Senate bill takes aim at chameleon carriers plaguing the trucking industry

Legislation introduced in the Senate seeks to increase detection and enforcement of unsafe trucking companies that change their names to evade regulators, often known as “chameleon carriers.”

On July 28, U.S. Senators Todd Young (R-Ind.) and Andy Kim (D-N.J.) introduced the Safety and Accountability in Freight Enforcement (SAFE) Act.

A companion version of the SAFE Act was introduced in the House in February.

If passed, the bill would require the Government Accountability Office to study the prevalence of chameleon carriers, the crashes and fatalities associated with them, and provide recommendations for strengthening enforcement.

The bill would also direct the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to create and implement an “advanced automated tool” to detect chameleon carriers.

“In recent years, we’ve seen chameleon carriers become a major issue on Indiana’s roads, putting Hoosiers at risk and punishing law-abiding truckers,” said Young. “When unsafe trucking companies evade enforcement by reopening under a new identity, everyone who shares the road with them is put at greater risk. Our bill will help federal regulators to identify these fraudulent operators before they hit the road, strengthening highway safety and potentially saving lives.”

“When anyone tries to skirt regulations on the road, it can cost people’s lives. The SAFE Act works with our truckers and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to take on unsafe operators so that our roads are safer for everyone and truckers can continue to keep our economy moving with greater peace of mind,” said Kim.

The bill is endorsed by a number of trucking groups, including the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA), the American Trucking Associations (ATA), and the Truckload Carriers Association (TCA).

“Chameleon carriers have undermined America’s highway safety and damaged the professionalism of the trucking industry by evading enforcement, dodging penalties, and reopening under new identities,” said Todd Spencer, President, OOIDA)=. “Law-abiding small business truckers strongly support Senator Young and Senator Kim’s bipartisan SAFE Act. This legislation will help identify and weed out bad actors before they have the opportunity to ever become chameleon carriers, helping stop fraud before it occurs. OOIDA and our members applaud the introduction of this important bill in the Senate.”

“Chameleon carriers are a plague on our nation’s highways, putting all motorists at risk while undercutting the vast majority of trucking companies that operate safely and play by the rules,” said Alex Rosen, SVP of Legislative Affairs, ATA. “This legislation will give FMCSA a more powerful and proactive tool to identify and stop these bad actors before they can evade accountability by reappearing under new names, ownership, or USDOT numbers. By leveraging advanced automation to flag suspicious registration applications, the agency will be better equipped to detect fraud, close loopholes, and keep unsafe carriers off our roads. Safety is a priority for our members, which is why we are grateful for the leadership of Senator Young and Senator Kim to strengthen federal oversight and build on the progress we’ve made alongside USDOT to remove high-risk carriers from our nation’s highways.”

“America’s trucking industry relies on a regulatory system that rewards safe and responsible operators. When bad actors evade enforcement and reenter the market through affiliated entities, both safety and fair competition are compromised,” said Jim Mullen, President, TCA. “The SAFE Act will strengthen industry trust by promoting accountability, protecting responsible carriers, and preventing those with serious violations from gaining an unfair advantage. This legislation fosters a healthier freight marketplace where safety and compliance are prioritized, and shippers can have greater confidence in their carriers. Ultimately, these measures will benefit motor carriers, drivers, customers, and the public by reinforcing a safe and competitive trucking industry. We applaud Senator Young and Senator Kim’s commitment to advancing transportation safety and urge Congress to enact the SAFE Act without delay.”

FMCSA said earlier this year that investigators are working with state partners to crack down on the industry-wide problem of chameleon carriers.