What Verdica's 815 score means for HERSHEY CREAMERY CO
Hershey Creamery Co's composite score of 815 out of 850 places the carrier in the "excellent" band (800–850), representing top-tier performance across Verdica's tracked compliance dimensions. This score reflects a carrier that has demonstrated consistent adherence to federal safety and operational standards as measured by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).
A score in this range indicates that a shipper, broker, or customer evaluating this carrier should view it as a low-risk choice from a regulatory and safety standpoint. The carrier has not accumulated significant safety violations, inspection failures, or compliance gaps that would trigger elevated risk flags. However, the score is not perfect; the 35-point gap from the maximum suggests there are minor areas where performance could be optimized, or where historical inspection data shows isolated issues that have been addressed or are under management.
For business owners considering this carrier, an 815 score suggests a provider worth seriously vetting for partnership, though it does not eliminate the need for other due diligence steps such as reference checks, insurance verification, or service-level agreement review.
How the sub-scores break down
Authority & Insurance (850/850): This perfect sub-score indicates that Hershey Creamery Co maintains all required FMCSA operating authority and appropriate insurance coverage at or above regulatory thresholds. In the trucking industry, this dimension is binary in nature—a carrier either holds valid authority and proof of insurance, or it does not. A score of 850 confirms full compliance with these baseline legal requirements, meaning the carrier is licensed to operate and carries the mandated liability and cargo coverage.
Safety Record (835/850): This sub-score reflects the carrier's performance on FMCSA BASIC (Behavioral Analysis and Safety Improvement Categories) metrics, which track safety-related events such as crashes, unsafe driving violations, and driver fitness issues. A score of 835 indicates strong but not flawless performance. The 15-point deduction from maximum suggests that historical data includes minor safety-related infractions or events that did not result in catastrophic outcomes but were flagged during regulatory review. This is typical for carriers with years of road operations; an 835 signals that such events have been managed and are not part of an ongoing pattern.
Inspection History (735/850): This is the lowest of the three sub-scores, with a 65-point gap from the authority benchmark. Inspection history reflects the outcome of FMCSA roadside and facility inspections, which assess compliance with vehicle maintenance standards, driver qualifications, hours-of-service rules, and record-keeping requirements. A score of 735 places this dimension in the "acceptable" to "strong" range, meaning the carrier has passed regulatory inspections but may have received citations for minor violations—such as equipment defects, documentation gaps, or technical non-compliance items—during past audits. This score is not alarming but does indicate that the inspection record is not pristine.
What regulators in PA track for trucking providers
The FMCSA oversees motor carrier safety across all states, including Pennsylvania, using standardized inspection and scoring protocols. Inspectors examine active violations in seven BASIC categories: unsafe driving, hours-of-service compliance, vehicle maintenance, driver fitness, controlled substances/alcohol, hazardous materials handling, and crash history. Citations and violations feed into a carrier's BASIC scores, which Verdica uses to compute safety and inspection sub-scores.
Pennsylvania-based carriers are subject to both federal FMCSA standards and state regulations administered by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission. Common inspection findings include brake defects, lighting failures, tire violations, driver record documentation errors, and logbook discrepancies. A carrier's inspection score reflects the frequency and severity of findings across these categories; repeated or high-severity violations signal deteriorating compliance, while isolated or resolved issues indicate manageable risk.
Bottom line
Hershey Creamery Co's 815 score reflects a compliant, well-regulated carrier with a solid safety and operational track record. Any business considering this provider should treat the score as a positive baseline but should still verify current insurance, contact references, and confirm service capabilities align with specific shipping needs.