Alarm Over “Chameleon Carrier” Trucking Companies That Cause Crashes in South Carolina

Although the federal government is cracking down on unsafe trucking companies, many dangerous and irresponsible organizations are slipping through the cracks. The current administration is focusing on immigration and English language issues within the trucking industry, but it may be overlooking one of the most dangerous schemes: “Chameleon carriers.” What does this scheme entail, and how might it be contributing to semi-truck accidents in South Carolina?

What Is a Chameleon Carrier in South Carolina?

A chameleon carrier is a type of organization that involves a string of trucking companies that constantly die and “reincarnate.” The overall strategy is twofold: First, the trucking company aims to make as much money as possible before running itself into the ground. Secondly, the company is able to commit as many safety violations as it likes because its lifespan is so short anyway. Why worry about the consequences of a safety violation when the company will shut down or go bankrupt in a matter of months?

The term “chameleon” refers to the manner in which the trucking company changes its name and reincarnates into a new enterprise once it encounters legal or financial challenges. According to a recent report by CBS News, these chameleon carriers can also escape detection by federal investigators. After all, the government only has the resources to audit a small fraction of trucking companies in the country.

It’s worth noting that when a company reincarnates in this manner, the only thing that changes is the paperwork and the logo of the company. The exact same trucks are on the road with the exact same drivers. These might be trucks that are on the verge of breaking down, driven by truckers who have committed all kinds of driving offenses in the past. Chameleon carriers are able to “wipe the slate clean” and restart operations as if they were new trucking companies with no prior histories.

Investigative reporters say that this process can take as little as three weeks. Even more concerning is the fact that these trucking companies can be headquartered outside of the United States. As a result, chameleon carriers are often “shell corporations” with unclear roots in foreign nations. CBS News estimates that as many as 20 percent of all trucking companies in the United States fall under the category of chameleon carriers.

The real question is simple: If investigative reporters are able to track the specific chameleon carriers responsible for tens of thousands of safety violations and hundreds of accidents within just a few years, then why can’t federal authorities do the same?

Can a South Carolina Semi-Truck Accident Lawyer Help Me? 

A South Carolina semi-truck accident lawyer may be able to help if you were injured by a negligent trucker, whether that trucker was employed by a “chameleon carrier” or not. Although various schemes and loopholes allow dangerous trucking companies to fill our roads with hazards, you don’t need to prove anything complicated to recover compensation. Work with Mickelsen & Dalton, LLC to pursue real accountability.

Sources:

cbsnews.com/news/how-dangerous-trucking-schemes-putting-americans-at-risk-60-minutes-transcript/

truckinginfo.com/articles/new-motor-carriers-chameleon-carriers-and-safety-is-it-too-easy-to-start-a-trucking-company