H.R. 8267

119 HR 8267 IH: Securing American Freight, Enforcement, and Reliability in Transport Act
 U.S. House of Representatives
 2026-04-14
 text/xml
 EN
 Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.
 I  119th CONGRESS  2d Session  H. R. 8267  IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES   April 14, 2026   Mr. Knott  introduced the following bill; which was referred to the  Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure , and in addition to the Committees on  the Judiciary , and  Homeland Security , for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned   A BILL
To amend title 49, United States Code, to combat freight fraud and theft, and for other purposes.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the   Securing American Freight, Enforcement, and Reliability in Transport Act   or the   SAFER Transport Act  .
2.
Definitions
In this Act:
(1)
Administration
The term  Administration  means the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
(2)
Administrator
The term  Administrator  means the Administrator of the Administration.
(3)
Appropriate committees of Congress
The term  appropriate committees of Congress  means—
(A)
the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate; and
(B)
the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives.
(4)
Broker
The term  broker  has the meaning given the term in section 13102 of title 49, United States Code.
(5)
Department
The term  Department  means the Department of Transportation.
(6)
Freight forwarder
The term  freight forwarder  has the meaning given the term in section 13102 of title 49, United States Code.
(7)
MC number
The term  MC number  means a motor carrier docket number issued by the Administration.
(8)
Motor carrier
The term  motor carrier  has the meaning given the term in section 13102 of title 49, United States Code.
(9)
Secretary
The term  Secretary  means the Secretary of Transportation.
(10)
USDOT number
The term  USDOT number  has the meaning given the term in section 31132 of title 49, United States Code.
3.
Freight Fraud and Theft Advisory Committee
(a)
In general
Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish an advisory committee, to be known as the  Freight Fraud and Theft Advisory Committee  (referred to in this section as the  advisory committee ), to receive input from the public on ways in which the Department could contribute to the reduction of freight fraud and theft using existing authorities of the Department.
(b)
Composition
The advisory committee shall be composed of the following stakeholders:
(1)
Stakeholders representing each of the following:
(A)
Motor carriers, including independent owner-operators.
(B)
Railroads.
(C)
Ports.
(D)
Marine terminal operators.
(E)
Freight brokers.
(F)
Aviation operators.
(G)
State and local law enforcement officials.
(H)
Shippers.
(I)
Insurance companies.
(2)
Other stakeholders that the Secretary determines would provide insightful information on ways to address freight fraud and theft.
(c)
Duties
The advisory committee shall provide to the Secretary input and recommendations on ways in which the Department could contribute to the reduction of freight fraud and theft, including ways in which the Department could improve coordination within the Department and between the Department and other Federal agencies to identify and respond to freight fraud and theft.
(d)
Report
Not later than 2 years after the date on which the advisory committee is established under subsection (a), the advisory committee shall submit to the Secretary and to the appropriate committees of Congress a report that includes the findings of the advisory committee, any recommendations provided to the Secretary under subsection (c), and any other recommendations relating to the matters described in that subsection.
(e)
Sunset
The advisory committee shall terminate on submission of the report under subsection (d).
4.
Memorandum of understanding on freight fraud and theft
(a)
In general
Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary and the Attorney General shall enter into a memorandum of understanding on addressing freight fraud and theft.
(b)
Requirement
At a minimum, the memorandum of understanding entered into under subsection (a) shall—
(1)
require the Department to notify appropriate officials at the Department of Justice of any freight fraud or theft identified through the regulatory or enforcement work of the Department, and specify the method for such notification; and
(2)
require the Department of Justice to establish a process for receiving and handling such information from the Department.
5.
Securing the registration system of the Administration
(a)
In general
During the 5-year period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary—
(1)
shall not issue or renew an MC number; and
(2)
shall take other appropriate steps to phase out reference to MC numbers.
