A recent CBS News “60 Minutes” segment put a renewed focus on a long-standing trucking problem into the national spotlight. The segment highlighted the danger of “chameleon carriers,” but what are these reptilian-named trucking companies? What problems do they hold for trucking? How can we solve it?

Chameleon carriers are trucking companies that regularly shut down and reopen under false identities in order to dodge safety rules and accountability. After accruing infractions, litigation, or low safety ratings, these businesses may disintegrate and then reemerge under a different name, registration, or operating authorization. By using this strategy, they are able to “wipe the slate clean” while carrying on with their dangerous habits. Much like how a chameleon can disguise itself by changing its appearance.

Regulators find it challenging to follow chameleon carriers because they frequently operate through networks of connected companies, each of which has its own license or Department of Transportation (DOT) number. They can conceal prior infractions like inadequate insurance coverage, driver safety issues, or poor vehicle maintenance by taking advantage of holes in regulatory systems.

The safety danger that chameleon carriers present is the most significant problem with these types of businesses. According to studies, these businesses are much more likely than complying carriers to be involved in major collisions. Shippers, brokers, and the general public may unintentionally trust dangerous operators because their past is hidden.

Furthermore, the trucking industry’s fair competition is compromised by chameleon carriers. While chameleon carriers use short cuts to increase profits, legitimate businesses that adhere to safety regulations pay more. This encourages hazardous behavior and creates an unfair playing field.

In the end, chameleon carriers pose a risk to the trucking sector. Stricter enforcement, better agency-to-agency data sharing, and increased monitoring are all necessary to address this problem and make sure that dangerous operators cannot just rebrand and carry on.