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Lawmakers Introduce ‘Stop Scamming Truckers Act’ to Stop Truckers From Being Tricked Into Paying for Free FMCSA and USDOT Services

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Kristina
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WASHINGTON, D.C. — Federal lawmakers have introduced a bipartisan bill aimed at stopping companies from misleading truckers into paying for USDOT and FMCSA-related services that are already available for free.

The Stop Scamming Truckers Act was introduced this week by Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez of Washington and Rep. Dave Taylor of Ohio. The bill responds to complaints from truck drivers and small carriers who said they received misleading letters that looked like official government notices.

Bill Would Require Clear Disclosures

If passed, the bill would require any private company sending correspondence about USDOT numbers to clearly state that it is not affiliated with the federal government.

The required disclosure would read: “This communication is from a private company. We are not the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the Department of Transportation, or any other Federal Government Agency, and we are not affiliated with the United States Government.”

For written communication, the disclosure would have to appear in at least 12-point font. For electronic messages, it would have to match the main body text size. The notice would also need to appear on the first page or, in digital communication, be visible without scrolling.

The bill would also bar companies from using names, seals, logos, insignias, or trade dress that could reasonably make a trucker believe the message came from the Department of Transportation.

Truckers Could Sue Over Violations

The legislation would create a private right of action, allowing anyone who receives a communication that violates the act to file a civil lawsuit in U.S. district court.

Damages could include actual damages, plus statutory damages of at least $500 and up to $5,000.

Gluesenkamp Perez said the issue was raised by truckers who received letters designed to look official and pressure them into paying to avoid government problems.

“There is no end to the rage and confusion that comes with receiving scam letters that falsely purport to be from the federal government,” Gluesenkamp Perez said. “When DOT licenses are the subject of these scams, it torches public goodwill towards federal agencies. This is a critical issue that disproportionately affects small businesses and it’s time to see some action taken.”

Taylor said small trucking businesses are often the hardest hit by these schemes.

“Trucking companies already face enough challenges without being targeted by scammers looking to make a quick buck,” Taylor said. “With 97% of trucks on the road operated by small businesses, family-owned companies are too often the ones hit hardest by these schemes.”

Trucking Groups Support the Measure

The bill has drawn support from trucking advocates, including the American Trucking Associations and the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association.

ATA Senior Vice President for Legislative Affairs Alex Rosen said truckers work with USDOT and FMCSA daily to maintain safety and compliance, but scammers exploit that relationship by posing as government agencies and selling unnecessary services.

“ATA strongly supports the Stop Scamming Truckers Act, which would help put an end to these deceptive and aggressive tactics,” Rosen said.

OOIDA President Todd Spencer said too many drivers have been misled into paying hundreds of dollars for registration services they could complete themselves.

“Truckers are the backbone of the American economy, working hard every day to comply with countless federal regulations while operating at the safest levels,” Spencer said. “They shouldn’t have to waste time and money dodging scammers.”

Gluesenkamp Perez recently raised the issue during a House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee hearing. Supporters say the bill is intended to help truckers stay focused on freight movement, compliance, and safety without being targeted by fake government-style notices.

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Semi-Truck Driver Seriously Injured in Missouri After Kenworth Fails to Navigate Curve and Overturns in Boone County

By
Kristina
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BOONE COUNTY, MISSOURI — A semi-truck driver was seriously injured Thursday evening after his truck failed to negotiate a curve, left the roadway, and overturned in Boone County, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

The crash happened around 5:51 p.m. on Route UU at Gillespie Bridge Road.

Truck Overturned After Leaving Roadway

According to MSHP, a 2007 Kenworth W9 was traveling north on Route UU when it failed to negotiate a curve and traveled off the right side of the road.

The semi-truck overturned, striking a road sign and an electric pole.

Driver Transported to Hospital

The driver, a 47-year-old man from Mountain View, Missouri, suffered serious injuries.

MSHP said he was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash. He was transported by EMS to University Hospital for treatment.

The crash remains under investigation.

