key takeaways:
- The GHOSTRUCK Act will allow only authorized individuals in North America to edit or annotate ELD records with the driver’s approval.
- Lawmakers say foreign-based dispatchers have manipulated driver logs, leading to overwork, underpayment and safety concerns.
- Trucking organizations support the bill, citing the need to maintain ELD integrity and enforce hours of service regulations.
Two US representatives want Congress to ban people outside North America from altering truck driver electronic logging device records.
ghost act Introduced by Republicans on June 18 dave taylor More of Ohio Greg Stubbe Of Florida. The full name of the proposed legislation is the “Monitoring Hours of Service and Preventing Tampering by Remote Unofficial Carrier Keeper Act.”
HR 93969 seeks to amend Title 49 under the US Code to allow only authorized persons physically located in North America to edit/annotate ELD records pending driver approval, and for other undefined purposes.
“Foreign dispatchers halfway around the world should not be able to manipulate trucking safety records and put American lives at risk,” Stubbe said. “Reports have revealed how foreign actors are manipulating driver logs, overtaxing truck drivers over safe limits and avoiding accountability when tragedies occur. The GHOSTRUCK Act closes this loophole and helps keep our roads safe.”
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration All commercial trucks operating in the United States are required to have ELDs that track a driver’s driving hours to prevent exceeding safety limits designed to prevent fatigued driving.
The issue of counterfeit electronic driving records is of such growing concern that on April 1 the Commercial Vehicle Safety Coalition began implementing a new out-of-service condition for truckers and motor carriers who disobey federal driving limits through ELD tampering.
Republican Representatives Greg Steube (left) of Florida and Dave Taylor of Ohio
“In addition to strengthening our nation’s supply chain and economy, our nation’s truck drivers share the road with American families, and nothing is more important than making sure everyone gets to their destination safely,” said Taylor, Chairman of the Congressional Trucking Caucus and a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
Manual edits to the HOS record in the ELD can be made to reflect that the driver was working when in fact that time was used for rest or refueling.
The congressman said recent reports showed that “some foreign-based dispatchers have manipulated driver logs to underpay their drivers and exceed safe hourly hours, resulting in serious safety concerns on U.S. highways.”
A dangerous loophole allows foreign-based dispatchers to manipulate ELD records.
The GHOSTRUCK Act requires any edits to the ELD record to be made only by a carrier, dispatcher or driver located in North America.
ATA thanks @RepGregSteube And @RepDaveTaylor… pic.twitter.com/JpSJqbup0Y
– American Trucking (@TRUCKINGdotORG) 24 June 2026
They argue that the GHOSTRUCK Act would close a loophole for foreign-based actors beyond the reach of U.S. enforcement authority to avoid facing legal consequences if their driver or dispatcher falsifies records that causes a fatal crash.
Alex Rosen, senior vice president of legislative affairs for the American Trucking Associations, thanked Taylor and Steube for their work to ensure the use of ELDs to strengthen accountability and promote safety.
Rosen said, “Tampering with electronic logs is a growing problem that weakens enforcement, rewards bad actors and puts the motoring public at risk.” “Road safety depends on consistent compliance with hours-of-service rules, and preserving the integrity of electronic logging devices is central to that mission.”
This bill was also supported Florida Trucking Association CEO Scott Perry.
“The safety of our drivers and those traveling on America’s roadways remains the trucking industry’s top priority,” he said, “and FTA will continue to support measures that maintain those standards.”
Other supporters include the Truckload Carriers Association, the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association and the National Motor Freight Traffic Association.
Ryan Streblow, CEO of National Tank Truck Carriers, praised the bill.
“Accountability in driver records is essential to maintaining compliance, protecting drivers from undue stress, and ensuring that commercial motor vehicles operate safely on our nation’s highways,” he said.
