Legislation introduced this week by Senator Todd Young (R-IND) takes direct aim at addressing supply chain-related issues impacting U.S. freight and highways, improving roadway safety, and protecting national security.
Entitled the Securing American Freight, Enforcement, and Reliability in (SAFER) Transport Act, the legislation’s key objectives focus on combatting freight fraud and theft, strengthening motor carrier oversight, modernizing registration systems, and enhancing enforcement of transportation and cabotage laws.
“Americans deserve safe and reliable supply chains and roads,” said Young. “The SAFER Transport Act takes important steps to strengthen our transportation infrastructure, combat crime that is hurting U.S. consumers and businesses, and ensure our roads are safe for all Americans.”
One of the legislation’s key priorities is to establish a freight fraud and theft advisory committee within 60 days, with the committee to be comprised of various industry stakeholders, including: motor carriers (including owner-operators); railroads, ports, and marine terminal operators; brokers and aviation operators; state and local law enforcement; state and local law enforcement; and shippers and insurers. The legislation stated that this committee must provide recommendations within two years, focused on reducing freight fraud and improving coordination between agencies.
Addressing modernizing and securing the registration system, the legislation aims to eliminate MC (motor classification) numbers over a five-year period through the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), with all motor carriers, brokers, and freight forwarders being required to use a USDOT number as their sole identifier.
The legislation’s focus on issuing CDL (Commercial Driver’s Licenses) requires states to verify work authorization for non-citizens or non-permanent residents, align CDL expiration dates with work authorization expirations, and provide required verification to FMCSA. And states would be required to submit monthly reports to DOT in regards to CLPs and CDLs issued, foreign non-domiciled CDLs issued, and endorsements issued.
The legislation received strong endorsements from various industry organizations.
“Over 90% of trucking fleets operate 10 trucks or fewer, and each one embodies the American Dream,” said American Trucking Associations President & CEO Chris Spear. “Motor carriers spend years building their reputations, but ruthless and sophisticated criminals are actively exploiting loopholes in USDOT’s registration process to steal their identities, capitalize on their good names, and commit cargo theft,” “Small businesses are not equipped to fight large-scale fraud on their own, which is why it is so critical to implement Senator Young’s commonsense reforms that modernize USDOT’s systems to weed out chameleon carriers and enhance oversight and penalties. We are grateful for his willingness to listen to the voices of hardworking truckers.”
Truck Renting and Leasing Association (TRALA) President and CEO Jake Jacoby said his organization applauds Senator Young for this much needed legislation.
“The trucking industry has been deluged with fraud and theft, costing companies and, in turn, consumers, billions in losses annually,” said Jacoby. “This bill strengthens regulatory oversight and fraud detection, enhances oversight, improves law enforcement coordination, and increases penalties to help curb the abuse impacting our industry.”
