Congressmen Taylor, Figures introduce REVOKE Act to crack down on chameleon carriers

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Dave Taylor (OH-02) and Congressman Shomari Figures (AL-02) introduced the Registration Enforcement for Vehicle Operations of Known Evaders (REVOKE) Act, which will strengthen Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) authority to prevent chameleon carriers from exploiting USDOT registration systems to illegally operate on American roads.

“For too long, chameleon carriers have exploited gaps in federal enforcement to evade accountability and jeopardize countless American lives,” said Congressman Taylor. “Every commercial vehicle on our nation’s highways should be operated by a driver who is following the rules, not a bad actor hiding behind inactive or illegitimate USDOT numbers. The REVOKE Act will give the Department of Transportation the tools it needs to shut down this dangerous practice, keep unqualified and unsafe operators off American roads, and prevent needless tragedies caused by reckless CDL drivers.”

“Every day, families share the road with commercial trucks, and they deserve to know that the carriers behind the wheel are held to certain safety standards,” said Congressman Figures. “Chameleon carriers have dodged accountability by simply rotating their USDOT number and popping back up under a new name. I’m proud to introduce this commonsense bill with Congressman Taylor to combat this issue and improve road safety for families in Alabama and across the country.”

“Chameleon carriers evade federal oversight by cycling through new registrations, putting everyone at risk. The trucking industry is committed to maintaining the highest safety standards on America’s highways, which is why we appreciate FMCSA’s ongoing efforts to identify and remove bad actors who attempt to circumvent the rules,” said American Trucking Associations SVP of Legislative Affairs Alex Rosen. “The REVOKE Act would enhance FMCSA’s enforcement actions by cracking down on carriers seeking to operate under inactive USDOT numbers. ATA applauds Reps. Taylor and Figures for introducing this legislation to strengthen the integrity of our nation’s motor carrier safety framework.”

Specifically, this bill:

• Affirms that a carrier’s USDOT number must be active in order for them to legally operate on American roadways;

• Clarifies that the Secretary of Transportation will only issue an active USDOT number to an individual or employer once determining that all requirements for registration are met;

• Grants the Secretary of Transportation authority to immediately inactivate the USDOT number of an individual or employer if they do not have valid registration, or if they fail to make any required periodic updates to the Secretary. 

The American Trucking Associations (ATA) is a supporting organization of this bill.

Congressman Taylor and Congressman Figures serve on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and are founding Co-Chairs of the Congressional Trucking Caucus.

Congressman Dave Taylor represents Ohio’s Second Congressional District, which includes Clermont, Clinton, Pike, Adams, Brown, Highland, Ross, Scioto, Pickaway, Hocking, Vinton, Jackson, Lawrence, Gallia, and Meigs counties, as well as part of Fayette County. Taylor serves on the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the House Agriculture Committee. Prior to serving in Congress, Taylor worked as an assistant prosecutor for Clermont County before joining his family’s concrete business, where he ultimately served as President. Please visit taylor.house.gov for more information.