Fried Goldberg LLC Says Safety Reform Efforts Must Prioritize Public Protection, Not Just Market Competition
A coalition of state and national trucking associations has released a sweeping policy blueprint aimed at eliminating illegal operators and restoring fair competition across the commercial trucking industry. The action plan was developed by the Trucking Association Executive Council, a nationwide network of trucking leaders representing associations from coast to coast.
The plan targets what TAEC describes as “bad actors” who exploit regulatory gaps, manipulate licensing systems, tamper with safety records, and engage in broker and carrier fraud. The initiative comes as the industry faces reduced freight demand and increasing concern over safety integrity and enforcement reliability.
Fried Goldberg LLC, which represents victims of catastrophic truck crashes nationwide, says efforts to remove unsafe operators from the road matter most because of the direct impact on public safety.
“Illegal operators do not just distort competition. They put lives in danger,” attorney Joe Fried said. “When licensing loopholes, false records, or unqualified drivers are allowed to persist, innocent motorists, pedestrians, and families pay the price.”
Seven Vulnerabilities Identified in National Safety Push
TAEC’s blueprint outlines seven core areas where fraudulent behavior and weak oversight continue to erode safety and accountability in the trucking industry. These include commercial license integrity, trucking safety data system failures, cross border workforce verification, non-domiciled CDL oversight, English language proficiency enforcement, freight fraud schemes, and electronic log manipulation.
According to the coalition, most of the proposed reforms rely on improved data integration and technology driven verification rather than new layers of regulation. The plan calls for AI assisted pattern detection, enhanced licensing verification systems, and coordinated databases to prevent repeat offenders from reentering the system under new identities.
Fried Goldberg LLC notes that many of the most catastrophic crashes the firm investigates involve drivers or carriers with documented safety issues that slipped through regulatory cracks.
“When safety systems fail, the outcome is rarely just property damage,” attorney Michael Goldberg said. “We often see life altering injuries or death tied to warning signs that were missed or ignored.”
Enforcement and Accountability Remain the Central Issue
TAEC says its effort builds on recent federal actions involving enforcement of English language proficiency standards and scrutiny of improperly issued non-domiciled commercial licenses. The group maintains that extending oversight across all major vulnerabilities is necessary to safeguard both legitimate trucking businesses and the traveling public.
Fried Goldberg LLC emphasizes that meaningful reform must be measured by real world results, not by industry messaging.
“Every safety initiative should ultimately answer one question,” Joe Fried said. “Does it prevent another family from receiving a knock on the door that changes their life forever?”
Fried Goldberg LLC continues to represent victims nationwide in cases involving unsafe carriers, regulatory violations, negligent hiring, and catastrophic truck crashes.
About Fried Goldberg LLC
Based in Atlanta and serving victims nationwide, Fried Goldberg LLC is one of the preeminent trucking accident law firms in the United States. The firm has recovered over $1 billion for its clients, including many 7 and 8 figure verdicts and settlements. For more information, visit www.friedgoldberg.com.
