Ernest Melvin Smith

Doing business as First Choice Trucking

USDOT activeAuthority activeCarrier · Intrastate

USDOT923297
MC398454
LocationCoushatta, LA
Fleet1 power units · 1 drivers

Ernest Melvin Smith (USDOT 923297, MC-398454) is an intrastate motor carrier based in Coushatta, Louisiana with 1 power unit and 1 driver reported to FMCSA. Its USDOT number and operating authority are active.

Verification snapshot · FMCSA data as of Nov 10, 2026

Operating authorityActive · MC-398454Carrier Liability insurance$0 on fileRequired: $750,000 Safety ratingNot rated0 inspections in 24 months Out-of-service ordersNone on fileFMCSA out-of-service orders file Registration (MCS-150)Updated Apr 9, 2006More than 24 months ago Process agent (BOC-3)On fileTruck Process Agents of America, Inc

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Operating authority

Status from the FMCSA Company Census File, November 10, 2026

Docket	Authority type	Status
MC-398454	Common carrier	Active

First granted on January 8, 2001 · see full authority history.

Insurance

FMCSA licensing system (Motus), November 11, 2026

Liability (BIPD) required$750,000
Liability (BIPD) on file$0
Cargo insurance required / on fileNo / No
Bond required / on fileNo / No

Filings on file

No current insurance filing was found in FMCSA licensing records for this USDOT number.

Insurance history: 13 past filings

Type	Insurer	Effective	Ended	Reason
Liability (BIPD)	Canal Insurance Co.	Jan 3, 2007	Dec 13, 2015	Cancel
Liability (BIPD)	Canal Indemnity Company	Jan 2, 2006	Jan 2, 2007	Cancel
Liability (BIPD)	Canal Indemnity Company	Jul 1, 2005	Jan 2, 2006	Cancel
Liability (BIPD)	Canal Indemnity Company	Apr 28, 2005	Aug 3, 2005	Term / cancl
Liability (BIPD)	Canal Indemnity Company	Mar 2, 2005	Apr 28, 2005	Replaced
Liability (BIPD)	Canal Indemnity Company	Jan 2, 2005	Mar 2, 2005	Replaced
Liability (BIPD)	Canal Indemnity Company	Jan 2, 2004	Jan 2, 2005	Cancel
Liability (BIPD)	Canal Indemnity Company	Jan 2, 2003	Jan 2, 2004	Cancel
Cargo	Canal Indemnity Company	Apr 2, 2002	Apr 2, 2003	Cancel
Liability (BIPD)	Canal Indemnity Company	Jan 2, 2002	Jan 2, 2003	Cancel
Cargo	Canal Indemnity Company	Oct 2, 2001	Jan 5, 2002	Cancel
Liability (BIPD)	Canal Indemnity Company	Dec 28, 2000	Dec 28, 2001	Cancel
Cargo	Underwriters at Lloyds London	Dec 28, 2000	Oct 2, 2001	Replaced

Process agent (BOC-3)

Truck Process Agents of America, Inc, Fargo, ND

Inspections and crashes

Last 24 months · FMCSA Vehicle Inspection File and Crash File

No roadside inspections or reportable crashes are on file for this USDOT number in the last 24 months.

FMCSA safety rating: Not rated

Inspection and crash counts come from FMCSA records and are shown as reported. They are not a safety rating. A crash record does not mean the carrier was at fault. FMCSA has not rated a carrier unless a safety rating is listed. For FMCSA’s own data and its explanation, see the FMCSA SAFER Company Snapshot.

Out-of-service rates are calculated by CheckTrucking from inspection records (driver: levels I, II, III, VI; vehicle: levels I, II, V, VI). They are not FMCSA scores.

Authority history

FMCSA licensing records (Motus and legacy L&I) · migration-only status adjustments are not shown

December 21, 2015Involuntary revocation — Common carrier authority
December 6, 2006Involuntary revocation — Common carrier authorityDiscontinued revocation on January 5, 2007
December 6, 2005Involuntary revocation — Common carrier authorityDiscontinued revocation on January 4, 2006
December 6, 2004Involuntary revocation — Common carrier authorityDiscontinued revocation on January 3, 2005
January 12, 2004Involuntary revocation — Common carrier authorityDiscontinued revocation on January 13, 2004
February 1, 2002Involuntary revocation — Common carrier authorityDiscontinued revocation on February 12, 2002
January 8, 2001Granted — Common carrier authorityRevoked on December 21, 2015

Fleet and operations

From the company’s own registration (Form MCS-150), updated April 9, 2006

Power units: 1
Trucks: 1
Tractors owned: 1
Trailers owned: 2
Drivers: 1
CDL drivers: 1
Interstate drivers: 0
Intrastate drivers: 1
Miles traveled: 84,693 (2005)
Classification: Authorized for hire
Hazardous materials: No
USDOT registered: December 15, 2000
Address: Coushatta, LA

Cargo carried

General freight
Logs, poles, beams, lumber

Key facts

USDOT number 923297 was registered on December 15, 2000.
Operating authority MC-398454 was first granted on January 8, 2001.
The company last updated its FMCSA registration (Form MCS-150) on April 9, 2006.
It reported 84,693 vehicle miles traveled in 2005.
Its process agent filing (BOC-3) is with Truck Process Agents of America, Inc.

Other carriers in Coushatta, LA

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