Sponsors (2)
The bill strengthens national-security oversight and DoD accountability over who moves military freight, but does so by imposing new registration, recordkeeping, and verification requirements that raise costs, can exclude small carriers, create operational delays, and introduce regulatory and privacy risks.
Government contractors, motor carriers, and taxpayers: reduced supply-chain risk and stronger national-security oversight because carriers with ties to designated Chinese military companies are excluded and a centralized registry lets DoD/DOT vet and monitor who moves sensitive military freight.
Department of Defense, federal auditors, and carriers: clearer, centralized eligibility and documented compliance (five-year recordkeeping) simplifies onboarding for DoD shipments and aids audits and accountability.
Government contractors: stronger deterrence of fraud because false certifications can trigger suspension/debarment and criminal or civil penalties, protecting taxpayer-funded logistics programs.
Transportation companies, owner-operators, and small businesses: new and ongoing compliance costs and administrative burden to perform reasonable inquiry, register, and retain certifications for five years, raising operating expenses.
Small subcontractors and independent carriers: risk of being excluded from DoD freight markets if they cannot practically verify they lack ties to listed Chinese military companies, reducing competition and income opportunities.
Department of Defense and carriers: integrating the registry, certifications, and enforcement into approval processes could reduce the pool of available carriers or slow approvals, increasing costs or causing delays in DoD shipments.
Based on analysis of 3 sections of legislative text.
Requires carriers transporting DoD cargo to certify they are not owned/controlled by or in significant business relationships with DoD-listed Chinese military companies and creates a national security registry.
Requires motor carriers and related parties that transport Department of Defense freight to certify they are not owned, controlled by, or in a significant business relationship with Chinese military companies on DoD’s covered list, to pass that requirement down to subcontractors, and to retain certifications for five years. It also creates a new national security registry for motor carriers handling DoD cargo and directs the Secretary of Defense to issue implementing regulations within 180 days and integrate the rule into existing carrier approval processes.
Official title: To ensure secure transport of Department of Defense freight, and for other purposes.
Introduced March 12, 2026 by Elise M. Stefanik · Last progress March 12, 2026