 (minor documentation issues). Accumulation of violations, especially across multiple vehicles or drivers, can lower a carrier's BASIC scores and trigger enforcement actions such as increased inspection frequency or operational restrictions.
Safety BASIC scores are calculated from crash rates, unsafe driving violations, hours-of-service infractions, vehicle maintenance failures, and hazmat (if applicable) violations. These are tracked per carrier nationwide and updated regularly. Inspection scores similarly aggregate violations found during roadside checks.
In Missouri, carriers are subject to state-level inspections in addition to federal oversight, and their records feed into the national FMCSA database. A carrier's composite score reflects its standing across all these checks.
Bottom line
Baker Implement Company's 817 score positions it as a low-risk provider with a strong compliance track record. Anyone considering using this carrier should still verify current insurance, confirm active authority status through FMCSA's online portal, and request references—but the score suggests regulatory red flags are unlikely. The slight dip in inspection history warrants a quick question about recent fleet maintenance practices, but does not indicate systemic problems.