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Three Children Killed After Ford Explorer Rear-Ends Parked Semi on I-65 in Northwest Indiana; Police Say Alcohol and Fatigue May Have Played Role, Adult and Child Critically Injured

By
Kristina
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LAKE COUNTY, INDIANA — Three children were killed and one child and one adult were critically injured overnight after a Ford Explorer crashed into a semi-trailer on Interstate 65 in Northwest Indiana, according to Indiana State Police and the Hobart Fire Department.

The crash happened around midnight Friday in the southbound lanes of I-65, about one mile south of Ridge Road. Hobart firefighters said they responded to a serious crash involving a passenger vehicle and a semi-truck.

Hobart Fire Department

SUV Rear-Ended Semi Trailer at High Speed

Indiana State Police said a blue Ford Explorer was blocking the right two lanes when troopers arrived. Investigators said the Explorer had rear-ended a white semi-trailer at high speed.

The semi-truck was parked on the right shoulder at the time while the driver attended to a mechanical issue, according to state police.

Investigators believe the Explorer’s driver, a 31-year-old woman from Gary, may have fallen asleep while driving and left the roadway before striking the trailer. Police also said alcohol may have been a factor.

The Explorer was catastrophically damaged in the crash. The semi-trailer was also damaged.

Children Killed and Critically Injured

State police said four children were inside the Explorer. Three of them were killed.

A child in the front passenger seat was ejected from the vehicle. Two children seated in the second row were also killed.

The fourth child, who was seated in the middle seat of the third row, suffered extremely critical injuries and was flown by UCAN medical helicopter to the University of Chicago Medical Center with possibly life-threatening injuries.

The adult driver was critically injured and taken by ambulance to Franciscan Hospital in Crown Point for treatment.

State police said none of the children were properly restrained. Because the children’s ages have not been released, it was not immediately clear whether that meant they were not wearing seat belts or were not in required child safety seats.

Investigation and Charges Pending

The crash shut down lanes of I-65 for several hours while emergency crews, investigators, the reconstruction team, and the Lake County Coroner’s Office worked the scene.

Hobart fire officials said three people were confirmed dead at the scene, with two additional patients found critically injured.

Indiana State Police said charges against the driver are pending.

No names or additional information have been released at this time. Law enforcement has taken over the investigation and will provide further updates when available.

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CHP Cites and Places Tractor-Trailer Driver Out of Service for Speeding Over 70 MPH in California’s 55 MPH Truck Zone

By
Kristina
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Tractor-Trailer Driver Out of Service for Speeding Over 70 MPH

WILLIAMS, CALIFORNIA — A semi-truck driver was cited and placed out of service after California Highway Patrol officers stopped a tractor-trailer for speeding in the Williams area.

The stop happened on May 14, 2026, when a CHP Williams Division officer stopped a semi-truck that was reportedly traveling over 70 mph, according to an image shared by state police.

CHP Reminds Truckers of 55 MPH Limit

CHP said the driver was cited following the high-speed stop and placed out of service.

The agency used the incident as a reminder that California’s speed limit for commercial vehicles, three-axle vehicles, and vehicles towing trailers is 55 mph.

Officials urged truck drivers and other covered motorists to slow down and drive safely.

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U.S. Department of Labor Orders Employers Hiring Foreign CDL Drivers to Clearly List English Proficiency Requirements in Applications

By
Kristina
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WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Labor is tightening English language requirements for employers seeking to hire foreign commercial vehicle drivers, requiring companies to clearly include English Language Proficiency standards in labor certification filings.

The new guidance was issued May 14 by the DOL’s Office of Foreign Labor Certification. It clarifies that employers applying to hire foreign workers as commercial vehicle operators must include an English Language Proficiency requirement in all job orders and applications for temporary or permanent labor certification.

Employers Must Include English Proficiency Standard

Under the guidance, employers that fail to include the required English proficiency standard will receive a Notice of Deficiency. Processing of the labor certification application will then be paused until the employer corrects the filing.

The new standard will take effect 30 days after the May 14 publication of the guidance.

Current Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration rules already prohibit drivers from operating commercial vehicles if they cannot read and speak English well enough to communicate with the public, understand highway traffic signs and signals, respond to official inquiries, and complete reports and records.

DOL said the new guidance is meant to create uniform requirements for employers seeking foreign workers as commercial motor vehicle operators and to support roadway safety.