(b)
Transition To use of USDOT numbers
The Secretary shall ensure that, as of the date that is 5 years after the date of enactment of this Act—
(1)
no motor carrier, broker, or freight forwarder holds an MC number; and
(2)
each motor carrier, broker, and freight forwarder has been assigned a USDOT number.
(c)
Registration of freight forwarders
Section 13903(a) of title 49, United States Code, is amended—
(1)
in paragraph (1), by striking  and  at the end;
(2)
in paragraph (2), by striking the period at the end and inserting  ; and ; and
(3)
by adding at the end the following:
(3)
has been issued a USDOT number under section 31134.
 .
(d)
Registration of brokers
Section 13904(a) of title 49, United States Code, is amended—
(1)
in paragraph (1), by striking  and  at the end;
(2)
in paragraph (2), by striking the period at the end and inserting  ; and ; and
(3)
by adding at the end the following:
(3)
has been issued a USDOT number under section 31134.
 .
(e)
Definitions
Section 31132 of title 49, United States Code, is amended—
(1)
in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking the em dash and inserting a colon;
(2)
in paragraph (8), by striking  31136 and 31140–31142  and inserting  31136, 31141, and 31142 ;
(3)
in each of paragraphs (1) through (11)—
(A)
by inserting  The term  after the paragraph designation; and
(B)
by inserting a paragraph heading, the text of which comprises the term defined in the paragraph;
(4)
by redesignating paragraphs (1) through (11) as paragraphs (2), (6), (7), (8), (9), (10), (11), (13), (14), (15), and (16), respectively;
(5)
by inserting before paragraph (2) (as so redesignated) the following:
(1)
Administration
The term  Administration  means the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
 ;
(6)
by inserting after paragraph (2) (as so redesignated) the following:
(3)
Convicted
The term  convicted , with respect to an employer or person, means that a conviction has been made final with respect to that employer or person.
(4)
Conviction
The term  conviction  means a finding of guilt (including a plea of nolo contendere) or imposition of sentence, or both, by any judicial body charged with the responsibility to determine violations of Federal or State law.
(5)
Covered felony
The term  covered felony  means a felony under Federal or State law involving—
(A)
transportation, trafficking, or smuggling of persons, property, firearms, or controlled substances;
(B)
theft, fraud, coercion, or extortion—
(i)
involving the commercial transportation of property or passengers; or
(ii)
in connection with operation as a motor carrier; or
(C)
transportation of property or passengers in violation of an immigration or labor law.
 ;
(7)
by inserting after paragraph (11) (as so redesignated) the following:
(12)
Secretary
The term  Secretary  means the Secretary of Transportation.
 ; and
(8)
by adding at the end the following:
(17)
USDOT number
The term  USDOT number  means a unique identifier issued to an employer or person under section 31134.
 .
(f)
USDOT numbers
Section 31134 of title 49, United States Code, is amended—
(1)
in subsection (a)—
(A)
in the fourth sentence, by striking  An  and inserting the following:
(5)
Motor carriers
An
 ;
(B)
in the third sentence, by striking  Nothing  and inserting the following:
(4)
Intrastate operators
Nothing
 ;
(C)
in the second sentence, by striking  An  and inserting the following:
(2)
Registration and
USDOT  number required
An
 ; and
(D)
by striking the subsection designation and heading and all that follows through the period at the end of the first sentence and inserting the following:
(a)
Registration
(1)
In general
On application, and subject to paragraphs (3) and (6) and subsections (b) and (d), the Secretary shall register—
(A)
an employer or person subject to the safety jurisdiction of this subchapter; or
(B)
a motor carrier, broker, or freight forwarder subject to chapter 139.
 ; and
(E)
by inserting after paragraph (2) the following:
(3)
USDOT numbers
A USDOT number shall—
(A)
be required to obtain registration under this section or part B of subtitle IV;
(B)
uniquely identify the employer or person to which it is issued; and
(C)
be the only unique identifier issued by the Secretary to the employer or person for purposes of this section or part B of subtitle IV.
