U.S. Reps. Dave Taylor (R-OH) and Shomari Figures (D-AL) have introduced legislation that will prevent chameleon carriers from exploiting U.S. Department of Registration systems to illegally operate.
The Registration Enforcement for Vehicle Operations of Known Evaders (REVOKE) Act will strengthen the ability of the US DOT and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to prevent chameleon carriers from operating on American roads, the law makers said. Taylor and Figures, members of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and are founding Co-Chairs of the Congressional Trucking Caucus, said the bill will strengthen the integrity of the country’s motor carrier safety framework.
“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 and unqualified CDL drivers.”
The legislation would affirm that a carriers’ USDOT number must be active in order for them to legally operate on American roads, and clarify that the U.S. Secretary of Transportation will only issue an active USDOT number to an individual or employer who has met all of the requirements for registration. The bill also grants the Transportation Secretary the authority to immediately inactivate a USDOT number if an individual or employer does not have a valid registration or if they fail to make any required periodic updates to the Secretary.
The legislation is supported by the American Trucking Associations (ATA).
“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,” ATA’s SVP of Legislative Affairs Alex Rosen said. “The REVOKE Act would enhance FMCSA’s enforcement actions by cracking down on carriers seeking to operate under inactive USDOT numbers.”