Guidance Tied to Federal Trucking Orders

The Labor Department said the guidance addresses two issues: improving safety for commercial drivers and the motoring public, and advancing federal executive orders related to enforcing English-language requirements for truck drivers and designating English as the official language of the United States.

The related executive order states that English proficiency should be a safety requirement for professional drivers because truckers must be able to read traffic signs, communicate with law enforcement and checkpoint officers, respond to official inquiries, and receive directions from employers and customers.

The order also directed the U.S. Department of Transportation and FMCSA to revise enforcement guidance and work toward making English Language Proficiency violations an out-of-service issue for commercial drivers.

DOL Says FMCSA Still Handles Driver Testing

Acting Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling said enforcing existing English proficiency requirements is critical to roadway safety.

“Holding employers to existing English language proficiency requirements is critical to keeping Americans safe on our roads,” Sonderling said. “At President Trump’s direction, the Department of Labor is doing our part to ensure that foreign workers possess necessary English language skills to safely operate commercial motor vehicles.”

The DOL noted that FMCSA will continue to handle screening and testing for English proficiency.

Brian Kennedy, director of the Office of Foreign Labor Certification’s Office of Immigration Policy, said the Labor Department’s role is to make sure required qualifications are clearly listed in employer filings.

“As part of our responsibility to review job orders and labor certification applications for compliance with federal law, the Department of Labor ensures required qualifications – such as the English language proficiency standard—are clearly stated in employer filings,” Kennedy said. “This helps promote safety for everyone through regulatory compliance while ensuring clarity and consistency for workers, employers, and federal partners.”

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FMCSA Allows Non-Domiciled CDLs for Citizens of Freely Associated States; Five-Year Exemption Covers Micronesia, Marshall Islands, and Palau Citizens Living in the U.S.

By
Kristina
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WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration announced on May 14, 2026, that it will allow all State Driver’s Licensing Agencies to issue non-domiciled commercial driver’s licenses and commercial learner’s permits to citizens of Freely Associated States who reside in the United States — a five-year exemption that partially grants a request from the Hawaii Department of Transportation.

Freely Associated States citizens include individuals from the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau. To qualify, applicants must hold a valid, unexpired passport issued by an FAS and a Form I-94 or I-94A.

FMCSA partially denied HDOT’s request, declining to allow FAS citizens to receive a standard CDL rather than a non-domiciled CDL. The May 14 action also supersedes a 2024 exemption granted to the Oregon Department of Transportation that had allowed Oregon to issue standard CLPs and CDLs to FAS citizens under similar document requirements.

Under the Compacts of Free Association, FAS citizens hold a unique status due to the role their nations play in supporting the United States security presence in the Pacific Islands region. FAS citizens are permitted to join the U.S. military and may live and work in the United States as lawful nonimmigrants without a visa.

“FMCSA concludes that granting the exemption is likely to achieve a level of safety equivalent to or greater than the level of safety that would be achieved absent the exemption,” the agency said.

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Tire Detaches From Northbound Semi-Truck, Crosses I-5 Median and Strikes Southbound Minivan Head-On; Driver Injured

By
Kristina
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0

VANCOUVER, WASHINGTON — A minivan driver was injured Thursday morning after a tire came off a semi-truck on Interstate 5 and struck the vehicle during the morning commute, according to the Vancouver Fire Department.

The crash happened just after 7:30 a.m. on I-5 just north of Mill Plain Boulevard.

Tire Crossed Into Opposing Traffic

Vancouver Fire said the tire detached from a northbound semi-truck and hit a southbound minivan.

Firefighter-paramedics evaluated and treated the minivan driver at the scene. Officials said the driver suffered moderate injuries and was later transported by American Medical Response to a local hospital for further care.

I-5 Backups Reported

The crash caused traffic backups in both directions of I-5 during the morning commute.

The Washington State Patrol is investigating.

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Ontario Commercial Vehicle Blitz Finds 8-Ton Steel Roll Falling Through Damaged Trailer; 40 Charges Issued and Four Trucks Out of Service

By
Kristina
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MARATHON, ONTARIO — Dozens of charges were issued during a recent commercial vehicle enforcement effort in Ontario after inspectors found multiple safety violations, including one case where an 8-ton steel roll was falling through a damaged trailer.

