What Verdica's 819 score means for KELLER TRANSPORTATION INC
Keller Transportation Inc's composite score of 819 out of 850 places the carrier in the "excellent" band (800–850), the highest performance tier in Verdica's assessment framework. This score reflects strong regulatory standing across the dimensions that federal safety auditors and insurance underwriters use to evaluate trucking companies.
A score in this range indicates that the carrier has maintained compliance with federal motor carrier safety standards and has not accumulated the safety violations, inspection failures, or licensing issues that would depress the rating. For a business owner or shipper evaluating carriers, an 819 score signals lower regulatory risk compared to the broader trucking population.
However, the score should be read alongside the independent customer review data: Keller Transportation has 75 indexed reviews with an average rating of 2.7 out of 5. This disconnect between regulatory compliance and customer satisfaction warrants attention. A strong regulatory score does not automatically predict service quality, reliability, or customer experience. Anyone considering this carrier should weigh the excellent compliance profile against the below-average customer feedback before making a partnership decision.
How the sub-scores break down
Authority & Insurance: 850 This perfect sub-score indicates that Keller Transportation holds valid federal operating authority and maintains the required insurance coverage (liability and cargo, as applicable to their operating class). A score of 850 in this dimension means there are no red flags on file with the FMCSA regarding authority suspension, revocation, or insurance lapses. This is a baseline threshold; carriers cannot operate legally without it, but it does not reflect operational performance.
Safety Record: 845 The safety record sub-score reflects the carrier's BASIC (Behavior Analysis and Safety Improvement Categories) scores and crash history as tracked by the FMCSA. A score of 845 indicates few or no serious violations in areas such as unsafe driving, fatigued driving, vehicle maintenance violations, or crash involvement. This suggests the carrier's drivers and fleet maintenance practices align with federal safety standards. In the trucking industry, this sub-score is one of the most directly tied to accident risk and regulatory enforcement.
Inspection History: 735 The inspection history score, at 735, is the lowest of the three sub-scores and falls into the "acceptable" band (670–739). This dimension captures data from roadside safety inspections, compliance reviews, and audit findings. A score of 735 suggests that the carrier has passed required inspections but may have received some minor citations or deficiencies during FMCSA spot checks or compliance audits. This is not uncommon in the industry; most carriers have some inspection findings over time. The score indicates the issues have not risen to the level of serious violations or critical safety defects.
What regulators in MD track for trucking providers
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) maintains a public database of carrier safety metrics used to assign BASIC scores across seven categories: unsafe driving, crash indicators, hours-of-service compliance, vehicle maintenance, hazmat compliance, fatigue management, and controlled substance violations. Carriers receive violation counts in each area; high violation counts trigger warning levels that may lead to compliance reviews or out-of-service orders.
Maryland-based carriers are subject to the same federal standards as all U.S. motor carriers. The FMCSA conducts roadside inspections, reviews crash reports, investigates complaints, and performs compliance audits. Violations range from paperwork deficiencies to serious safety infractions. Insurance and operating authority status are also monitored continuously. A carrier's composite score rises with fewer violations and clean inspection records, and falls when deficiencies accumulate, authority is threatened, or safety metrics degrade.
Bottom line
Keller Transportation Inc presents a strong regulatory compliance profile with an 819 score and excellent marks in authority, insurance, and safety record. However, the low customer satisfaction rating (2.7/5) creates uncertainty about service delivery. Any prospective customer should verify regulatory compliance independently via the FMCSA SaferDB database and speak directly with recent clients about operational experience before committing.