 ;
(2)
in subsection (b)—
(A)
in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking  subsection (a)  and inserting  this subsection ;
(B)
in paragraph (2)—
(i)
by striking  (A) ; and
(ii)
by striking  listed in subsection (b)(1)  and inserting  described in subparagraph (A) ;
(C)
by redesignating paragraphs (1) through (3) as subparagraphs (A) through (C), respectively, and indenting appropriately; and
(D)
by striking the subsection designation and heading and all that follows through  The  in the matter preceding subparagraph (A) (as so redesignated) and inserting the following:
(6)
Requirements
The
 ;
(3)
by redesignating subsections (c) through (e) as subsections (d) through (f), respectively;
(4)
by inserting after subsection (a) the following:
(b)
Withholding of registration
The Secretary may withhold registration from an employer or person under subsection (a) if the employer or person has been convicted of a covered felony relating to the motor carrier operations of, or use of a commercial motor vehicle by, the employer or person.
(c)
Ownership changes and transfers
Not later than 30 days after a motor carrier, broker, or freight forwarder associated with a USDOT number of an employer or person under this section experiences a change in ownership, including through purchase, sale, merger, acquisition, or any other transfer, the new employer or person owning the motor carrier, broker, or freight forwarder shall notify the Administration of the change in ownership.
 ; and
(5)
in subsection (d) (as so redesignated)—
(A)
in paragraph (1), by striking  sections 13905(d)(1)  and inserting  section 13905(d)(2) ;
(B)
in paragraph (2), by striking  listed in subsection (b)(1)  and inserting  described in subsection (a)(6)(A) ;
(C)
in paragraph (3), by striking  listed in subsection (b)(1)  and inserting  described in subsection (a)(6)(A) ;
(D)
in paragraph (4), by striking the period at the end and inserting  ; or ;
(E)
by redesignating paragraphs (1) through (4) as subparagraphs (A) through (D), respectively, and indenting appropriately;
(F)
in the matter preceding subparagraph (A) (as so redesignated), by striking  The Secretary  and inserting the following:
(1)
In general
The Secretary
 ;
(G)
in paragraph (1) (as so designated), by adding at the end the following:
(E)
the employer or person failed to disclose, in an application for registration under subsection (a) or any update required by subsection (e), a material fact relevant to the willingness or ability of the employer or person to comply with—
(i)
the requirements described in subsection (a)(6)(A); or
(ii)
an order of the Secretary.
 ; and
(H)
by adding at the end the following:
(2)
Certain convictions
The Secretary may revoke the registration of an employer or person issued under subsection (a) after notice and an opportunity for a proceeding, or suspend the registration after giving notice of the suspension to the employer or person, if the employer or person has been convicted of a covered felony relating to the motor carrier operations of, or use of a commercial motor vehicle by, the employer or person.
 .
(g)
Registration of motor carriers
Section 13902(a)(4) of title 49, United States Code, is amended—
(1)
by striking  If  and inserting the following:
(A)
In general
If
 ; and
(2)
by adding at the end the following:
(B)
Certain convictions
The Secretary may withhold registration from a registrant if the registrant has been convicted (as defined in section 31132) of a covered felony (as defined in that section) relating to the motor carrier operations of, or use of a commercial motor vehicle by, the registrant.
 .
(h)
Completion of registration system
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall complete all requirements relating to the establishment of the Unified Carrier Registration System under section 13908 of title 49, United States Code.
(i)
Conforming amendments
(1)
Section 321(4) of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement Implementation Act ( 19 U.S.C. 4571(4) ) is amended by striking  paragraph (1)  and inserting  paragraph (2) .
(2)
Section 224(b) of the Motor Carrier Safety Improvement Act of 1999 ( 49 U.S.C. 31100  note;  Public Law 106–159 ) is amended, in the first sentence, by striking  section 31132(1)(B)  and inserting  section 31132(2)(B) .
