Key Takeaways

  • A new proposal called the Ghostruck Act would restrict who can edit electronic logging device (ELD) data, requiring that edits be made by someone physically located in North America, in an effort to improve road safety.
  • U.S. Reps. Greg Steube (R-Fla.) and Dave Taylor (R-Ohio) said they 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.
  • "Investigative reports have exposed how overseas individuals falsify driver logs, pressure truckers to work beyond safe limits, and evade accountability when tragedy strikes," Steube said in an announcement. "The Ghostruck Act closes this loophole and helps keep our roads safe."

Deep Dive

Lawmakers noted that current law does not explicitly prohibit overseas individuals from editing or annotating ELD records, which jeopardizes U.S. road safety, a mechanism designed to address driver fatigue.

"If a U.S. driver or dispatcher tampers with records linked to a fatal crash, they face significant legal consequences, while overseas individuals often evade similar accountability," the two congressmen 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 linked 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 (ATA), the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA), 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 recordkeeping compliance and protect drivers from undue pressure. Debbie Sparks, executive director of the National Motor Freight Traffic Association, said 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 proposed changes made by their carriers," Todd Spencer, president and CEO of the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, also said, adding that these provisions would help 'improve highway safety, reduce driver coercion, and help combat freight fraud.'