The enforcement operation was conducted over a recent May weekend by a Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance-certified officer from the Marathon Detachment, according to the Ontario Provincial Police North West Region.

Inspection Blitz Finds Serious Safety Issues

Officials said the proactive commercial motor vehicle enforcement effort was aimed at improving road safety across Ontario highways.

In just a few days, officers completed six inspections, laid 40 charges, issued 16 warnings, and placed four commercial vehicles out of service due to safety concerns.

OPP said some of the violations were significant. In one case, an 8-ton steel roll was actively falling through its trailer because of severe frame damage, creating a serious risk to public safety.

OPP Says Inspections Prevent Roadside Hazards

Ontario Provincial Police said the operation highlights the importance of CVSA inspections in identifying unsafe commercial vehicles before they cause crashes or injuries.

“These efforts demonstrate the critical role CVSA inspections play in identifying unsafe vehicles and preventing potentially dangerous situations before they result in harm. Keeping our roads safe remains a top priority,” OPP said.

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Nationwide Survey Asks Truck Drivers to Report Suspected Illegal Cabotage by Foreign B-1 Visa Truckers as Study Measures Impact on U.S. Freight and Driver Pay

By
Kristina
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WASHINGTON, D.C. — The American Transportation Research Institute is asking truck drivers and motor carriers to report where and when they are witnessing illegal cabotage, as part of a new study to measure the economic impact unauthorized foreign trucking activity has on the U.S. trucking industry.

ATRI unveiled the survey on May 14, 2026. Cabotage laws prohibit Mexican and Canadian B-1 visa-holding truck drivers from delivering freight between two points both located inside the United States. While B-1 visa holders are generally allowed to make one pickup or delivery in the U.S., ATRI said anecdotal evidence suggests some foreign drivers are actively conducting ongoing business throughout the U.S. beyond the border commercial zones.

“Cabotage laws were created to protect U.S. jobs and ensure that a level playing field exists,” said Kaitlyn Holmecki, American Trucking Associations’ Director of International Policy. “When illegal low-cost transportation services undercut domestic freight operations, the entire trucking industry pays the price.”

Survey results will be used to develop an economic model calculating the real costs and impacts cabotage has on U.S. truck drivers and fleets. All responses will be kept strictly confidential and used only in summary statistics.

The survey follows recent enforcement actions by U.S. Border Patrol. In March 2026, a Mexican truck driver’s B-1/B-2 visa was revoked after agents found he had transported produce from Yuma, Arizona to Grandview, Washington. Earlier this month, another Mexican driver’s visa was revoked after he was found hauling commodities from Nogales, Arizona to Laredo, Texas.

The survey is open through Friday, June 12, 2026, and can be accessed here.

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Pennsylvania Truck Driver Terminated by Text, Steals Company Semi Seconds Later — GPS Tracks Him Down on I-476, State Police Stop Him Before He Reaches Philadelphia

By
Kristina
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PINE CREEK TOWNSHIP, PENNSYLVANIA — A 37-year-old Philadelphia truck driver is facing felony charges after he allegedly stole a company semi-truck immediately following his termination and drove it toward Philadelphia before GPS tracking led state police to stop him on Interstate 476.

The incident occurred at approximately 7:30 a.m. at a business on Service Center Road in Pine Creek Township. The company notified Michael Jamar White of his termination via message while he was on the property and began arranging a ride to take him back to Philadelphia. Before the ride could be arranged, White allegedly took a green 2017 Freightliner Cascadia from the property. The truck is valued at $30,000. White had no load to transport — he had just been fired.

The company used the truck’s installed GPS device to track its movement and contacted Pennsylvania State Police. The truck traveled east on Interstate 80 and then south on Interstate 476. State Police from the King of Prussia barracks stopped the truck at mile marker 40.7 with White behind the wheel.

White was taken into custody and charged with theft by unlawful taking — a third-degree felony, receiving stolen property — a third-degree felony, and unauthorized use of motor vehicles — a second-degree misdemeanor. He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on July 2 at 10:45 a.m. before Magisterial District Judge Gregory M. Bazylak.

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