(3)
Section 4008(b) of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century ( 49 U.S.C. 31136  note;  Public Law 105–178 ) is amended by striking  section 31132(1)(B) of such title (as amended by subsection (a))  and inserting  section 31132(2)(B) of that title .
(4)
Section 32702(3) of the Motorcoach Enhanced Safety Act of 2012 ( 49 U.S.C. 31136  note;  Public Law 112–141 ) is amended by striking  section 31132(1)  and inserting  section 31132 .
(5)
Subchapter III of  chapter 311  of title 49, United States Code, is amended—
(A)
by striking  Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration  each place it appears and inserting  Administration ; and
(B)
by striking  Secretary of Transportation  each place it appears and inserting  Secretary .
6.
Strengthening State licensing to ensure legal drivers
(a)
In general
Section 31311(a)(12) of title 49, United States Code, is amended—
(1)
in subparagraph (A), by striking  subparagraphs (B) and (C)  and inserting  subparagraphs (B) through (D) ;
(2)
by redesignating subparagraph (C) as subparagraph (D); and
(3)
by inserting after subparagraph (B) the following:
(C)
A State that issues a commercial learner’s permit or a commercial driver’s license to an individual who is not a citizen or lawful permanent resident of the United States shall—
(i)
confirm that the applicant for the commercial learner’s permit or commercial driver’s license is authorized to work in the United States;
(ii)
provide to the Administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration such information as the Administrator determines necessary to confirm that the applicant is authorized to work in the United States; and
(iii)
if the applicant’s authorization to work in the United States expires before the date on which the applicant’s commercial learner’s permit or commercial driver’s license would otherwise expire, align the expiration of the applicant’s commercial learner’s permit or commercial driver’s license to the date on which the applicant’s authorization to work in the United States expires.
 .
(b)
Monthly report
 Chapter 313  of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
31318.
Monthly report on commercial driver’s licenses
Not later than the last day of each month, each State that issues commercial driver’s licenses under this chapter shall submit to the Secretary of Transportation a report describing—
(1)
the number of commercial learner’s permits issued by the State during the preceding month;
(2)
the number of commercial driver’s licenses issued by the State during the preceding month;
(3)
the number of foreign non-domiciled commercial driver’s licenses issued by the State during the preceding month;
(4)
the number of endorsements issued by the State during the preceding month; and
(5)
the number of, and justification for, revocations, suspensions, and downgrades of commercial driver’s licenses by the State during the preceding month.
 .
(c)
Clerical amendment
The analysis for  chapter 313  of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
31318. Monthly report on commercial driver’s licenses.
  .
7.
Improvements to commercial driver’s license training provider registry
Section 31305 of title 49, United States Code, is amended—
(1)
in subsection (a), in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by inserting  (referred to in this section as the  Secretary )  after  Secretary of Transportation ; and
(2)
by adding at the end the following:
(e)
Training provider registry
(1)
Definitions
In this subsection:
(A)
Administration
The term  Administration  means the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
(B)
Principal place of business
The term  principal place of business , with respect to a provider, means a single physical business location of the provider where—
(i)
management officials of the provider report to work; and
(ii)
the provider conducts a significant portion of its business relating to the training of persons to transport persons or property.
(C)
Provider
The term  provider  means a training provider (within the meaning of subpart G of part 380 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations)).
(D)
Registry
The term  registry  means the training provider registry maintained by the Administration.
(2)
Audits
(A)
In general
The Secretary shall establish a process to audit providers listed on the registry to ensure that each provider meets the criteria established by the Secretary to provide training.
(B)
Role of States
The Secretary may require States—
(i)
to conduct an audit under subparagraph (A); or
(ii)
to collect relevant information from providers in the State for the Administration to audit.
