Bill seeks to hold freight brokers accountable for contracting with unsafe trucking companies

A Michigan lawmaker introduced a bill that would “create an economic incentive” for freight brokers to work with safer trucking companies.

On December 18, 2025, U.S. Rep. John Moolenaar announced the introduction of the Patrick and Barbara Kowalski Freight Brokers Safety Act.

The bill would create a financial penalty for freight brokers that contract with trucking companies that have three or more Department of Transportation violations within a five-year period.

The penalty would amount to 10% of the value of the contracted cargo for the entire contract of such broker with the specified transportation company. The monetary penalty would be placed in the Highway Trust Fund.

The bill would also give the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) more authority “to investigate freight brokers and impose operating requirements following fatal crashes.”

Moolenaar said that the bill was written for Patrick and Barbara Kowalski, “two lifelong Michiganders with ties to Michigan’s Second Congressional District, were killed in a trucking crash that involved a company with several Department of Transportation safety violations.”

“No family should experience the loss the Kowalskis faced. It was a preventable tragedy and this legislation ensures all freight industry contractors take safety seriously,” said Moolenaar.