U.S. Congress proposes action against freight fraud and theft

Congressional proposals to address freight fraud and cargo theft

Congress is proposing multiple legislative efforts to address freight fraud, cargo theft, and abusive practices in trucking, with an emphasis on enforcement authority and regulatory clarity.

SAFER Transport Act (HR 8627)

The SAFER Transport Act introduced by U.S. Rep. Brad Knott would expand the ability of the U.S. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to detect and penalize freight fraud, modernize carrier registration systems, and strengthen enforcement coordination across the Department of Transportation, Department of Justice, and Customs & Border Protection. The bill creates new criminal penalties for registration fraud, establishes a Freight Fraud and Theft Advisory Committee, and formalizes interagency data sharing.

Companion legislation (S 2938) has been introduced in the U.S. Senate by Sen. Todd Young signaling bicameral momentum behind freight‑specific anti‑fraud reforms.

Safety and Accountability in Freight Enforcement Act (HR 7539)

Separate U.S. House legislation introduced by Rep. Harriet Hageman reflects continued focus on preventing double brokering, carrier identity manipulation, and fraudulent carrier activity by tightening the FMCSA registration and licensing framework.

Double brokering is when a carrier contracts with a broker to haul a load and illegally subcontracts it to another carrier without the broker’s knowledge.

These proposals are targeted at operational fraud within trucking markets and align closely with concerns around chameleon carriers and sham carrier registrations.

Combating Organized Retail Crime Act (HR 2853)

CORCA approaches fraud from a different angle, focusing on large‑scale organized theft networks that drive downstream cargo theft and supply chain disruption. Unlike the Knott and Hageman bills, which center on carrier registration enforcement and FMCSA authority, CORCA emphasizes coordination among law enforcement and retail operations rather than transportation‑specific regulatory reform. CORCA currently has an impressive 206 bi-partisan co-sponsors in the House.

Transportation bills outlook

Together, these bills reflect growing congressional consensus that freight fraud and cargo theft pose systemic safety and economic risks. While the proposals differ in scope and mechanism, they collectively point toward increased enforcement coordination, stronger penalties, and sustained legislative attention. However, the extreme gridlock in Congress due to an evenly split U.S. House and the approaching mid-term elections likely means these bills will not have a path passage until after November 2026.

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