Bill Aims to Empower Truck Drivers Against Flawed Safety Data

Bipartisan legislation would mandate independent appeals and expand carrier access to driver records.

Jan. 29, 2026 at 6:47pm

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New bipartisan legislation introduced in Congress this week aims to address long-standing issues with flawed safety data that have derailed trucking careers. The Motor Carrier Safety Screening Modernization Act would end the 'guilty until proven innocent' approach towards a truck driver's safety record, allowing for independent appeals of contested violations and expanding carrier access to current driver records.

Why it matters

For years, a single inaccurate safety violation could negatively impact a professional truck driver's insurance costs and future job prospects, often with no impartial way for the driver to fight back. This legislation seeks to bring more fairness and accuracy to the system, which could help protect drivers' livelihoods and strengthen the overall supply chain.

The details

The bill, introduced by U.S. Reps. Tracy Mann (R-Kans.) and Sharice Davids (D-Kans.), would mandate independent appeals for safety data contested by truck drivers. It would also expand carrier access to current driver records, aiming to provide a more comprehensive picture of a driver's safety history.

  • The Motor Carrier Safety Screening Modernization Act was introduced in Congress this week.

The players

Tracy Mann

U.S. Representative from Kansas, Republican.

Sharice Davids

U.S. Representative from Kansas, Democrat.

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What they’re saying

“This bipartisan effort is about using common-sense tools to prevent crashes, protect drivers, and make sure safety records are fair and accurate. I'm proud to work with Representative Mann to deliver a Kansas-driven solution that puts people first, strengthens our supply chain, and shows that when it comes to safety and fairness, we can work together to get things done.”

— Sharice Davids, U.S. Representative (Press Release)

The takeaway

This legislation aims to bring more fairness and accuracy to the system of tracking truck driver safety records, which could help protect drivers' livelihoods and strengthen the overall supply chain by ensuring safety violations are properly adjudicated and driver histories are more comprehensively accessible to carriers.