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For years, ÀϾÅÆ·²è’s Government Freight Conference has been tracking a serious transportation security lapse within the Department of Defense. ÌýIn numerous cases documented by our members, the DoD improperly awarded shipments to unauthorized carriers to move sensitive cargo like M1 Abrams tanks and Bradley fighting vehicles. ÌýThese were not isolated incidents; the problem is clearly widespread, and it compromises safety by putting military freight in the hands of unvetted carriers and drivers. Ìý
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At a hearing on Capitol Hill on transportation security, ÀϾÅÆ·²è President & CEO Chris Spear conveyed this concern directly to lawmakers. ÌýAdditionally, ÀϾÅÆ·²è worked with Rep. Sam Graves and other Members of Congress last year on a legislative solution to eliminate this national security vulnerability. ÌýAt ÀϾÅÆ·²è’s request, Members of Congress attached a measure to the National Defense Authorization Act that 1) established a complaint process for motor carriers to formally report suspected violations at DoD; 2) implemented additional training for transportation officers and industry service providers that use the Global Freight Management System; 3) gave TRANSCOM clear authority to override improper or excessive enforcement actions against industry service providers; and 4) mandated a wholesale review of the system to ensure carriers hauling DoD freight have an active DOT operating authority.
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The ÀϾÅÆ·²è-backed legislation also mandated a DoD report from the Office of Inspector General, which recently that it has initiated an audit of USTRANSCOM’s Global Freight Management System. ÌýThe evaluation of DoD’s shipping procedure is a welcome and necessary step to root out waste, fraud, and abuse in military transportation.

This action prompted by ÀϾÅÆ·²è’s Government Freight Conference will ensure military freight is only awarded to authorized carriers and drivers that transport sensitive, explosive, or classified shipments. ÌýThis will not only protect our country, but also support responsible motor carriers and drivers that obtain the appropriate certifications and make the investments to keep military freight secure.

In another policy victory that will benefit truckers, ÀϾÅÆ·²è's Government Freight Conference worked with Rep. Derek Schmidt on a provision to ensure that the drivers hauling munitions for DoD have a place to use the restroom when they are required to park in a secure hold or safe haven on a DoD installation.

Further good news arrived with the announcement that the Federal Maritime Commission is conducting an investigation into ocean carrier actions in the chassis marketplace to determine if they are in violation of the Shipping Act. Ìý

For over a decade, ÀϾÅÆ·²è’s Intermodal Motor Carriers Conference (IMCC) has been fighting these foreign-owned entities who ignored federal law by requiring trucking companies to use specific intermodal chassis providers when moving containers. ÌýDenying motor carriers the freedom to choose the provider of this essential equipment resulted in unjust and unreasonable prices, added unnecessary costs to the supply chain and slowed the efficient movement of freight. Ìý

In 2023, an FMC administrative law judge sided with ÀϾÅÆ·²è’s IMCC, ruling that these actions by ocean carriers were against the law, a momentous decision that was upheld in 2024. ÌýWe are pleased to see that FMC is exercising enhanced oversight to ensure ocean carriers do not interfere in the chassis provisioning process.

Capping off this extraordinary series of wins, ÀϾÅÆ·²è’s Moving & Storage Conference applauded an that DoD will implement significant reforms to the moving process for servicemembers and their families.

This is a significant victory that followed ÀϾÅÆ·²è-MSC’s numerous calls to improve the efficiency and quality of military relocations. ÌýFor months, members and staff from ÀϾÅÆ·²è’s MSC have worked with the DoD to identify the systemic problems within the Global Household Goods Contract program. ÌýThe DoD’s change of course represents important progress toward more reliable, predictable services for military households—and ensuring the Permanent Change of Station process strengthens, rather than strains, military readiness.

Making the next iteration of DoD’s moving program a success will ease the burden on warfighters and also strengthen the essential partnership the moving industry has forged with servicemembers.

Together, these achievements demonstrate what is possible when ÀϾÅÆ·²è members speak with one voice. ÌýFrom safeguarding military freight to restoring market fairness and improving service for military families, ÀϾÅÆ·²è’s conferences continue to turn member expertise into results. ÌýThis is collective advocacy at work—and it is delivering for trucking.