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U.S. House legislation targets chameleon carriers
Active USDOT number, registration requirements included in bipartisan bill
The REVOKE Act would amend federal law to require carriers operating certain commercial motor vehicles to maintain an active USDOT number. (vitpho/Getty Images)
Key Takeaways:
- Reps. David Taylor and Shomari Figures introduced the REVOKE Act on Sept. 4 to strengthen enforcement against chameleon carriers using new identities.
- Supporters including ATA said stricter USDOT registration controls would help prevent unsafe carriers from evading oversight and undercutting compliant fleets.
- The bill follows recent safety initiatives including the SAFE Act, FMCSA oversight proposals and a Trump administration fraud investigation targeting trucking operations.
U.S. lawmakers have introduced legislation aimed at cracking down on so-called chameleon carriers, a term for companies that evade discipline for safety and regulatory violations by shutting down and resuming operations under new names.
The Registration Enforcement for Vehicle Operations of Known Evaders (REVOKE) Act was introduced Sept. 4 by Rep. David Taylor (R-Ohio) and co-sponsored by Rep. Shomari Figures (D-Ala.). The bill would amend federal law to require carriers operating certain commercial motor vehicles to maintain an active U.S. Department of Transportation number.
It also would allow the secretary of transportation to immediately deactivate a USDOT number if a carrier lacks valid registration or fails to submit required periodic updates. In addition, the bill would prohibit the issuance of USDOT numbers until all registration requirements have been met.
“Chameleon carriers have dodged accountability by simply rotating their USDOT number and popping back up under a new name,” Figures said in a news release. “I’m proud to introduce this common-sense bill with Congressman Taylor to combat this issue and improve road safety for families in Alabama and across the country.”
American Trucking Associations supports the legislation, saying it would reduce the likelihood that chameleon carriers avoid detection by regulators.
It's time to close the front door on chameleon carriers, and Congress holds the keys in this year’s appropriations process to lock in accountability that lasts.
In a new op-ed for @thehill, ATA Chairman Greg Hodgen calls on lawmakers to fully fund @USDOT's safety mission,… pic.twitter.com/iQJpTPkUE4“Chameleon carriers evade federal oversight by cycling through new registrations, putting everyone at risk,” said Alex Rosen, ATA senior vice president of legislative affairs. “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. The REVOKE Act would enhance FMCSA’s enforcement actions by cracking down on carriers seeking to operate under inactive USDOT numbers.”
— American Trucking (@TRUCKINGdotORG) May 5, 2026
Trucking executives argue that chameleon carriers undermine highway safety while underbidding carriers that invest in driver training and regulatory compliance. They contend that the practice creates competitive disadvantages for safer fleets and can contribute to dangerous operating conditions.
The bill is the latest in a string of recent legislative and regulatory efforts aimed at highway safety. In late July, Sen. Andy Kim (D-N.J.) and Sen. Todd Young (R-Ind.) introduced the Safety and Accountability in Freight Enforcement (SAFE) Act, which would direct FMCSA to study chameleon carriers and develop a tool to detect chameleon-carrier registration applications.
ATA also backed that measure, saying an automated detection system could help keep unsafe carriers off the road.
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In February, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced regulatory proposals designed to strengthen oversight of chameleon carriers, including modernization of systems used to verify motor carrier identities and revisions to procedures for suspending or revoking approval for noncompliant carriers and training schools.
In early September, the Trump administration also announced a multi-agency initiative to investigate fraud in the trucking industry, including at driving schools.
