Two U.S. lawmakers introduced legislation aimed at stopping foreign-based dispatchers from manipulating the digital logs that track how long commercial truck drivers spend on the road.
Representatives Greg Steube (R-Fla.) and Dave Taylor (R-Ohio), who serves as Chairman of the Congressional Trucking Caucus, introduced the Guarding Hours-of-Service Oversight and Stopping Tampering by Remote Unofficial Carrier Keeper Act, or GHOSTRUCK Act.
The bill targets a loophole regarding Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs), which are federally mandated to track driving hours and prevent fatigued driving. Current law does not explicitly block overseas personnel from editing these records.
According to the lawmakers, some foreign-based dispatchers use this regulatory gap to alter logs from afar, forcing drivers to work beyond safe hourly limits while remaining outside the reach of U.S. law enforcement. While American drivers and dispatchers face severe legal penalties if log tampering leads to a fatal crash, foreign actors often face no consequences.
“Foreign dispatchers should not be able to manipulate trucking safety records from halfway around the world and put American lives at risk,” Rep. Steube said. “Reports have exposed how overseas actors are falsifying driver logs, overworking truckers beyond safe limits, and avoiding accountability when tragedies occur.”
Rep. Taylor emphasized the safety of families sharing the road with commercial trucks. “I am proud to join Rep. Steube in introducing the GHOSTRUCK Act to hold bad actors accountable for tampering with electronic logging devices, enhance accountability on the road, and ultimately make American roads safe again,” Taylor said.
If passed, the GHOSTRUCK Act would mandate that any edits or annotations to an ELD record be made only by a carrier, dispatcher, or driver who is physically located in North America. The bill preserves the rule that all proposed changes must still be approved by the driver.
The legislation has gained backing from several major transportation groups, including the American Trucking Associations (ATA), the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA), and the Truckload Carriers Association (TCA).
Todd Spencer, President and CEO of OOIDA, noted that the bill “would prevent foreign nationals in places like Eastern Europe and Asia from altering the ELD records of American truckers.” Spencer added that the bill ensures drivers maintain final approval over edits, which will “improve highway safety, reduce driver coercion and help combat freight fraud.”
Alex Rosen, Senior Vice President of Legislative Affairs for the ATA, called log tampering a growing problem that rewards bad actors and risks public safety. “We appreciate Congressmen Steube and Taylor’s attention to closing this loophole and strengthening accountability so these devices serve the safety purpose they were intended to fulfill,” Rosen said.
Other industry groups supporting the bill include the Florida Trucking Association, the National Motor Freight Traffic Association, and the National Tank Truck Carriers (NTTC).
Ryan Streblow, President and CEO of the NTTC, stated that the bill protects drivers from unfair operational demands. “Accountability in driver records is essential to maintaining compliance, protecting drivers from undue pressure, and ensuring that commercial motor vehicles operate safely on our nation’s highways,” Streblow said.
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