Since the horrific crash in Florida in August of 2025 involving an illegal immigrant truck driver, Republicans have been laser-focused on getting drivers who cannot speak English or read road signs off of America's highways. It is just another consequence of Joe Biden's open borders that Americans are having to clean up. But now, Republicans have some pretty significant support in the form of one of the nation's most influential labor unions.
I thank the @Teamsters for their support of my bill to crack down on chameleon carriers.
— Rep. Harriet Hageman (@RepHageman) March 17, 2026
The SAFE Act will help the @USDOT identify bad actors to protect American truckers and keep dangerous, unqualified drivers off our roads 🛑 pic.twitter.com/HH8JJEdJ94
The International Brotherhood of Teamsters has thrown its support behind the Safety and Accountability in Freight Enforcement (SAFE) Act. Introduced by Republican Rep. Harriet Hageman (WY-at large), the SAFE Act would eliminate the increasing incidence of so-called "chameleon carriers." These are trucking companies and carriers that, when they are shut down under one name, reopen and resume business under a new name.
On Tuesday, Teamsters' General President Sean O'Brien made the announcement that the union would be supporting the bill, saying:
“Chameleon carriers have gone unchecked for decades, harming and weakening America’s trucking industry. These unscrupulous operators jeopardize the safety of everyone on our roadways and threaten the livelihoods of truck drivers who follow the rules. The Teamsters commend Rep. Hageman for taking an aggressive stance to rein in the worst of the worst in the trucking industry, and we strongly endorse the SAFE Act.”
Chameleon carriers are usually trucking companies that rotate out Department of Transportation (DOT) registration numbers or names of company ownership to avoid any sort of enforcement of irregularities. Once the company is shut down under one set of names and numbers, they reopen under new names and registration numbers using the same equipment and staff. If the SAFE Act becomes law, it would establish an automation tool designed to detect chameleon carriers during the registration process. It would also initiate better coordination between federal and state agencies to identify these carriers, plus mandate a nationwide study and human review to preserve due process. Hageman said of the proposed bill:
“These companies game the system, ignore the law, and put American families at risk, all while punishing hardworking truckers who follow the rules. If a trucking company racks up violations or loses its license, it should not get to slap on a new name and get back on the road.”
Rob dug pretty deep on this. The chameleon carrier network is massive. Sham companies, sham CDL mills, sham ELDs, the works. If it actually gets shut down, and their drivers have their CDLs revoked, it could have a massive impact on the Chicago freight scene. https://t.co/Ut8wq1Wsrq
— SuperTrucker 🚛💨→💻 (@supertrucker) February 8, 2026
ALSO READ: ICE Nabs Illegal Alien Trucker Let Loose by Biden After Crash That Killed Amish Family Members
Since the most recent crash involving an illegal immigrant trucker, an Indiana crash that killed four, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has shut down four chameleon carriers. The Teamsters are not the only organization backing Rep. Hageman's bill; the American Trucking Associations has also come out in support of the bill.
The Teamsters know it's just common sense to back a bill that not only is in the best interests of rank and file members, but is ultimately about safety for everyone on the road.
This is a carrier who was put out of service in September of 2025. Still operating. https://t.co/Etz6Kqsy4a
— Trucking Made Successful (@TMSuccessful) March 13, 2026
Editor's Note: Thanks to President Trump, illegal immigration into our great country has virtually stopped. Despite the radical left's lies, new legislation wasn't needed to secure our border, just a new president.
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