New bipartisan legislation was introduced into the Senate Tuesday aimed at cracking down on risky freight companies that evade safety enforcement by continuously shutting down and reopening under new names.
The Safety and Accountability in Freight Enforcement (SAFE) Act, introduced by Sens. Todd Young, R-Ind., and Andy Kim, D-N.J., targets Chameleon Carriers who avoid safety fines, government enforcement, insurance spikes, and public scrutiny by changing company names, management structures, or U.S. Department of Transportation registration numbers. Despite new paperwork, many continue to operate using the same vehicles, management personnel, drivers, and physical addresses.
"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, senior vice president of legislative affairs for the American Trucking Associations.
Companion legislation was introduced in the House of Representatives earlier this year by Rep. Harriet Hageman, R-Wyo.
Chameleon carriers avoiding regulatory scrutiny or penalties is not a new phenomenon. As early as 2008, the Central Analysis Bureau (CAB) was discussing the topic with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). CAB is owned by CCJ parent company Fusable.
The SAFE Act establishes proactive tools within the FMCSA to flag deceptive applications during the registration process.
Under the provisions of the bill, the federal government would:
- Automate risk screening: Direct the FMCSA to test and implement automated tools to flag applications exhibiting traits common to chameleon carriers, while keeping final regulatory decisions in human hands.
- Study crash impacts: Require the Government Accountability Office to analyze the prevalence of chameleon carriers, study associated highway crashes and fatalities, and suggest enforcement strategies.
- Enhance interagency data sharing: Improve information exchange between state and federal authorities to catch fraudulent registrations faster.
- Provide audits and appeals: Establish a formal appeals process for erroneously flagged applicants and mandate an audit evaluating the tool's effectiveness.
Industry leaders emphasized that dishonest operators create unfair competitive pressures alongside public safety concerns.
"For too long, chameleon carriers have been able to shed their identities, reopen under new names, and escape accountability for serious safety violations," said Gary Langston, president and CEO of the Indiana Motor Truck Association. "They have created an uneven playing field where responsible carriers invest in compliance, training, and safe operations while bad actors simply start over with a clean slate."
Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) President Jim Mullen voiced full support for the bipartisan SAFE Act, calling it a necessary measure to protect safety, restore trust, and level the playing field in the freight industry, adding that Chameleon Carriers create unfair competition and undermine public confidence.
Chris Lutick, executive director of the New Jersey Motor Truck Association, noted that key transit corridors are particularly vulnerable to repeat offenders.
"The SAFE Act exposes their true colors by giving FMCSA stronger tools to identify and remove bad actors from our highways," Lutick said, noting that New Jersey stands to gain both economic and safety benefits as a major East Coast freight gateway.
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