Lawmakers introduced new legislation intended to prevent shady trucking companies “from exploiting USDOT registration systems to illegally operate on American roads.”
On September 4, 2026, Rep Dave Taylor (OH-02) and Shomari Figures (AL-02) introduced the Registration Enforcement for Vehicle Operations of Known Evaders (REVOKE) Act in the U.S. House of Representatives.
If passed, the bill would combat “chameleon carriers” by:
- Affirming that a carrier’s USDOT number must be active in order for them to legally operate on American roadways
- Clarifying that the Secretary of Transportation will only issue an active USDOT number to an individual or employer once determining that all requirements for registration are met
- Granting the Secretary of Transportation authority to immediately inactivate the USDOT number of an individual or employer if they do not have valid registration, or if they fail to make any required periodic updates to the Secretary
“For too long, chameleon carriers have exploited gaps in federal enforcement to evade accountability and jeopardize countless American lives,” said Taylor. “Every commercial vehicle on our nation’s highways should be operated by a driver who is following the rules, not a bad actor hiding behind inactive or illegitimate USDOT numbers. The REVOKE Act will give the Department of Transportation the tools it needs to shut down this dangerous practice, keep unqualified and unsafe operators off American roads, and prevent needless tragedies caused by reckless and unqualified CDL drivers.”
“Every day, families share the road with commercial trucks, and they deserve to know that the carriers behind the wheel are held to certain safety standards,” said Figures.“Chameleon carriers have dodged accountability by simply rotating their USDOT number and popping back up under a new name. I’m proud to introduce this commonsense bill with Congressman Taylor to combat this issue and improve road safety for families in Alabama and across the country.”
The REVOKE Act is endorsed by the American Trucking Associations (ATA).
“Chameleon carriers evade federal oversight by cycling through new registrations, putting everyone at risk. 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,” said ATA SVP of Legislative Affairs Alex Rosen. “The REVOKE Act would enhance FMCSA’s enforcement actions by cracking down on carriers seeking to operate under inactive USDOT numbers. ATA applauds Reps. Taylor and Figures for introducing this legislation to strengthen the integrity of our nation’s motor carrier safety framework.”
