SAFER Transport Act

Summary#

This bill, the SAFER Transport Act, would change rules for how freight moves and how carriers, brokers, and training providers register and are monitored. It creates a Freight Fraud and Theft Advisory Committee to give the Department of Transportation advice. The Secretary and the Attorney General must make a written agreement to share information about freight fraud and theft. The bill phases out MC numbers over 5 years and requires motor carriers, brokers, and freight forwarders to use USDOT numbers. It allows the Secretary to withhold, suspend, or revoke registrations for persons convicted of certain felonies and adds ownership-change notification requirements.

The bill requires completion of a Unified Carrier Registration System, monthly state reports on commercial driver's licenses, and stronger rules for the training provider registry, including audits, removal rules, and principal place of business registration. It directs the Administration to build automated systems that flag suspicious registration activity and to set up review and possible suspension or removal for flagged users. It also requires a memorandum of understanding with U.S. Customs and Border Protection on cabotage and directs CBP to reimburse certain cargo-theft victims for fines paid for unsealed containers. The bill creates a criminal penalty for knowingly using or submitting a "fraudulent certification" in certain DOT registration or compliance matters. It defines and requires registration of some foreign dispatch services as brokers, updates recordkeeping rules, and revises the statutory definition of broker.

What it means for you#

  • Motor carriers, brokers, and freight forwarders: MC numbers will be phased out and replaced by USDOT numbers within 5 years. Registrations may be withheld, suspended, or revoked for covered felony convictions or for submitting fraudulent or incomplete information. Owners must report changes in ownership within 30 days.
  • Drivers and employers: States must report monthly on commercial learner's permits and commercial driver's licenses. States issuing CDL or CLP to noncitizens must confirm work authorization and align license expirations with work authorization dates.
  • Training providers: Providers must register a principal place of business, may be audited, and can be removed for fraud or regulatory violations. States may help audit or remove providers.
  • Foreign dispatch services: Some foreign dispatch services must register and be treated as brokers.
  • Cargo owners and shippers: Victims of cargo theft may be reimbursed by CBP for certain fines related to unsealed containers.
  • Federal agencies and law enforcement: DOT, DOJ, and CBP must enter memoranda of understanding for information sharing and coordination on freight fraud, theft, and cabotage enforcement.

Expenses#

The bill directs agencies to create an advisory committee, enter multiple memoranda of understanding, complete a Unified Carrier Registration System, build automated fraud-flagging systems, run audits and reviews, collect monthly state reports, and implement various regulatory and registration changes. No publicly available information on estimated costs or budget effects is included in the bill text or provided metadata.

Proponents' View#

No publicly available information. The bill text states its purpose is "to combat freight fraud and theft," and it includes multiple administrative, registration, and enforcement steps intended to address those concerns.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information.