Quick Overview

  • A new bill called the Ghost Truck Act would restrict the ability to modify ELD records, allowing changes only by individuals physically located in North America, aiming to enhance safety.
  • U.S. Representatives Greg Steube (Florida) and Dave Taylor (Ohio) stated they have introduced the legislation to prevent overseas dispatchers from falsifying drivers' hours-of-service records. The bill was referred to the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on Thursday.
  • "Reports exposed how overseas actors falsify driver logs, causing truck drivers to work beyond safety limits and evade responsibility when tragedies occur," Steube said in the announcement. "The Ghost Truck Act closes this loophole and helps keep our roads safe."

In-Depth Analysis

Lawmakers noted that current law does not explicitly prohibit overseas personnel from editing or annotating ELD records, which undermines safety measures on U.S. roads designed to address driver fatigue.

"If U.S. drivers or dispatchers tamper with records leading to fatal accidents, they may face significant legal consequences, while foreign actors often escape similar accountability," the two representatives said.

According to Alex Rosen, Senior Vice President of Legislative Affairs at the American Trucking Associations (ATA), ELD tampering is a growing problem. Supporters further link the issue to regions outside the U.S., such as Eastern Europe and Asia.

According to the announcement, the bill is supported by the American Trucking Associations, the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, the Florida Trucking Association, the Truckload Carriers Association, the National Motor Freight Traffic Association, and the National Tank Truck Carriers.

These industry groups further emphasized the issue in the bill announcement. For example, Ryan Streblow, President and CEO of the National Tank Truck Carriers, noted the need to maintain record compliance and protect drivers from undue pressure. Debbie Sparks, Executive Director of the National Motor Freight Traffic Association, stated that stakeholders must be able to trust the accuracy of hours-of-service records and ensure they are protected from unauthorized tampering.

"Importantly, the bill ensures that drivers have final approval over any modification suggestions made by their carriers," said Todd Spencer, President and CEO of the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, adding that these provisions will help "improve highway safety, reduce driver coercion, and help combat freight fraud."