New Bill Would Require Active USDOT Numbers for Commercial Carriers

Federal lawmakers are proposing new enforcement authority aimed at motor carriers that continue operating after their USDOT registration is no longer active.

The Registration Enforcement for Vehicle Operations of Known Evaders Act, or REVOKE Act, was introduced by Reps. Dave Taylor of Ohio and Shomari Figures of Alabama. The bipartisan proposal would amend federal transportation law to explicitly require an active USDOT number for operations that require federal registration.

Under the bill, the U.S. Department of Transportation could issue an active USDOT number only after determining that the carrier or other applicant meets all registration requirements.

The legislation would also require the Transportation Secretary to immediately inactivate a USDOT number when an employer or other registered person no longer has valid registration or fails to submit required periodic updates.

The lawmakers say the proposal is intended to target so-called “chameleon carriers” — companies that attempt to evade federal oversight by changing identities or registrations and continuing operations.