Trucking news and briefs for Tuesday, May 19, 2026:
House bill targets trucking scams
Bipartisan legislation introduced in the U.S. House last week aims to bring an end to scammers who take advantage of truckers by scaring them into paying money for federal services that are actually free.
Introduced by Reps. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-Washington) and Dave Taylor (R-Ohio), the Stop Scamming Truckers Act targets misleading letters that try to scam truck drivers and motor carriers into paying to avoid government hassles. The letters frequently mimic official documents from federal agencies but in reality are often sent by scammers. These services for simple renewals or registrations end up costing truckers wasted time and money, Gluesenkamp Perez said.
“There is no end to the rage and confusion that comes with receiving scam letters that falsely purport to be from the federal government,” said Gluesenkamp Perez. “When DOT licenses are the subject of these scams, it torches public goodwill towards federal agencies. This is a critical issue that disproportionately affects small businesses and it’s time to see some action taken.”
The new legislation would require third-party companies that transmit correspondence about USDOT numbers to include a disclosure, in at least 12-point font, that informs the recipient that the letter is from a private company and that the company is not the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, Department of Transportation, or any other federal agency. The disclosure must also be located on the first page of the communication, or without the need to scroll if the communication is digital.
The bill also clarifies that a company cannot use a name, seal, logo, insignia, or trade dress that would reasonably imply affiliation with the Department of Transportation.
Finally, for enforcement, the bill creates a private right of action -- any person who receives a communication that violates the act may bring a civil action in a U.S. district court. Damages can include actual damages, statutory damages of at least $500, and up to $5,000.
Iowa suspends HOS for fuel haulers
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds last week issued a proclamation that waives hours-of-service regulations for certain fuel haulers in the state.
The proclamation notes that “ refinery and terminal maintenance have strained fuel supply across the state,” adding that demand in the agricultural sector is currently high.” Because of these factors, Reynolds said, trucks and drivers are having to transport fuel from farther distances and waiting longer at terminals to meet the state’s needs.
As such, Reynolds has suspended the HOS provisions in Iowa Code 321.449 for crews and drivers delivering diesel, gasoline or gasoline blends, ethanol and biodiesel into or within the state of Iowa.
The waiver is effective through May 28.
Nebraska’s wildfire-related HOS waiver extended
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has again extended an emergency declaration that provides relief for truck drivers responding to wildfires in Nebraska.
The hours-of-service exemption has been in place since March 16 for truck drivers hauling wildfire-support loads. Last month, FMCSA gave the waiver a one-month extension through May 14.
Because emergency conditions still exist, FMCSA has issued yet another extension through June 14.
The exemption waives the maximum driving time regulations in 49 CFR 395.3 for motor carriers and truck drivers providing direct assistance supporting emergency relief efforts related to the emergency. The relief applies regardless of the origin of the trip, so long as the carrier or driver is providing direct assistance to the emergency in Nebraska.
Direct assistance does not include transportation related to long-term rehabilitation of damaged physical infrastructure after the initial threat to life and property has passed, nor does it include routine commercial deliveries, including mixed loads with a nominal quantity of qualifying emergency relief added to obtain the benefits of the waiver.
NationaLease companies recognized for service
NationaLease recently honored nine member companies for their commitment to providing outstanding reciprocal service to fellow members.
The recipients were recognized at the 2026 NationaLease Maintenance Managers Meeting at the Crowne Plaza Chicago O’Hare Hotel in Rosemont, Illinois, where more than 270 NationaLease members, supplier partners, and guests gathered over two days to learn, network, and collaborate.
The Exceptional Service Award is determined by member vote across three categories: <150 power units; 151-600 power units; and 601+ power units. As a peer-voted honor, receiving this award is a testament to the members’ diligence to treat each other’s customers as their own.
"Of all the awards our members can be honored with, there’s something particularly meaningful about the Exceptional Service Award,” said Dean Vicha, President of NationaLease. “It’s not only decided by the members themselves, but it also represents the spirit of reciprocity that’s been behind NationaLease since the very beginning. Members are recognized with this by fully executing on the culture we live by which allows NationaLease’s system around Local Ownership and National Connections to provide the highest level of maintenance service in the industry.”
The winners in each category were:
Silver Level Winners
- <150 Power Units: Four Star Leasing, LLC, a NationaLease Member
- 151–600 Power Units: Fox & James NationaLease
- 601+ Power Units: Brown NationaLease
Gold Level Winners
- <150 Power Units: Leoni NationaLease
- 151–600 Power Units: Parrish Leasing, Inc., a NationaLease Member
- >601 Power Units: Aim NationaLease
Platinum Level Winners
- <150 Power Units: Grane NationaLease
- 151–600 Power Units: Kirk NationaLease
- 601+ Power Units: Airoldi Brothers NationaLease
