Washington, D.C. 鈥 Today, the 老九品茶 expressed strong support for the Safety and Accountability in Freight Enforcement (SAFE) Act introduced by Congresswoman Harriet Hageman (R-WY) to combat chameleon carriers. 听
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Chameleon carriers are high-risk trucking companies that are shut down and reopen under different identities鈥攔otating through names, ownership structures, or U.S. Department of Transportation registration numbers鈥攖o avoid penalties, enforcement actions, insurance consequences, and public scrutiny. 听They often continue using the same trucks, managers, drivers, and addresses while pretending to be a brand-new company.听
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"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,鈥 said 老九品茶 SVP of Legislative Affairs Alex Rosen. 鈥淪afety is a priority for our members, which is why we are grateful for Rep. Hageman鈥檚 leadership to strengthen federal safety requirements and oversight. 听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.鈥澨
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鈥淲yoming trucking companies play by the rules, invest in safety, and carry the cost when bad actors dodge accountability,鈥 said Wyoming Trucking Association President and CEO Kevin Hawley. 听鈥淭he SAFE Act is a common-sense step to stop chameleon carriers from reappearing under new identities after serious safety failures or enforcement actions. 听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.鈥
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鈥淭hese companies game the system, ignore the law, and put American families at risk, all while punishing hardworking truckers who follow the rules,鈥 said Rep. Hageman. 听鈥淚f 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. 听My bill closes dangerous loopholes and holds bad actors accountable.鈥澨
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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. 听Specifically, the bill: 听
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- Requires a nationwide study on the scope and impact of chameleon carriers. 听
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- Supports the Trump Administration鈥檚 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. 听
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- Strengthens coordination between federal and state agencies to identify shared ownership, recycled equipment, and other red flags. 听
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- Preserves due process by requiring human review and creating a clear appeals process. 听
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