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EXPLORATION DRILLING INC
Sidney, MT
CarrierChk vetting signal
No flags raised
Authority, insurance, safety rating and crash records checked
FMCSA status: Active registration · no operating authority · DOT 718346
Active
Conditional
Broker Vetting Summary
Key signals from current FMCSA records
Authority
No Active Authority
Common carrier
Insurance
Not Found
No coverage amount on file
Safety
Conditional
40.0% OOS · 10 inspections on record
✓ No risk flags found on authority or insurance records
Vetting notes
- Active FMCSA registration, but no active for-hire operating authority on record
- Registered with FMCSA as a private carrier — not registered to haul other companies' freight for hire
- No active insurance filing found on record
- FMCSA safety rating: Conditional
- Vehicle out-of-service rate 50.0% — above the 20.7% national average
- 10 FMCSA inspections on record
Company Information
Registration, contact and cargo details
FMCSA Registration
DOT Number
718346
Safety Rating
Conditional
Entity Type
Corporation
Operation Classification
Private (property)
MCS-150 Filed
April 9, 2026
FMCSA Registration
December 9, 1997
Annual Mileage
400,000 mi (2025)
Contact Information
Address
12653 County Rd 325, Sidney, MT 59270
Phone
Email
Owner / Officer
William Van Hook Jr
Cargo Types
Machinery/Large ObjectsLiquids/GasesWater/WellOther Cargo
Safety Snapshot
Out-of-service rates, violations and crashes
Safety & Inspection Summary
Total Inspections
10
Driver Inspections
5
Vehicle Inspections
5
Out-of-Service Violations
7
Violations by Category
Vehicle Maintenance28
Unsafe Driving1
Hours of Service0
OOS Rates vs. National Average
Driver OOS Rate0.0% · national avg 5.5%
✓ Below national average
Vehicle OOS Rate50.0% · national avg 20.7%
⚠ Above national average (29.3pp higher)
40.0% of 5 inspections in the last 24 months put a driver or vehicle out of service —
72nd percentile among carriers with 5–9 inspections (lower is better).
CarrierChk calculation from FMCSA roadside inspection records, not an FMCSA score.
Inspection Trend by Year
2026
2025
2024
Violation Rate by Category
Share of roadside inspections in FMCSA's rolling 24-month window that found a violation in each category. The individual violations are listed under each inspection in Inspection Details below. None of this is the basis of the safety rating, which comes from an on-site compliance review.
Vehicle Maintenance
4 of 4 inspections
Unsafe Driving
0 of 5 inspections
Hours of Service
0 of 5 inspections
Driver Fitness
0 of 5 inspections
Controlled Substances
0 of 5 inspections
Fleet & Operating Areas
Observed roadside activity and equipment
Where This Carrier Operates
States where this carrier's roadside inspections were recorded
FewerMore
MT6
ND3
Fleet & Equipment (15)
Vehicles identified in this carrier's inspection history. Year, make, model and equipment type are decoded from the VIN.
Power units
~7
of 12 reported to FMCSA
Trailers
~8
seen at inspection
Equipment types observed
Tractor
7
Tank
4
Semi-trailer
2
Units on record
| Vehicle | Type | VIN | Inspections | With OOS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Troxell Tr | Semi-trailer | 1T9TA4320B1867968 | 2 | 1 |
| 2014 Kenworth T8 Series | Tractor · Class 8 | 1XKDD40XXEJ401068 | 2 | 1 |
| 2005 Peterbilt 379 | Tractor · Class 8 | 1XP5DB9X85D836644 | 2 | 1 |
| Unpublishe | — | 1G9VT4020BH018000 | 1 | 1 |
| 2015 Galyean Equipment Co. | Tank · 50 ft | 1G9VT5030FH015005 | 1 | — |
| 2015 Galyean Equipment Co. | Tank · 50 ft | 1G9VT5034FH015010 | 1 | 1 |
| 2015 Galyean Equipment Co. | Tank · 50 ft | 1G9VT5039FH015004 | 1 | 1 |
| Troxell Tr | Semi-trailer | 1T9TA4324B1867858 | 1 | — |
| Troxell Tr | — | 1T9TA432XC1867686 | 1 | — |
| 2020 Dragon Esp | Tank · 46 ft | 1UNST4636LL109749 | 1 | — |
Show all 15 units
| Vehicle | Type | VIN | Inspections | With OOS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 Kenworth T800 | Tractor · Class 8 | 1XKDDU9X5YR842700 | 1 | 1 |
| 2013 Peterbilt 388 | Tractor · Class 8 | 1XPWD49X0DD202274 | 1 | — |
| 2013 Peterbilt 388 | Tractor · Class 8 | 1XPWD49X4DD202259 | 1 | — |
| 2012 Peterbilt 388 | Tractor · Class 8 | 1XPWP4EX1CD144414 | 1 | — |
| 2019 Peterbilt 389 | Tractor · Class 8 | 1XPXD49XXKD265853 | 1 | 1 |
A vehicle appearing here was recorded in an inspection — it is not proof the carrier still operates it today.
