Federal Department of Transportation leaders highlighted regulatory lapses Friday regarding the trucking industry credentialing systems, saying unqualified commercial drivers are making the roads less safe.
Officials said they are working to strengthen identification and business location requirements surrounding a DOT number, a unique identifier required for interstate commerce that provides safety history of a business’ fleet.
“To further disrupt this network, we are restoring principal place of business enforcement,” FMCSA Administrator Derek Barrs said at a news conference. "We've got to unmask chameleon carriers.”
Chameleon carriers are switching DOT numbers and names when safety issues arise. When there’s a problem, they take on a new DOT number, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said at the news conference.
“You can’t have 200 DOT numbers going to a P.O. box,” Duffy said.
As part of the agency’s response, the agency is moving to raise standards about how businesses maintain their records: Carriers will have to have a physical location where records can be inspected within 48 hours, according to an FMCSA handout.
The agency is also raising the stakes for violations for English proficiency violations, shifting from out-of-service penalties to revoking licenses, the handout said.
The agency also initiated three rules Friday, Barrs said. They include codifying enhanced procedures for suspensions and revocations; ensuring applicant carriers are thoroughly knowledgeable about safety requirements before they become a new entrant carrier; and adding testing for brokers to ensure their qualifications.
Duffy also noted safety concerns with non-domiciled CDLs and CDL mills, and Barrs said FMCSA will work to bring a new rule to end the self-certification process of commercial driving schools. The agency will also initiate rulemaking to require knowledge written tests are done in English to ensure “all drivers can understand road signs,” Barrs said.
Additionally, SafeDRIVE campaign efforts will continue, with widespread enforcement that’s not announced in advance. And the agency will initiate rulemaking to target non-compliant ELDs.
The government will also use its Motus registration system, a more modern system that’s being implemented this year, following an initial rollout last December.