(3)
Removal for nondisclosure of certain relationships
On complaint or on the initiative of the Secretary, the Secretary may, after providing notice and an opportunity to be heard, withhold, suspend, or revoke the registration of any provider listed on the registry if the Secretary finds that the provider failed to disclose any relationship, whether arising from common ownership, management, control, or familial ties, with another provider listed on the registry or with any applicant for inclusion on the registry whom the Secretary has determined to be unwilling or unable to comply with an applicable regulation or order of the Secretary.
(4)
Expedited removal from registry
Not later than 120 days after the date of enactment of this subsection, the Secretary shall establish a process for States to remove a provider from the registry if the State determines that the provider—
(A)
is no longer in business;
(B)
has been found guilty of committing fraud; or
(C)
has violated State regulations governing commercial motor vehicle operator training.
(5)
Registration of providers
(A)
In general
An entity seeking to become a provider in accordance with subsection (c) shall register with the Administration.
(B)
Principal place of business
A provider may not be added to the registry unless the provider has registered a principal place of business with the Administration.
(C)
Existing providers
A provider listed on the registry as of the date of enactment of this subsection—
(i)
shall register a principal place of business with the Administration by the date that is 1 year after that date of enactment; and
(ii)
shall be removed from the registry if the provider has not registered a principal place of business with the Administration by the deadline described in clause (i).
(6)
Deadline for review of complaints against providers
Not later than 180 days after receiving a complaint against a provider included on the registry, the Administration shall make a determination with respect to resolving that complaint.
 .
8.
Preventing, detecting, and addressing fraud in registration
(a)
Definitions
In this section:
(1)
Existing user
The term  existing user  means a motor carrier that has access to, is registered for, or is otherwise included in the registration system.
(2)
Flagged user
The term  flagged user  means a new user or existing user—
(A)
the activity of which is flagged as suspicious by an automated system implemented under subsection (b);
(B)
with respect to which a discrepancy or other suspicious matter is identified; or
(C)
with respect to which the Administration receives a report or other notification of—
(i)
failure to disclose a material fact;
(ii)
fraud;
(iii)
any activity indicative of fraud; or
(iv)
any other suspicious activity pertaining to the registration system.
(3)
New user
The term  new user  means a motor carrier or broker that first accesses or registers, or is first included in, the registration system.
(4)
Person
The term  person  has the meaning given the term in section 13102 of title 49, United States Code.
(5)
Registration system
The term  registration system  means the system that the Administration uses to register motor carriers or brokers as required under section 13908 of title 49, United States Code.
(b)
Automated systems
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall develop and implement 1 or more automated systems to flag suspicious activity in the registration system, or by motor carriers, brokers, or other persons dealing with the Administration, such as—
(1)
rapid or unusual changes to motor carrier or broker information;
(2)
unusual registration patterns; or
(3)
duplicate business identifiers.
(c)
Review of flagged users
(1)
In general
The Administrator shall establish a process to review each flagged user to determine whether that user engaged in fraud with respect to the registration system.
(2)
Requirements
A review under paragraph (1) shall—
(A)
begin immediately on—
(i)
the flagging of suspicious activity by an automated system implemented under subsection (b);
(ii)
the identification of any discrepancy or other suspicious matter; or
(iii)
the receipt of a report or other notification described in subsection (a)(3)(C); and
(B)
include an audit of the flagged user, if appropriate or necessary to resolve the review.
(3)
Suspension
(A)
In general
The Administrator may—
(i)
temporarily suspend the registration of any flagged user in the registration system during a review under paragraph (1); or
(ii)
note in any record of the Administration, including a public record published on the registration system, that a review of the applicable flagged user is ongoing.
(B)
Requirement
If the Administrator temporarily suspends a registration of a flagged user under subparagraph (A)(i), the Administrator shall provide to the flagged user a period of not less than 30 days to respond to and address any problems identified by the Administrator for purposes of resolving the review.