Inspection Details
Each roadside inspection with its violations
Inspection Records (10)
| Date | Report # | Location | Level | Viol | OOS | Shipper | Unit Type | Make | VIN | License |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| August 5, 2026 | U748401711 | FAIRVIEW MT | II | 2 | 2 | KRAKEN | Truck Tractor Semi-trailer |
KENWORTH GALYEAN EQUIPMENT CO. |
1XKDD40XXEJ401068 1G9VT5039FH015004 |
MT 271702G MT 273261F |
| 393.75A3-TAOL | OOSTires - All others, leaking or inflation less than 50% of the maximum inflation pressure on tire not equipped with ATIS | Tires | ||||||||
| 393.75A3-TAOL | OOSTires - All others, leaking or inflation less than 50% of the maximum inflation pressure on tire not equipped with ATIS | Tires | ||||||||
| October 23, 2025 | U819700759 | BAINVILLE MT | II | 1 | — | EDI | Truck Tractor Semi-trailer |
KENWORTH GALYEAN EQUIPMENT CO. |
1XKDD40XXEJ401068 1G9VT5030FH015005 |
MT 271702G MT 277787F |
| 393.55B-B | Hydraulic Brake - ABS malfunction lamp defective on truck/bus manufactured on or after March 1, 1999 | Brakes All Others | ||||||||
| July 8, 2025 | U498500829 | CULBERTSON MT | III | 1 | — | KRAKEN | Truck Tractor Semi-trailer |
PETERBILT DRAGON ESP |
1XPWP4EX1CD144414 1UNST4636LL109749 |
MT 279839F MT 279337F |
| 392.2-SLLEWG3 | State/Local Laws - Excessive weight - More than 5000 lbs over on allowable gross weight | |||||||||
| June 27, 2025 | U819700606 | BAINVILLE MT | II | 1 | — | AQUA CONNECTION HOLDING LLC | Truck Tractor Semi-trailer |
PETERBILT TROXELL TR |
1XPWD49X0DD202274 1T9TA4324B1867858 |
MT 271975F MT 272725D |
| 393.55E-B | Air Brake - ABS malfunction lamp defective on trailers manufactured on or after March 1, 1998 | Brakes All Others | ||||||||
| March 17, 2025 | HP15000547 | FAIRVIEW MT, ND | II | 20 | 3 | — | Truck Tractor Semi-trailer |
PETERBILT TROXELL TR |
1XP5DB9X85D836644 1T9TA4320B1867968 |
MT 275926F MT 272726D |
| 393.75A3-TAOL | OOSTires - All others, leaking or inflation less than 50% of the maximum inflation pressure on tire not equipped with ATIS | Tires | ||||||||
| 393.9A-LTSI | OOSLighting - Turn signal - Any inoperative on the rearmost vehicle. | Lighting | ||||||||
| 393.75A3-TAOL | OOSTires - All others, leaking or inflation less than 50% of the maximum inflation pressure on tire not equipped with ATIS | Tires | ||||||||
| 393.11A1-LBL | Lighting - Backup lamp missing | Lighting | ||||||||
| 393.9A-LRLI | Lighting - Tail lamp - Any inoperative | Lighting | ||||||||
| 393.9A-LSLI | Lighting - Stop lamps - Any inoperative. | Lighting | ||||||||
| 393.9A-LTSIR | Lighting - Turn signal -Any inoperative on a unit that is not the rearmost unit | Lighting | ||||||||
| 393.9A-LCL | Lighting - Clearance lamp(s) inoperative | Clearance Identification Lamps/Other | ||||||||
| 393.9A-LHWS | Lighting - Hazard warning signal(s) inoperative | Lighting | ||||||||
| 393.55C1-B | Air Brake - Truck-tractor manufactured on or after March 1, 1997, not equipped with an ABS system. System does not function or indicates a fault. | Brakes All Others | ||||||||
| 393.11A1-CSURR | Conspicuity Systems - Truck tractor, upper rear retro reflective sheeting missing on vehicle manufactured on or after July 1, 1997 | Reflective Sheeting | ||||||||
| 393.11A1-CSLRR | Conspicuity Systems - Truck tractor, lower rear retro reflective sheeting missing on vehicle manufactured on or after July 1, 1997 | Reflective Sheeting | ||||||||
