Representatives Greg Steube (R-Fla.) and Dave Taylor (R-Ohio) introduced the Guarding Hours-of-Service Oversight and Stopping Tampering by Remote Unofficial Carrier Keeper Act, or GHOSTRUCK Act, to prevent foreign-based dispatchers from altering digital logs of commercial truck drivers.

Legislation Aims to Enhance Road Safety

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, allowing some foreign-based dispatchers to alter logs from afar and force drivers to work beyond safe hourly limits.

According to the lawmakers, foreign actors often face no consequences when tragedies occur, while American drivers and dispatchers face severe legal penalties if log tampering leads to a fatal crash. 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 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). Industry leaders note that the bill would improve highway safety, reduce driver coercion, and help combat freight fraud.

Original reporting: Tampa Free Press — read the source article.