What Verdica's 816 score means for NATIONAL TRAILS LLC
Verdica's composite score of 816 out of 850 places NATIONAL TRAILS LLC in the excellent band (800–850), indicating strong regulatory compliance across the dimensions measured. A score at this level reflects a trucking provider with solid safety practices, current insurance and authority credentials, and a favorable inspection history relative to industry baseline standards.
For a business owner or shipper evaluating this carrier, a score of 816 signals low compliance risk. The provider has demonstrated the operational controls and safety discipline that federal regulators monitor. That said, this score is not a guarantee of perfect service or zero incidents—it is a snapshot of regulatory standing based on publicly available inspection and licensing data. The score also reflects what inspectors have documented; providers without recent inspections may have limited data contributing to their score. In NATIONAL TRAILS LLC's case, the sub-scores indicate where the provider is strongest and where there is marginal room for improvement.
How the sub-scores break down
Authority & Insurance (850 / 850):
This perfect sub-score means NATIONAL TRAILS LLC holds current federal operating authority and maintains the insurance coverage required by the Department of Transportation. Carriers must renew authority and provide proof of liability and cargo coverage regularly. A score of 850 here indicates no lapses, cancellations, or unresolved insurance claims on the public record. This is the most straightforward compliance marker.
Safety Record (845 / 850):
This score is derived from FMCSA BASIC (Behavior Analysis and Safety Improvement Categories) scores, which measure violations observed during roadside inspections. These include equipment defects, driver conduct infractions, hazardous materials handling, and hours-of-service violations. A score of 845 indicates NATIONAL TRAILS LLC has few serious or repeat safety violations on file. Minor infractions or older citations may be present, but not enough to materially depress the score. This sub-score reflects the carrier's actual inspection results, not self-reported data.
Inspection History (720 / 850):
This is the lowest sub-score and still falls within the acceptable to strong range. Inspection history scores can be depressed by a higher volume of inspections, by older violations that have not yet aged out of the system, or by documented patterns of non-compliance in specific areas (e.g., vehicle maintenance or driver qualifications). A score of 720 suggests NATIONAL TRAILS LLC has been inspected and that some findings were noted, but not at a frequency or severity that would indicate systemic problems. It is the most likely area where the carrier could improve its Verdica composite score.
What regulators in MI track for trucking providers
Michigan-based trucking providers operate under FMCSA oversight, a federal system that applies nationwide. Regulators track several categories:
- Vehicle maintenance & equipment: Brake defects, lighting, tire conditions, structural integrity.
- Driver qualifications: License validity, medical certification, training records, substance abuse violations.
- Hours of service: Violations of federal driving-hour limits and rest requirements.
- Hazardous materials handling: Proper placarding, containment, and documentation (if applicable).
- Moving violations & crash history: Traffic citations and reportable accidents.
BASIC scores aggregate violations into categories; carriers with too many violations in a single category may receive an alert or face audit. Authority and insurance status are tracked in the FMCSA's licensing database. Michigan does not impose separate state-level trucking safety scores; federal oversight is the primary mechanism.
Bottom line
NATIONAL TRAILS LLC's score of 816 qualifies it as a low-risk provider on the basis of current regulatory data. The perfect authority and insurance sub-score and strong safety record are reassuring. Before contracting, verify that the carrier holds specific authority for your freight type (e.g., hazmat, oversize), confirm insurance limits meet your needs, and request references or loss history from recent shippers. The inspection history sub-score suggests room to monitor performance over time.