State and national trucking associations from across the United States have created a “policy blueprint” to help prevent fraudulent and illegal operators from exploiting regulatory gaps.
The action plan developed by the Trucking Association Executives Council (TAEC) is entitled The Fight for Fairness and Safety: Paving the Way for a Trucking Resurgence, and focuses on seven major vulnerabilities. The Trump administration has already taken steps to address several areas of the report, though some have led to legal challenges.
“This isn’t about adding red tape – it’s about using smart technology to level the playing field. When carriers and drivers who follow safety rules and invest in driver training compete against operators who cut every corner, the bad guys win and everyone else loses,” said John Esparza, president of the Texas Trucking Association and a member of TAEC.
Here is a closer look at the seven areas singled out in the report:
Commercial driver’s license integrity
TAEC said the current CDL system has dangerous gaps that enable fraud. Federal and state databases operate independently, allowing disqualified drivers to obtain CDLs in other states. Besides integrating state databases and incorporating training data, the report called for establishing a waiting period of at least one year between an individual receiving a standard driver’s license and becoming eligible for a CDL. Certain workforce training programs would be exempted.
MCMIS overhaul
The report said the Motor Carrier Management Information System fails to protect public safety due to incomplete data and outdated methods. This allows dangerous operators and “chameleon carriers” to evade detection. In response, law enforcement should rate all carriers using data analytics and use artificial intelligence to analyze VIN patterns of new entrant applications. They should also create minimum qualification standards for motor carrier entry and the transfer of Department of Transportation numbers.
English language proficiency
An estimated 150,000 commercial drivers lack English language proficiency, according to FMCSA data. The report calls for codifying Trump’s executive order on ELP for truck drivers and implementing tiered English proficiency standards throughout the CDL lifecycle. This problem should be primarily addressed on the front end of the CDL lifecycle, not the back end at roadside. “English proficiency isn’t about discrimination — it’s about safety. Clear communication saves lives, and CDL standards must reflect this reality through comprehensive language requirements and enforcement,” the report said.
Assuring cross-border workforce integrity
Current visa processes for cross-border truck drivers create enforcement gaps, safety risks, and unfair compliance burdens, the report said. There needs to be better alignment between visa authorization with commercial driving standards, as well as stricter enforcement of cabotage laws.
Non-domiciled CDL reform
The report said the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s “emergency rule is a major step toward closing dangerous loopholes,” but noted a federal court has stayed enforcement of the rule. “This ruling must be overcome to enact these important reforms,” the report said. Stronger reporting, auditing, and training reforms will further enhance the integrity and safety of the licensing system nationwide.
Combating trucking fraud
Unscrupulous freight brokers and bad actors are exploiting weak oversight to defraud trucking companies and shippers through double brokering, identity theft, and other schemes. In response, increasing broker bonds from the current $75,000 minimum is needed, as are tougher entry requirements.
Strengthening electronic log integrity
With ELD manipulation increasingly viewed as a growing problem, TAEC called for the end of self-certification in the United States and the requirement of independent third-party testing, similar to the Canadian system. The same day as the report was issued, FMCSA unveiled an overhauled vetting process for ELDs that the agency said will ensure non-compliant devices are blocked. The agency did not mention independent testing in its announcement.
