Report outlines results of nationwide crackdown on bad actors in the trucking industry over the last year

A report released by a coalition of trucking executives late last month shows the results of the nationwide crackdown on illegal and unsafe practices within the trucking industry over the last year of enforcement. 

The Trucking Association Executives Council (TAEC) released the report, titled Trucking Resurgence: The Fight for Fairness and Safety Progress Report, in late July of this year. The Council represents executives from state trucking associations throughout the United States. 

The group released a “Trucking Resurgence” action plan in 2025, which called for more enforcement against “bad actors” looking to take advantage of loopholes and weak points in industry regulations. The group describes the action plan as “a broad evaluation of significant regulatory and enforcement gaps and quick action recommendations to address these gaps immediately (and in most cases) not requiring federal rulemakings or new laws.” The group says that the plan was a call to action for all carriers, shippers, brokers, and more to work towards a safer industry.  

“The actions taken by USDOT, FMCSA, law enforcement, and many states to crack down on bad actors in trucking align with the Trucking Resurgence action plan and are producing tangible results to promote highway safety while also establishing fairness and integrity within the trucking industry,” the report states.

The report highlights areas of improvement over the last twelve months. These improvements include the elimination of non-compliant CDL schools; reforms in the safety data system to improve carrier identity verification and reduce chameleon carriers and other fraudulent registrations; tightened ELP requirements, cabotage requirements, and related visa revocations; a massive reduction in the number of non-domiciled holders allowed to operate in the country; increased penalties and task forces to crack down on cargo theft; and increased audits of ELD systems and tightening of certification requirements. 

According to the report, over the last 12 months, almost 10,000 CDL schools have been removed from the federal provider registry and 550 were shut down entirely. Additionally, 94,000 non-domiciled CDLs no longer qualify as legal in the country, meaning 97% of existing non-domiciled CDL holders are no longer valid, and more than 27,000 CDL holders were placed out of service for violating English Language Proficiency rules. An additional 3,200 visas were revoked in relation to cabotage enforcement. 

The report also states that $273 million in funding was withheld from states found not in compliance with new industry regulations, and more than 20 states took legislative action and enacted policy reforms to combat the “bad actors.” $217 million was also invested in CDL integrity investments throughout the last year. 

704 high risk carriers were investigated, as many as 70 were shut down, and 430 more voluntarily halted operations. 76 ELD platforms were removed for noncompliance, and 426 more were blocked from entering the sector entirely. 

The report ends with a list of recommendations to improve and modernize the FMCSA to maintain current enforcement and improve it for the future. 

“The Trucking Association Executives Council (TAEC) and state trucking associations remain committed to advancing these priorities and working with federal and state partners to promote a safer, more accountable, and more competitive trucking industry for the future. Policymakers, regulators, and industry leaders must continue working together to build upon this progress and ensure that reforms translate into lasting improvements for highway safety, workforce integrity, regulatory accountability, and industry competitiveness. The work continues and the cause endures.”