ATA Applauds Bill to Protect Truckers from Staged Crashes

Legislation introduced by Sen. Moody would crack down on these costly, dangerous schemes

Washington - Today, the American Trucking Associations applauded Senator Ashley Moody (R-FL) for introducing the Staged Accident Fraud Prevention Act (S. 5058), a bill that would make it a federal crime to engineer a crash with a commercial motor vehicle. This dangerous and increasingly pervasive criminal scheme deliberately puts innocent motorists at risk, all to manipulate the legal system and extract fraudulent seven-figure settlements from reputable trucking companies.

"Florida's trucking industry doesn't just move freight-it also bears the cost of organized fraud. Staged crashes put innocent motorists and professional truck drivers at risk, while driving up insurance costs for carriers, businesses, and consumers alike," said Florida Trucking Association President & CEO Scott Perry. "We appreciate Senator Moody's leadership in giving law enforcement additional tools to combat these dangerous criminal enterprises."

"When con artists seeking a big payday intentionally collide with commercial motor vehicles, their reckless disregard for safety puts innocent truck drivers and the motoring public at risk. The frivolous lawsuits these rapacious individuals file against honest trucking companies contribute to soaring insurance premiums and raise costs for consumer goods," said American Trucking Associations Chief Advocacy & Public Affairs Officer Henry Hanscom. "ATA commends Senator Moody for introducing this legislation to close legal loopholes that criminals are exploiting to target America's hardworking truckers. By establishing clear, enforceable criminal penalties, we can finally put an end to this dangerous and costly practice."

Numerous schemes in recent years have targeted trucking companies, and these sophisticated fraudsters often have ties to organized crime. One such criminal ring exposed in Louisiana was the subject of a recent documentary. The saga began when a con artist deliberately crashed into a truck belonging to a third-generation, family-owned trucking business. Eventually, federal investigators unraveled a vast conspiracy involving dozens of "slammers," "spotters," and corrupt lawyers who orchestrated numerous operations that targeted multiple companies. In an attempted coverup, a federal witness was killed.

The Staged Accident Fraud Prevention Act would provide a strong, necessary deterrent to prevent these dangerous and costly schemes from taking root, while offering critical protections to the motor carriers and drivers who tirelessly power our nation's economy and supply chain. Specifically, the bill establishes straightforward criminal penalties not just for the drivers who stage these collisions-but also for the attorneys, physicians, and other co-conspirators who knowingly participate in the fraud to extort victimized motor carriers.

Companion legislation was introduced in the House of Representatives last year by Congressmen Mike Collins (R-GA) and Brandon Gill (R-TX).