(4)
Removal and other penalties
(A)
In general
On a determination that a motor carrier, broker, or any other person has failed to disclose a material fact, submitted fraudulent information, or committed fraud with respect to the registration system, the Administrator shall, as the Administrator determines to be appropriate—
(i)
remove the person from the public view of the registration system;
(ii)
remove the ability of the person to access the registration system; or
(iii)
suspend or revoke the authority of the person to operate as a motor carrier, broker, or otherwise.
(B)
Requirement
If the Administrator takes an action described in subparagraph (A)(iii), the Administrator shall maintain the information of the applicable person in the registration system to assist the Administrator in identifying future fraudulent activities of the person.
(d)
Records updates
Any update to a record in the registration system under this section—
(1)
shall be made instantaneously, or as near instantaneously as possible, with respect to the determination relating to the update; and
(2)
shall not be made unless the person requesting the update verifies that the person is authorized to request the update.
(e)
Guidance
(1)
In general
Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall issue to motor carriers and brokers guidance about how to protect against fraudulent activities.
(2)
Updates
The Administrator shall update the guidance issued under paragraph (1) as appropriate to improve awareness of fraudulent activities.
9.
Enforcement of cabotage laws
(a)
In general
The Administrator and the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection shall enter into a memorandum of understanding with respect to how the Administrator and State law enforcement agencies communicate to the Commissioner information relating to violations of—
(1)
section 13902(k) of title 49, United States Code, relating to the prohibition on the provision of point-to-point transportation services within the United States by drivers or motor carriers, including motor private carriers (as defined in section 13102 of title 49, United States Code), domiciled in Mexico or Canada operating in the United States; and
(2)
section 13902(l) of title 49, United States Code, relating to the prohibition on the provision of point-to-point transportation services within the United States by unauthorized alien drivers.
(b)
Registration of motor carriers
Section 13902 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
(k)
Prohibiting certain foreign motor carriers
F rom point-to-Point transport of domestic cargo in the United States
(1)
In general
A motor carrier or motor private carrier described in paragraph (2) shall not transport domestic cargo from a point originating within the United States to a destination point also within the United States.
(2)
Motor carriers and motor private carriers described
A motor carrier or motor private carrier referred to in paragraph (1) is a motor carrier or motor private carrier that—
(A)
is domiciled in Canada or Mexico; or
(B)
is domiciled in the United States but owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by a person domiciled in Mexico.
(l)
Prohibiting unauthorized alien drivers
F rom
  point-to-Point transport of domestic cargo in the United States
A motor carrier or motor private carrier shall not knowingly transport domestic cargo from a point originating within the United States to a destination point also within the United States in a commercial motor vehicle (as defined in section 31301) operated by an alien (as defined in section 101(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1101(a) )) who is not authorized by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to engage in employment in the United States that includes driving a commercial motor vehicle.
 .
(c)
Rulemaking
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall revise section 365.101T(h) of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, to reflect the requirements of subsection (a) and section 13902(k) of title 49, United States Code.
10.
Reimbursement of certain victims of freight theft
The Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection shall reimburse the victims of cargo theft under section 659 of title 18, United States Code, for fines paid by such victims to U.S. Customs and Border Protection for containers that are not sealed as required by regulations prescribed pursuant to section 204 of the Security and Accountability For Every Port Act of 2006 ( 6 U.S.C. 944 ).
11.
Criminal penalties; submission or use of fraudulent certifications
(a)
Definition of fraudulent certification
In this section, the term  fraudulent certification  means any statement, representation, or omission of fact, including in any writing or document, that—
(1)
is material;
(2)
is known by the person submitting or using it to be false, fictitious, misleading, or incomplete; and
(3)
is submitted or used in connection with any registration, certification, filing, or compliance requirement administered by the Administration under chapter 5, 311, 313, or 315 of title 49, United States Code.
(b)
Criminal penalty
Any person who knowingly and willfully submits to the Administrator or otherwise uses a fraudulent certification and, by means of that fraudulent certification or any authority or status obtained pursuant to that fraudulent certification, engages or attempts to engage in the unlawful transportation of property or passengers in interstate commerce shall be fined under title 18, United States Code, imprisoned for not more than 5 years, or both.
