SAFE Act

Bill Number

H.R. 7539

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 2

Policy Area

Transportation and Public Works

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2026-02-13: Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.

Last Updated

2026-07-10T08:06:08Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose of the Legislation

The "Safety and Accountability in Freight Enforcement Act" (SAFE Act), H.R. 7539, aims to address "chameleon carriers"—trucking companies or related entities that change their identity to evade safety rules, penalties, or poor safety records. It directs federal agencies to study the issue and create a technology tool to detect these carriers during the registration process for Department of Transportation (DOT) numbers, ultimately improving road safety by preventing unsafe operators from continuing operations under new names.

Key Provisions

• Report on Chameleon Carriers (Section 2):
• The Comptroller General of the United States must submit a report to Congress within 1 year of enactment, based on a study of chameleon carriers on U.S. roads.
• The report must cover:
• Estimated number of such carriers active at any time.
• Their prevalence since a 2012 Government Accountability Office report on evading detection.
• Estimated fatalities, serious injuries (broken down by state), and property damage caused by them since 2012.
• Methods used to evade enforcement and how these have evolved.
• Analysis of DOT's current monitoring, enforcement tools (e.g., registration processes, software, data systems), shortcomings, penalties, and recommendations for improvements like better data fields in the Motor Carrier Management Information System.
• Additional priorities from DOT and legislative suggestions to combat the issue.
• The Comptroller General can collaborate with federal agencies, state/local governments, universities, and private entities.

• Advanced Automation Tool (Section 3):
• The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) Administrator must develop, test, and implement a tool within 1 year to help FMCSA staff detect chameleon carrier applications during DOT number registrations.
• Collaboration is required, including memorandums of understanding (MOUs) for data sharing with federal agencies (e.g., Treasury, Justice, Postal Service, Homeland Security, Commerce, State, and DOT sub-agencies) and relevant state agencies.
• Tool requirements include:
• Detecting signs of continuity between old and new entities, such as shared ownership, addresses, equipment, employees, insurance, operations, or creation to avoid rules/enforcement.
• Identifying insurance coverage gaps.
• Compiling evidence for registration decisions.
• Providing automated support for decisions, but final rulings remain with human staff (no automated denials allowed).
• Automating data sharing across agencies.
• Other features as deemed necessary by the Administrator.
• An appeals process for denied applications: Notify applicants of flagged issues within 30 days, allow corrections, and require redetermination within another 30 days.
• FMCSA must brief congressional committees on chameleon carriers and related efforts within 30 days of enactment.
• Data privacy protections: Tool data cannot be used outside this purpose.
• After 2 years of implementation, the DOT Inspector General must audit the tool and report to Congress on its effectiveness, including flagged/rejected applications, crash reductions, errors, and improvement recommendations.

• Definition of Chameleon Carrier (Section 4):
• A motor carrier, intermodal equipment provider (e.g., trailer supplier), broker, or freight forwarder (or their affiliates) that operates under a new identity to avoid FMCSA orders, regulations, penalties, enforcement, poor safety history, higher insurance costs, or insurance cancellations by misrepresenting ownership/control.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• This bill does not amend specific statutes but introduces new mandates: a required federal study/report (previously none existed post-2012 GAO report) and development of an advanced detection tool, building on existing DOT/FMCSA registration processes.
• It enhances data sharing via MOUs, potentially expanding inter-agency collaboration beyond current practices.
• Adds an appeals mechanism and audit requirements for the new tool, ensuring accountability not explicitly outlined in prior law.
• Clarifies "chameleon carrier" with a detailed definition, providing a framework for enforcement that was previously more informal.

Potential Impacts

• Government Agencies: FMCSA and DOT gain new responsibilities for tool development, testing, and implementation, requiring resources for technology, collaborations, and briefings. The Comptroller General and DOT Inspector General face added study/audit duties. States may see improved enforcement through data sharing, potentially reducing their burden on road safety monitoring.
• Citizens: Could lead to safer highways by identifying and blocking unsafe carriers, potentially reducing crashes, injuries, and fatalities linked to evasive operators. Public trucking services might face fewer disruptions from legitimate carriers due to the appeals process.
• International Relations: Minimal direct impact, though data sharing with the Department of State could indirectly affect cross-border trucking if chameleon tactics involve international elements (e.g., equipment or ownership).

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Federal Agencies: FMCSA (leads tool development), DOT (oversight and data systems), Comptroller General (study/report), Inspector General (audit), and collaborating agencies like Treasury and Justice.
• State and Local Governments: Involved in data sharing and enforcement, benefiting from better detection of interstate carriers.
• Trucking Industry: Legitimate motor carriers, brokers, and providers may experience streamlined but scrutinized registrations; chameleon carriers face higher barriers to evasion.
• Insurers and Private Sector: Affected by tool features detecting insurance misrepresentations; private entities can collaborate on tool development.
• Public and Road Users: Drivers, pedestrians, and communities gain from potential safety improvements, with quantified impacts on fatalities/injuries in the report.
• Congress: Receives reports, briefings, and recommendations to inform future oversight or legislation.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Strengthens administrative enforcement under existing FMCSA authority (e.g., via the Motor Carrier Safety Act) by mandating tools and studies, but preserves due process through human final decisions and appeals, avoiding fully automated rulings that could raise fairness concerns. Data privacy clause aligns with federal protections like the Privacy Act, limiting misuse.
• Constitutional: No apparent conflicts; enhances executive branch efficiency in regulating interstate commerce (a congressional power under Article I), without infringing on free enterprise as appeals ensure review for denials.
• Political: Focuses on freight safety amid ongoing concerns about trucking accidents, potentially appealing to bipartisan interests in infrastructure and public protection. Recommendations could spur further laws on penalties or data systems, influencing transportation policy debates.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Hageman, Harriet M. [R-WY-At Large]

Cosponsors (12)

Rep. Taylor, David J. [R-OH-2], Rep. Van Drew, Jefferson [R-NJ-2], Rep. Bost, Mike [R-IL-12], Rep. Shreve, Jefferson [R-IN-6], Rep. Johnson, Dusty [R-SD-At Large], Rep. Williams, Roger [R-TX-25], Rep. Begich, Nicholas J. [R-AK-At Large], Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26], Rep. Gallagher, James [R-CA-1], Rep. Fine, Randy [R-FL-6], Rep. Miller, Mary E. [R-IL-15], Rep. Stauber, Pete [R-MN-8]

Recent Actions

• 2026-02-13: Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.
• 2026-02-12: Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
• 2026-02-12: Introduced in House
• 2026-02-12: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Safety and Accountability in Freight Enforcement Act — issued 2026-02-12 — PDF (11 pages)