Bill · S. 5150· Senate(119-S-5150)
SAFE Act
- Introduced
- 7/28/2026
- Last activity
- 7/28/2026 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
- Sponsored by
- Todd Young
- Cosponsors
- - 0 - 1
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Safety and Accountability in Freight Enforcement Act, or the "SAFE Act," targets "chameleon carriers" that use new identities to evade regulations or insurance requirements. The bill requires the Comptroller General to conduct a study to examine the prevalence and impact of these carriers on United States roadways. Additionally, it mandates that the Administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration develop and implement an advanced automation tool. This tool is designed to help enforcement personnel detect chameleon carrier applications during the USDOT number registration process. The Act also establishes an appeals process for individuals denied a USDOT number based on the tool's findings. Finally, it requires an audit to determine the effectiveness of the new automation tool.
Yes· 3 of 7
Does this repair or build roads and bridges?+5
By targeting unsafe 'chameleon carriers,' the bill indirectly improves the safety of highway infrastructure and public roadways.
Does this make it easier to do business across state lines?+4
The regulation of motor carriers promotes fairer and safer interstate commerce by targeting fraudulent entities.
Does this give the federal government more power?+3
The bill expands the investigative and automated enforcement capabilities of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
The opposite
Would business owners be better off under this?-2
Legitimate motor carriers may face increased scrutiny or potential errors from the new automation tool.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Increased Roadway Safety: The bill seeks to identify and mitigate "chameleon carriers" which, according to the study requirements, may be linked to fatalities, serious bodily injuries, and property damage (Section 3(b)(3)-(5)).
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Enhanced Detection of Evaders: The development of an advanced automation tool is intended to help personnel detect entities attempting to avoid Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration orders, regulatory requirements, or negative compliance histories (Section 2(3)(A) and Section 4(a)).
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Improved Insurance Oversight: The tool will be able to detect lapses in insurance coverage and identify entities attempting to evade increased premiums or policy cancellations through new identities (Section 2(3)(B) and Section 4(c)(1)-(2)).
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Standardized Oversight: By requiring a study of the methods used by these carriers, the bill aims to identify shortcomings in the current Department of Transportation monitoring and enforcement capabilities (Section 3(b)(7)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Risk of Incorrect Denials: While the tool provides automated decision support, it carries the possibility of errors, necessitating a required appeals process for those denied a USDOT number (Section 4(c)(4) and Section 4(d)(1)).
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Administrative Burdens for Applicants: Individuals denied a USDOT number due to a flag from the tool must follow a specific notification and correction process to seek redetermination (Section 4(d)(2)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Interstate Commerce+4Improves Due Process+3Increases Federal Power+3Improves Government Transparency+2
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Improves Roads And Bridges+5
- Economy And Finance
- Improves Consumer Protection+3
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Business Owners-2
- Education And Technology
- Improves Data Privacy+2
- 7/28/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in Senate
Andy KimDemocrat · New Jersey