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Adds two new subsections (k) and (l) to prohibit (k) certain foreign-domiciled motor carriers and motor private carriers from transporting domestic point-to-point cargo within the United States, and (l) motor carriers from knowingly transporting domestic cargo in commercial motor vehicles operated by aliens not authorized by USCIS for employment that includes driving such vehicles.
Modifies subparagraph structure by expanding references to include a new subparagraph (C), redesignating existing (C) as (D), and inserts a new subparagraph (C) requiring States issuing commercial learner’s permits or commercial driver’s licenses to non-citizen/non-lawful permanent residents to confirm work authorization, provide information to FMCSA, and align license expiration with work authorization expiration.
Adds new section 31318 requiring monthly reports from States issuing commercial driver’s licenses to the Secretary of Transportation on specified counts and justifications.
Adds a requirement that freight forwarders have been issued a USDOT number under section 31134 by inserting a new paragraph (3) to subsection (a).
Adds a requirement that brokers have been issued a USDOT number under section 31134 by inserting a new paragraph (3) to subsection (a).
Revises definitions in section 31132: changes introductory punctuation, modifies cross-references, inserts paragraph headings and defined terms (including 'Administration', 'convicted', 'conviction', 'covered felony', 'Secretary', and 'USDOT number'), redesignates paragraph numbering, and adds a definition for 'USDOT number'.
Substantially revises section 31134 to establish registration procedures and require USDOT numbers: reorganizes and renumbers subsections, defines registration requirements, makes USDOT number the required and sole unique identifier for registration, allows withholding or revocation of registration for covered felony convictions, requires ownership-change notification within 30 days, and adjusts cross-references.
Modifies subsection (a)(4) to add that the Secretary may withhold registration from a registrant convicted of a covered felony (as defined in section 31132) relating to motor carrier operations or use of a commercial motor vehicle.
Alters an internal cross-reference by striking 'paragraph (1)' and inserting 'paragraph (2)'.
Updates a cross-reference in sec. 224(b) of the Motor Carrier Safety Improvement Act of 1999 by changing 'section 31132(1)(B)' to 'section 31132(2)(B)'.
And 8 more affected sections...
Requires refunds to certain cargo-theft victims who paid fines for unsealed containers and creates new criminal penalties for knowingly submitting false DOT-related certifications used in interstate transport. It tightens rules and registrations across the freight industry: adds requirements for foreign dispatch services, redefines and narrows who may act as freight brokers, phases out separate MC numbers in favor of a single USDOT number over five years, and builds new fraud-detection and automated review tools for carrier/broker registrations. Also requires states to verify noncitizen work authorization before issuing commercial learner’s permits or commercial driver’s licenses and to report commercial license data monthly; establishes an industry advisory committee on freight fraud and theft; mandates an MOU between DOT and DOJ for information sharing; and bans certain foreign-domiciled carriers and unauthorized workers from doing point-to-point domestic trucking inside the U.S. Implementation deadlines range from 60 days to five years for different provisions.
The bill strengthens oversight, anti-fraud measures, and safety by standardizing registrations, improving data-sharing, and tightening provider and driver verification—at the cost of substantial new compliance burdens, privacy and due-process risks, possible reduced competition, and concentrated new
Shippers, carriers, and businesses will face improved prevention, detection, and response to freight theft and fraud (including a tip/referral channel, interagency data sharing, committee recommendations, and in some cases refunds for fines), reducing losses and improving recovery prospects.
Motor carriers, brokers, freight forwarders, and users gain clearer, more uniform registration rules and statutory definitions (who qualifies as a broker/carrier, single USDOT number, tied statutory terms), reducing legal uncertainty and making it easier to verify regulated entities.
Carriers and brokers and the public get more reliable records and anti-fraud protections through standardized record formats, principal-place accessibility, automated fraud-flagging and guidance, making it easier to verify who is authorized and to remove impersonators quickly.
Prospective commercial drivers and the traveling public benefit from stronger oversight of driver training providers (public registry, audits, disclosure of ownership, and faster complaint resolution), improving training quality and reducing fraudulent providers.
Carriers, brokers, training providers, technology platforms, and many small businesses face sizable new compliance costs and administrative burdens (registration changes, standardized records, audits, credential checks, system updates) that can raise operating costs and shipping prices.
Drivers, owners, and businesses face increased legal uncertainty, privacy risks, and potential enforcement overreach from broader criminal/registration grounds, centralized federal identifiers/datasets, automated flagging, and expanded data-sharing without guaranteed safeguards.
Shippers, consumers, and some carriers could see reduced competition and fewer marketplace options (foreign dispatch services exiting, tighter broker definitions, limits on point-to-point foreign carriers, tech platforms excluded), which may raise freight costs on some routes.
Individuals and small operators risk harsh criminal penalties for inaccurate or incomplete DOT/transport paperwork (felony exposure, prison time) even when errors are unintentional, imposing severe personal and business consequences.
Requires the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection to reimburse victims of cargo theft under 18 U.S.C. § 659 for fines they paid to CBP for containers that were not sealed as required by regulations under 6 U.S.C. § 944.
Establishes the official short title for the Act as the "Securing American Freight, Enforcement, and Reliability in Transport Act" and permits citation by the abbreviation "SAFER Transport Act."
Defines “fraudulent certification” as any statement, representation, or omission of fact (including in writing or documents) that is material, known by the submitter or user to be false, fictitious, misleading, or incomplete, and is submitted or used in connection with registration, certification, filing, or compliance requirements administered under chapters 5, 311, 313, or 315 of title 49, United States Code.
Creates a criminal offense for any person who knowingly and willfully submits or uses a fraudulent certification and, by means of that certification or authority obtained from it, engages or attempts to engage in unlawful transportation of property or passengers in interstate commerce.
Authorizes punishment for the offense by fine under title 18, United States Code, imprisonment for not more than 5 years, or both.
Who is affected and how:
Motor carriers, brokers, and freight forwarders: Face major regulatory changes, new registration requirements, migration to a single USDOT number, potential registration suspensions or revocations for fraud, new disclosure duties for relationships with foreign dispatch services, and tighter limits on who may offer brokerage services. Businesses will incur compliance costs for registration changes, recordkeeping, and responding to audits or fraud flags.
Drivers and transportation workers: Noncitizen drivers must have verified work authorization before receiving commercial permits/licenses; carriers may be barred from using unauthorized drivers for point-to-point domestic work. Driver training providers must register and may be audited or removed for violations.
Foreign dispatch services: Those based outside the U.S., Canada, or Mexico are newly regulated; they must register as brokers when doing covered activities and limit their operations to administrative coordination and brokered communications.
States and licensing agencies: Must add work-authorization checks tied to commercial licensing, align license expirations with authorization, and submit monthly reporting to DOT. These duties create administrative workload and potential costs without dedicated federal funding identified in the text.
Federal agencies (FMCSA, DOT, CBP, DOJ): Will implement new systems, automated fraud detection, registration consolidation, interagency MOUs, and enforcement procedures. FMCSA must revise regulations, manage registries, and coordinate with CBP/DOJ; CBP must issue refunds to certain cargo-theft victims. These tasks will increase operational and IT workload.
Cargo-shipment victims and insurers: Victims previously fined under sealing rules are eligible for refunds; insurers and carriers may see changes in liability and enforcement outcomes.
Potential risks and tradeoffs:
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Introduced February 26, 2026 by Todd Young · Last progress February 26, 2026
Expand sections to see detailed analysis
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Introduced in Senate