H.R. 7539: Safety and Accountability in Freight Enforcement Act

The "Safety and Accountability in Freight Enforcement Act" (SAFE Act) proposes measures aimed at addressing issues related to so-called "chameleon carriers." These are companies in the freight industry that operate under new names or identities to evade regulatory scrutiny, compliance requirements, or previous negative safety records. Here’s a breakdown of what the bill entails:

Report on Chameleon Carriers

Within one year of the bill's enactment, the Comptroller General of the United States is required to provide a report to Congress that will include:

• The estimated number of chameleon carriers on U.S. roads.
• A historical analysis of the prevalence of these carriers since a previous report by the Government Accountability Office in 2012.
• Statistics on fatalities and serious injuries linked to chameleon carriers, along with associated property damage assessments.
• An examination of the techniques used by chameleon carriers to bypass federal enforcement actions.
• A review of the Department of Transportation's existing monitoring and enforcement capabilities, identifying any shortcomings.
• Recommendations for legislative changes to better address the issue of chameleon carriers.

Advanced Automation Tool

The bill mandates the development of an advanced automation tool within one year to assist in detecting potential chameleon carrier applications. The tool is intended to:

• Identify characteristics indicative of chameleon carriers, helping authorities understand if a new company is created to evade rules.
• Monitor lapses in insurance coverage for these companies.
• Facilitate automated information sharing between federal agencies to improve detection capabilities.

The tool must also provide decision support for registration applications while retaining human oversight for final determinations. It will include a process for appealing decisions based on the tool's assessments.

Collaboration

The bill emphasizes collaboration with other federal and state agencies, as well as educational institutions and private sector entities, to develop both the report and the automation tool.

Data Privacy and Auditing

Stringent data privacy measures are outlined to protect information used by the automation tool. Additionally, the Inspector General of the Department of Transportation will conduct an audit of the tool's effectiveness within two years of its implementation, reporting on its impact and suggesting improvements.

Definition of Chameleon Carrier

The legislation provides a specific definition of a "chameleon carrier," including various actions that would classify a freight company as such, like attempting to evade compliance with federal orders or misrepresenting operational continuity to obtain insurance.

Relevant Companies

None found.