What Verdica's 807 score means for DEPENDABLE HIGHWAY EXPRESS INC
Dependable Highway Express Inc's composite score of 807 out of 850 places the carrier in Verdica's "excellent" band (800–850). This score reflects regulatory compliance data from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and indicates that the company meets or exceeds safety and operational standards tracked by federal inspectors.
A score in this range suggests the carrier has maintained consistent compliance across the dimensions Verdica measures: licensing authority, insurance coverage, safety incident frequency, and inspection outcomes. For shippers, brokers, or other entities evaluating transportation vendors, an 807 rating signals lower regulatory risk compared to the broader trucking population. However, the score is not perfect—at 807 of a possible 850, there remain measurable compliance gaps or incidents on record. Readers should interpret this as "strong compliance with room for improvement" rather than an unblemished safety profile.
How the sub-scores break down
Authority & Insurance: 850
A perfect score in this dimension means Dependable Highway Express Inc holds all required federal and state operating authorities and maintains insurance coverage at or above FMCSA minimums. This is the compliance baseline; carriers without valid authority cannot legally operate, and lapses in insurance create liability exposure. A perfect score here is the table stakes in the industry.
Safety Record: 815
This sub-score reflects incident data compiled in the FMCSA's BASIC (Behavior Analysis and Safety Improvement Categories) metrics, which track crash frequency, violations, and unsafe driving patterns. A score of 815 indicates the carrier's safety history is above average but not incident-free. Carriers with lower safety scores typically show patterns of accidents, at-fault crashes, or moving violations. This score suggests Dependable Highway Express Inc has had some reportable incidents but maintains a profile better than most peers.
Inspection History: 735
This is the weakest of the three sub-scores, though still in the "acceptable" range. Inspection history tracks the outcomes of roadside and compliance audits conducted by state and federal inspectors. A score of 735 suggests the carrier has received documented violations during inspections—such as maintenance deficiencies, logbook discrepancies, hours-of-service violations, or equipment failures—but has not accumulated enough infractions to warrant warning or out-of-service status. This sub-score warrants closer attention for parties conducting vendor due diligence.
What regulators in CA track for trucking providers
The FMCSA maintains a comprehensive database of safety metrics for all motor carriers operating in interstate commerce. In California and nationwide, regulators focus on:
- Crash involvement: frequency, severity, and driver culpability
- Safety violations: speeding, improper maintenance, faulty brakes, lighting defects, and vehicle condition
- Hours-of-service compliance: adherence to driver rest and duty-hour rules
- Hazmat and cargo compliance: proper handling, placarding, and documentation of regulated materials
- Licensing and insurance: current operating authority, commercial driver's license validity, and active coverage
- Driver qualifications: medical certification, training records, and history checks
Inspection scores and BASIC metrics aggregate these findings into trend lines. A carrier may have isolated violations and still maintain a strong score, or accumulated minor violations that collectively depress the inspection sub-score. California's regulatory environment includes state-level audits in addition to federal FMCSA oversight.
Bottom line
Dependable Highway Express Inc scores in Verdica's excellent band and presents lower regulatory risk than most carriers. However, the 735 inspection sub-score indicates a pattern of compliance findings that merit further investigation. Anyone considering contracting with this carrier should request detailed inspection reports, safety records, and insurance documentation directly from the FMCSA or the company itself to understand the specific nature of past violations.