US House Introduces Legislation to Crack Down on Chameleon Carriers

US lawmakers have introduced the REVOKE Act, aimed at strengthening enforcement against chameleon carriers that evade discipline for safety and regulatory violations by shutting down and resuming operations under new names. The bill, introduced by Reps. David Taylor (R-Ohio) and Shomari Figures (D-Ala.), would require carriers operating certain commercial motor vehicles to maintain an active USDOT number and allow the secretary of transportation to immediately deactivate a USDOT number if a carrier lacks valid registration or fails to submit required periodic updates. The American Trucking Associations (ATA) supports the legislation, saying it would reduce the likelihood that chameleon carriers avoid detection by regulators. The bill is the latest in a string of recent legislative and regulatory efforts aimed at highway safety, including the SAFE Act and FMCSA oversight proposals. Chameleon carriers undermine highway safety while underbidding carriers that invest in driver training and regulatory compliance, creating competitive disadvantages for safer fleets and contributing to dangerous operating conditions.