SAFER Transport Act

Summary#

The SAFER Transport Act would change how the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and the Department of Transportation work to prevent freight fraud and theft. The bill creates a short-term advisory committee on freight fraud and theft, requires a memorandum of understanding between the Department of Transportation and the Department of Justice, and directs the FMCSA to move from using MC numbers to using USDOT numbers for motor carriers, brokers, and freight forwarders. It adds new registration rules, allows the FMCSA to withhold or revoke registration for people convicted of certain felonies, and requires ownership-change notifications. The bill adds rules to detect and review suspicious activity in the carrier registration system, including automated flagging and temporary suspension of registrations. It changes who must register as a broker by adding "foreign dispatch services," updates recordkeeping rules for carriers and brokers, and creates a criminal penalty for knowingly using fraudulent certifications related to FMCSA registrations. The bill also adds reporting requirements for States that issue commercial driver licenses (CDLs), tightens rules for training provider audits and registry entries, directs a CBP reimbursement for certain cargo theft fines, and adds rules to enforce prohibitions on certain foreign carriers and unauthorized drivers transporting domestic cargo.

What it means for you#

• Motor carriers, brokers, and freight forwarders: MC numbers would be phased out over five years and replaced by USDOT numbers. New registration and ownership-change notices would be required. The FMCSA could withhold, suspend, or revoke registration for covered felony convictions or proven fraud.
• Brokers and foreign dispatch services: Entities defined as foreign dispatch services must register as brokers.
• Drivers and employers: States would need to verify work authorization for noncitizen applicants for commercial learner's permits or CDLs and align CDL expirations with work authorization expirations. States must send monthly reports about CDL issuance and related actions to the Secretary of Transportation.
• Training providers: Providers must register a principal place of business, may be audited, and can be removed from the training registry for fraud, being out of business, or violating state training rules.
• Carriers and brokers: Must keep required records at their principal place of business or make them accessible on demand.
• Anyone who knowingly uses a fraudulent certification related to FMCSA registration or compliance could face criminal fines or up to 5 years in prison.
• Customs and Border Protection: CBP must reimburse cargo theft victims for certain fines related to improperly sealed containers.

Expenses#

No publicly available information.

Proponents' View#

The bill’s provisions are framed to strengthen detection and prevention of freight fraud and theft, improve information sharing among Federal and State agencies, and make registration and oversight of carriers, brokers, and training providers more robust. It aims to unify identification by transitioning to USDOT numbers, improve automated detection of suspicious registration activity, and allow the FMCSA to act quickly against fraudulent actors. The bill also seeks to clarify who must register as a broker and to enforce rules preventing certain foreign carriers and unauthorized drivers from providing point-to-point domestic transport.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information.