Report: Top fleets beat national out-of-service rates

While national fleet compliance performance shows signs of deterioration, the industry's top logistics organizations are setting a high bar for safety and efficiency. According to the latest Truck Reliability and Usage Safety Tracker (TRUST) Safety Index from Fleet Advantage, elite logistics providers have achieved a 9.28% total out-of-service (OOS) inspection rate, significantly outperforming the national average of 20.18%.

These top-performing organizations also recorded an average Inspection Selection System (ISS) score of 34.17, Fleet Advantage reported. This is not only well below the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration intervention threshold of 65 but also beats the broader private fleet benchmark of 46.33.

“The logistics sector continues evolving rapidly, particularly as organizations expand transportation delivery capabilities and navigate increasingly sophisticated supply chain demands,” Katerina Jones, Fleet Advantage chief marketing officer, said in a news release. “Our latest TRUST Safety Index provides logistics companies with valuable insight into how leading organizations are performing from a safety, compliance, and operational efficiency standpoint.

“These benchmarks help organizations with transportation fleets identify opportunities to reduce risk exposure, improve CSA performance, lower maintenance costs, and ultimately strengthen long-term operational continuity.”

Adapting to FMCSA’s data-centric 2026 pivot

The widening gap between top performers and the national average comes at a critical time. In 2026, FMCSA is transitioning to a modernized, data-centric oversight model. This shift moves away from legacy documentation toward real-time behavioral metrics and integrated telematics.

By utilizing sophisticated analytics, logistics providers can address operational risks before they trigger regulatory interventions. This proactive approach allows companies to safeguard their Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA) scores while cultivating a culture of driver safety and long-term resilience.

Benchmarking success and identifying risk

The TRUST Safety Index provides a comprehensive look at how leading organizations manage risk and maintenance.

Key findings for top logistics organizations include:

• Unsafe Driving BASIC: Averaged 18.08, compared to the national intervention threshold of 65.
• Hours-of-Service (HOS) BASIC: Averaged 41.91, well below the threshold of 65.

Despite these strong scores, the data highlights specific areas where even top performers must remain vigilant, Fleet Advantage said. Brake-related issues are a primary concern, accounting for 42% of total vehicle maintenance violations. This trend was underscored during the April 2026 CVSA Brake Safety Day, where 14.3% of inspected vehicles were placed out of service due to hazardous brake violations. Additionally, tires remain a major driver of maintenance violations, and log inaccuracies continue to represent a significant portion of HOS infractions.