(ROCHESTER, NY) - Today, Senator Jeremy Cooney (D-Rochester), Chair of the New York State Senate Transportation Committee, called on the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) to ramp up enforcement efforts against so-called “chameleon carriers.” According to recent reporting by CBS News’ 60 Minutes, chameleon carriers are companies that change their name and federal identification number after accruing too many safety violations. By implementing this simple change, these companies fly under the radar and avoid federal safety regulations. 

“Fraudulent trucking companies are running rampant on our roads,” said Senator Cooney. “The safety of New York drivers, and drivers nationwide, is at risk as long as these companies continue to disregard federal regulations. I’m urging USDOT to act to rein in these bad actors and help our state agencies better detect and prepare to hold chameleon carriers accountable.” 

There were more than 5,300 truck-related deaths in 2024 nationwide and a firm, Fusable, recently calculated that chameleon carriers are four times more likely to be involved in a crash. It’s been reported that there are potentially thousands of these companies operating nationwide, with most parent companies being based outside the country in places like Eastern Europe. Violations by these companies range from poor maintenance and excessive driving hours to drug and alcohol use by drivers.

The process for renaming a company only takes 21 days from start to finish. A company that has incurred safety violations can be operated anywhere in the world, pay $1,000 online, and receive a new federal ID. These IDs are used to track a company’s past violations, so once a new name and ID are acquired, the same company now receives a clean slate. 

Senator Cooney sent a letter to USDOT urging the department to hire more investigators, investigate bad actors, and provide state transportation departments like the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) with the resources needed to target these companies during their own state inspections. Senator Cooney also wrote a letter to NYSDOT to encourage the Department to hold carriers accountable during the inspection process. 

A full copy of Senator Cooney’s letter to USDOT can be found below: 

Dear Secretary Duffy:

        I write in my capacity as Chair of the New York State Senate Transportation Committee in response to recent reporting outlining the fraudulent activities of trucking companies, like those operated by Super Ego Holding. These companies have been referred to as “chameleon carriers” or carriers that have changed their name and USDOT identification number to hide past safety violations and create a clean slate for their operations. 

        This loophole is extremely dangerous for American drivers. There were over 5,300 truck-related deaths in 2024, and a firm found that chameleon carriers are four times more likely than other carriers to be involved in a crash on our roads. Estimates state that there are potentially thousands of these carriers on the road, and that the vast majority are operated by non-American based companies. 

        With the safety of our drivers in peril, I respectfully ask that the U.S. Department of Transportation take reasonable measures to investigate the prevalence of these companies, hire more investigators with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to prevent bad actors from getting approved by the Department, and provide state transportation departments, like the New York State Department of Transportation, with the resources and background information necessary to target these chameleon carriers during their own inspection processes. 

        Thank you for your attention to this pressing matter. I look forward to your response so that we can ensure the safety of drivers in New York and throughout the nation. 

Sincerely,

Jeremy A. Cooney

Chairman, NYS Senate Transportation Committee

A full copy of Senator Cooney’s letter to NYSDOT can be found below: 

Dear Commissioner Dominguez:

       I write in my capacity as Chair of the New York State Senate Transportation Committee in response to recent reporting outlining the fraudulent activities of trucking companies, like those operated by Super Ego Holding. These companies have been referred to as “chameleon carriers” or carriers that have changed their name and USDOT identification number to hide past safety violations and create a clean slate for their operations. 

        This loophole is extremely dangerous for American drivers. There were over 5,300 truck-related deaths in 2024, and a firm found that chameleon carriers are four times more likely than other carriers to be involved in a crash on our roads. Estimates state that there are potentially thousands of these carriers on the road, and that the vast majority are operated by non-American based companies. 

        While the responsibility of investigating these chameleon carriers falls on the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT), I write today to respectfully urge you to contact your federal partners and request that they share details on the ownership of these carriers so that your Department can proactively prioritize these companies when conducting state inspections. Having this information is paramount so that New York can do everything it can to hold these carriers accountable for all violations that come up during regularly conducted state inspections. I also ask that should USDOT fail to hold these companies responsible, that your Department ramp up enforcement activities and utilize all available resources to ensure New Yorkers’ safety.

        Thank you for your attention to this pressing matter. 

Sincerely,

Jeremy A. Cooney

Chairman, NYS Senate Transportation Committee

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