12.
Foreign dispatch services
(a)
Definition of foreign dispatch service
Section 13102 of title 49, United States Code, is amended—
(1)
in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking  , the following definitions shall apply ;
(2)
by redesignating paragraphs (6) through (27) as paragraphs (7), (8), (9), (10), (11), (12), (13), (14), (15), (16), (17), (18), (20), (21), (22), (23), (24), (25), (26), (27), (28), and (19) respectively, and moving the paragraphs so as to appear in numerical order; and
(3)
by inserting after paragraph (5) the following:
(6)
Foreign dispatch service
The term  foreign dispatch service  means a person that—
(A)
is not located in the United States, Mexico, or Canada;
(B)
maintains its principal place of business or substantial operations in a foreign country;
(C)
acts as a direct licensed agent on behalf of 1 or more motor carriers through a formal written agreement;
(D)
receives compensation from those motor carriers based on a predetermined written legal contractual agreement;
(E)
discloses that—
(i)
the person is a dispatch service operating under an agreement with a specific motor carrier; and
(ii)
the relevant shipment is arranged for that motor carrier only;
(F)
provides only administrative or support services limited to—
(i)
coordinating freight movements without assuming responsibility for the cargo or arranging transportation; and
(ii)
communicating through a broker to arrange for the transportation of shipments for the motor carrier; and
(G)
does not seek or solicit shippers for freight.
 .
(b)
Registration
(1)
In general
 Chapter 139  of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
13910.
Registration of foreign dispatch services as brokers
A person operating as a foreign dispatch service shall register as a broker.
 .
(2)
Clerical amendment
The analysis for  chapter 139  of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
13910. Registration of foreign dispatch services as brokers.
  .
(c)
Conforming amendments
(1)
Section 32702(5) of the Motorcoach Enhanced Safety Act of 2012 ( 49 U.S.C. 31136  note;  Public Law 112–141 ) is amended—
(A)
in subparagraph (A), by striking  section 13102(14)  and inserting  section 13102 ; and
(B)
in subparagraph (B), by striking  section 13102(15) of that title  and inserting  that section .
(2)
Section 14101(b)(1) of title 49, United States Code, is amended, in the first sentence, by striking  section 13102(10)(A)  and inserting  section 13102(11)(A) .
(3)
Section 14104(b)(1)(A) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking  section 13102(10)(A)  and inserting  section 13102(11)(A) .
(4)
Section 14706(c)(1)(A) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking  section 13102(10)(A)  and inserting  section 13102(11)(A) .
13.
Records maintenance
Section 14122 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking subsection (a) and inserting the following:
(a)
Form and maintenance of records
(1)
Form of records
The Secretary or the Board, as applicable, may prescribe the form of records required to be prepared or compiled under this subchapter by carriers and brokers, including records related to movement of traffic and receipts and expenditures of money.
(2)
Maintenance of records
Records described in paragraph (1) shall be maintained or made accessible upon demand at the principal place of business of the carrier or broker.
(3)
Savings provision
Nothing in this subsection prevents the Secretary or the Board, as applicable, from conducting an investigation at a location other than the principal place of business or virtually.
 .
14.
Definition of broker; unlawful brokerage activities
(a)
Definition of broker
Section 13102 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the following:
(2)
Broker
(A)
In general
The term  broker  means a person who offers for sale, negotiates for, or holds itself out by solicitation, advertisement, technology, or otherwise as selling, providing, or arranging for, transportation by motor carrier for direct or indirect compensation.
(B)
Exclusion
The term  broker  does not include a person providing only financial assistance, analysis, or accounting services.
 .
(b)
Unlawful brokerage activities
Section 14916(a) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking the subsection designation and heading and all that follows through  that person—  in the matter preceding paragraph (1) and inserting the following:
(a)
Prohibited activities
A person may provide interstate brokerage services only if that person—
 .