What Verdica's 803 score means for T J POTTER TRUCKING INC
T J POTTER TRUCKING INC's composite score of 803 out of 850 places the company in the excellent band (800–850), indicating strong overall compliance with federal trucking safety standards. This score is built from regulatory data maintained by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), the agency responsible for enforcing safety rules across the trucking industry.
A score in this range suggests that the company has maintained solid licensing and insurance credentials, has not accumulated a pattern of serious safety violations, and has performed reasonably well during regulatory inspections. For a business owner or shipper evaluating trucking providers, a score of 803 signals lower regulatory risk compared to the national average carrier. However, the score is not perfect—there is some room for improvement in inspection history, as reflected in that sub-score.
The gap between T J POTTER TRUCKING INC's composite score (803) and a theoretical maximum (850) is modest but meaningful. It primarily reflects performance in the Inspection History dimension, where the company scores 735. This suggests the company has experienced some inspection findings or minor compliance issues, though not severe enough to move it into a weaker category overall.
How the sub-scores break down
Authority & Insurance (850): This perfect sub-score means T J POTTER TRUCKING INC holds all required operating authority and maintains adequate insurance coverage as mandated by the FMCSA. In the trucking industry, this dimension is foundational—carriers without current authority or sufficient liability coverage cannot legally operate. A score of 850 here confirms the company has cleared this baseline requirement with no deficiencies on record.
Safety Record (805): This sub-score reflects the company's history of traffic-related safety incidents and violations captured in FMCSA data. A score of 805 is solid, indicating the company has not accumulated an unusual or serious pattern of at-fault crashes, unsafe driving citations, or hazmat violations. This is typically one of the most heavily weighted factors for carriers because safety incidents directly affect risk exposure for shippers and the public.
Inspection History (735): This is the company's lowest sub-score, though still in the acceptable-to-strong range. This dimension is based on findings from FMCSA roadside safety inspections and facility audits. A score of 735 suggests the company has received some inspection violations—possibly related to vehicle maintenance, logbook compliance, cargo securement, or driver qualifications—but has not been flagged for repeat or critical deficiencies. Regular carriers will accumulate some inspection violations; what matters is frequency and severity.
What regulators in MN track for trucking providers
The FMCSA maintains a public database of safety metrics for all registered motor carriers. The "BASIC" scores (Behavior Analysis and Safety Improvement Categories) measure carrier safety in several domains: unsafe driving, hours-of-service compliance, vehicle maintenance, cargo-handling, and controlled substance violations. Inspectors use these data to identify high-risk carriers for targeted audits.
In Minnesota specifically, carriers are subject to the same federal safety standards, though state enforcement can be complementary. Violations that move scores downward include critical items (like failed brake systems or driver disqualifications) and non-critical items (such as missing logbook entries or minor equipment defects). The FMCSA also tracks crashes, and a carrier's crash rate relative to industry peers influences overall risk assessment.
Scores can improve over time if a carrier remediates violations and maintains clean subsequent inspections. Conversely, scores decline if violations accumulate faster than they age out of the system.
Bottom line
T J POTTER TRUCKING INC is a strong regulatory performer with an 803 score, well positioned in the excellent compliance band. Before engaging this carrier, confirm that insurance and operating authority remain current, review the specific violations noted in its inspection history, and request references or service records from other shippers to verify operational reliability.