U.S. Representative Shomari Figures, D-Alabama, recently introduced bipartisan legislation with U.S. Representative Dave Taylor, R-Ohio, that would strengthen the authority of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and the U.S. Department of Transportation to prevent “chameleon carriers” from illegally operating on American roads.
Chameleon carriers, also known as rebranded or successor carriers, are trucking companies that attempt to hide poor safety records and evade FMCSA enforcement actions by shutting down and reopening under a different carrier name. According to a 2012 U.S. Government Accountability Office report, carriers exhibiting chameleon attributes were more likely to be involved in severe crashes than other new carriers.
Figures and Taylor’s legislation, the Registration Enforcement for Vehicle Operations of Known Evaders Act, or REVOKE Act, would seek to combat chameleon carriers by:
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Affirming that a carrier’s USDOT number must be active for it to legally operate on American roadways.
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Clarifying that the secretary of transportation may issue an active USDOT number to an individual or employer only after determining that all registration requirements have been met.
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Giving the secretary of transportation authority to immediately deactivate the USDOT number of an individual or employer that does not have valid registration or fails to make required periodic updates.
The lawmakers issued statements describing the legislation as a commonsense approach to improving road safety.
“Every day, families share the road with commercial trucks, and they deserve to know that the carriers behind the wheel are held to certain safety standards,” Figures said. “Chameleon carriers have dodged accountability by simply rotating their USDOT number and popping back up under a new name. I’m proud to introduce this commonsense bill with Congressman Taylor to combat this issue and improve road safety for families in Alabama and across the country.”
“For too long, chameleon carriers have exploited gaps in federal enforcement to evade accountability and jeopardize countless American lives,” Taylor said. “Every commercial vehicle on our nation’s highways should be operated by a driver who is following the rules, not a bad actor hiding behind inactive or illegitimate USDOT numbers. The REVOKE Act will give the Department of Transportation the tools it needs to shut down this dangerous practice, keep unqualified and unsafe operators off American roads, and prevent needless tragedies caused by reckless CDL drivers.”
The American Trucking Associations has also backed the REVOKE Act. ATA Vice President of Legislative Affairs Alex Rosen thanked Figures and Taylor for introducing the bill.
“Chameleon carriers evade federal oversight by cycling through new registrations, putting everyone at risk. The trucking industry is committed to maintaining the highest safety standards on America’s highways, which is why we appreciate FMCSA’s ongoing efforts to identify and remove bad actors who attempt to circumvent the rules,” Rosen said. “The REVOKE Act would enhance FMCSA’s enforcement actions by cracking down on carriers seeking to operate under inactive USDOT numbers. ATA applauds Reps. Taylor and Figures for introducing this legislation to strengthen the integrity of our nation’s motor carrier safety framework.”
The REVOKE Act now awaits consideration by the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, on which both Figures and Taylor serve. The two lawmakers are also founding co-chairs of the Congressional Trucking Caucus.