| 393.11B-CSSRR | Conspicuity Systems - Trailers, side retro reflective sheeting inadequate on vehicle manufactured on or after December 1, 1993 | Reflective Sheeting | ||||||||
| 393.11B-CSRIGRR | Conspicuity Systems - Trailers, rear impact guard retro reflective sheeting inadequate on vehicle manufactured on or after December 1, 1993 | Reflective Sheeting | ||||||||
| 393.51C-BNVLAWD | Air Brake - No visual low air warning device manufactured on or after 1975. | Brakes All Others | ||||||||
| 393.55E-B | Air Brake - ABS malfunction lamp defective on trailers manufactured on or after March 1, 1998 | Brakes All Others | ||||||||
| 392.2-SLLEWA1 | State/Local Laws - Excessive weight - 1-2500 lbs over on an axle/axle groups | |||||||||
| 393.205C-WRAWFLMIB | Wheel/Rim - Any wheel fasteners loose/missing/ineffective/broken. | Wheels Studs Clamps Etc. | ||||||||
| 393.78A-WS | Washers - Inoperative washing system. | Windshield/ Glass/ Markings | ||||||||
| 393.60C | Windshield - Damaged or Discolored | Windshield/ Glass/ Markings | ||||||||
| June 23, 2024 | MK02000190 | ARNEGARD ND | III | 1 | — | IRON OIL OPERATING | Truck Tractor Semi-trailer |
PETERBILT TROXELL TR |
1XPWD49X4DD202259 1T9TA432XC1867686 |
MT 272344F MT 271020E |
| 392.2-SLLS3 | State/Local Laws - Speeding 11-14 miles per hour over the speed limit | Speeding 3 | ||||||||
| June 23, 2024 | MK02000192 | WILLISTON ND | III | 1 | 1 | IRON OIL | Truck Tractor Semi-trailer |
PETERBILT GALYEAN EQUIPMENT CO. |
1XPXD49XXKD265853 1G9VT5034FH015010 |
MT 278893F MT 279974D |
| 383.23A2-LCDLN | OOSLicense (CDL) - Operate a CMV and does not possess a valid CDL | License-related: High | ||||||||
| June 12, 2024 | U215900291 | FAIRVIEW MT | III | — | — | KRACKEN ENERGY | Truck Tractor Semi-trailer |
PETERBILT TROXELL TR |
1XP5DB9X85D836644 1T9TA4320B1867968 |
MT 275926F MT 272726D |
| May 9, 2024 | U215900275 | FAIRVIEW MT | II | 5 | 1 | — | Truck Tractor Semi-trailer |
KENWORTH UNPUBLISHE |
1XKDDU9X5YR842700 1G9VT4020BH018000 |
MT 279845E MT 272320D |
| 393.9A-LTSI | OOSLighting - Turn signal - Any inoperative on the rearmost vehicle. | Lighting | ||||||||
| 393.60C | Windshield - Damaged or Discolored | Windshield/ Glass/ Markings | ||||||||
| 393.9A-LFTSI | Lighting - Front - Turn signal - inoperative | Lighting | ||||||||
| 393.95A1 | Emergency Equipment - Fire Extinguishers - no fire extinguisher present or not properly rated. | Emergency Equipment | ||||||||
| 393.9A-LTSIR | Lighting - Turn signal -Any inoperative on a unit that is not the rearmost unit | Lighting | ||||||||
| September 18, 2023 | L338000076 | ROADSIDE, MT | III | — | — | — | Truck Tractor Semi-trailer |
PETERBILT TROX |
1XPWD49X4DD202259 1T9TA432XC1867686 |
MT 272344F MT 271020E |
Shippers Seen at Inspections
Shipper names recorded by roadside inspectors over roughly the last three years. Only inspected loads appear, so this is a sample of who the carrier hauls for, not a complete customer list. Names are as entered at the roadside; blanks and placeholders such as “N/A” or “same as carrier” are left out.
| Shipper | Inspections | Most recent |
|---|---|---|
| KRAKEN | 2 | August 5, 2026 |
| EDI | 1 | October 23, 2025 |
| AQUA CONNECTION HOLDING LLC | 1 | June 27, 2025 |
| IRON OIL | 1 | June 23, 2024 |
| IRON OIL OPERATING | 1 | June 23, 2024 |
| KRACKEN ENERGY | 1 | June 12, 2024 |
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Data sourced from FMCSA MCMIS via Socrata. Record last updated: September 13, 2026.
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