Washington, D.C. – Today, the American Trucking Associations expressed strong support for the Safety and Accountability in Freight Enforcement (SAFE) Act introduced by Congresswoman Harriet Hageman (R-WY) to combat chameleon carriers.
Chameleon carriers are high-risk trucking companies that are shut down and reopen under different identities—rotating through names, ownership structures, or U.S. Department of Transportation registration numbers—to avoid penalties, enforcement actions, insurance consequences, and public scrutiny. They often continue using the same trucks, managers, drivers, and addresses while pretending to be a brand-new company.
"Chameleon carriers are a plague on our nation's highways, putting all motorists at risk and undercutting the vast majority of trucking companies that are responsible and follow the rules,” said American Trucking Associations SVP of Legislative Affairs Alex Rosen. “Safety is a priority for our members, which is why we are grateful for Rep. Hageman’s leadership to strengthen federal safety requirements and oversight. Alongside USDOT, we have closed loopholes and removed bad actors from our roads, and we look forward to building on this progress by working with Rep. Hageman and her colleagues to attach this commonsense policy to the next Highway Bill.”
“Wyoming trucking companies play by the rules, invest in safety, and carry the cost when bad actors dodge accountability,” said Wyoming Trucking Association President and CEO Kevin Hawley. “The SAFE Act is a common-sense step to stop chameleon carriers from reappearing under new identities after serious safety failures or enforcement actions. By strengthening screening at registration, protecting due process through a clear appeals process, and improving data sharing, this bill helps level the playing field for responsible carriers and makes our roads safer for everyone.”
“These companies game the system, ignore the law, and put American families at risk, all while punishing hardworking truckers who follow the rules,” said Rep. Hageman. “If a trucking company racks up violations or loses its license, it should not get to slap on a new name and get back on the road. My bill closes dangerous loopholes and holds bad actors accountable.”
The SAFE Act establishes the mechanism to accurately detect chameleon carriers in the registration process, ensuring they are subject to enforcement for violations under the law. Specifically, the bill:
- Requires a nationwide study on the scope and impact of chameleon carriers.
- Supports the Trump Administration’s ongoing efforts by directing FMCSA to develop and implement an advanced automation tool to flag suspicious registration applications before unsafe operators receive new USDOT numbers.
- Strengthens coordination between federal and state agencies to identify shared ownership, recycled equipment, and other red flags.
- Preserves due process by requiring human review and creating a clear appeals process.