{"id":105291,"date":"2026-02-28T00:32:11","date_gmt":"2026-02-28T03:32:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/shipping.einnews.com\/article\/896334847"},"modified":"2026-02-28T00:32:11","modified_gmt":"2026-02-28T03:32:11","slug":"ata-backs-new-legislation-to-fight-freight-fraud","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/2026\/02\/28\/ata-backs-new-legislation-to-fight-freight-fraud\/","title":{"rendered":"ATA backs new legislation to fight freight fraud"},"content":{"rendered":"

WASHINGTON \u2014 The American Trucking Associations<\/a> (ATA) is applauding Senator Todd Young (R-IN) for introducing legislation to reduce freight fraud and theft, strengthen regulatory oversight, prevent unlawful operations and enhance enforcement across the commercial motor carrier industry.<\/p>\n

\u201cOver 90% of trucking fleets operate 10 trucks or fewer, and each one embodies the American Dream,\u201d said Chris Spear, ATA president, CEO. \u201cMotor carriers spend years building their reputations, but ruthless and sophisticated criminals are actively exploiting loopholes in USDOT\u2019s registration process to steal their identities, capitalize on their good names, and commit cargo theft. Small businesses are not equipped to fight large-scale fraud on their own, which is why it is so critical to implement Senator Young\u2019s commonsense reforms that modernize USDOT\u2019s systems to weed out chameleon carriers and enhance oversight and penalties. We are grateful for his willingness to listen to the voices of hardworking truckers.\u201d<\/p>\n

SAFER Transport Act<\/strong><\/h5>\n

The Securing American Freight, Enforcement, and Reliability in Transport (SAFER Transport) Act represents a direct response to issues that were raised during a Senate Commerce Subcommittee hearing that Senator Young chaired last year on rising incidents of cargo theft. Testifying on behalf of ATA, an owner of a trucking small business described how his company\u2019s identity was stolen by technologically advanced criminals, who used that information to divert and steal loads. The con artists took advantage of weaknesses in FMCSA\u2019s<\/a> Safety and Fitness Electronic Records<\/a> (SAFER) System to perpetrate their crime.<\/p>\n

\u201cIndiana\u2019s predominantly family-owned trucking companies are locked in a rapidly escalating arms race against high-tech thieves,\u201d said Gary Langston, president of the Indiana Motor Truck Association<\/a>. \u201cIdentity theft and cargo heists have become an epidemic, and the outdated USDOT system has left the back door wide open for criminals to target motor carriers. We thank Senator Young for introducing this legislation that will help eliminate vulnerabilities related to registration, CDL issuance, and training and finally give our industry the backup it needs to fight fraud. These reforms will protect Indiana trucking fleets and the hundreds of thousands of Hoosiers they employ.\u201d<\/p>\n

Fighting Freight Fraud<\/strong><\/h5>\n

ATA has long warned<\/a> that insufficient oversight has undermined safety and allowed bad actors to proliferate. In addition to calling for a crackdown on fraud, the Federation has advocated for regulations and legislation to improve CDL integrity, strengthen driver qualifications, shut down CDL mills and put a stop to cabotage.<\/p>\n

As a comprehensive freight security and registration integrity reform bill, the SAFER Transport Act aligns with ATA\u2019s recommendations by:<\/p>\n