Stop Scamming Truckers Act

This legislation aims to protect motor carriers from deceptive practices by private entities regarding United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) numbers. It addresses concerns that some communications from private companies are presented in a manner that may reasonably cause recipients to believe the sender is a federal agency, leading to confusion and unnecessary costs for businesses, particularly small owner-operators. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is the agency responsible for administering USDOT number registration and compliance. The bill mandates that any private entity transmitting a "USDOT number communication" must include a clear, legible disclosure stating, "This communication is from a private company. We are not the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration... or any other Federal Government agency..." This disclosure must be prominently placed and cannot be obscured or minimized. Furthermore, covered entities are prohibited from using any name, seal, logo, or trade dress that implies affiliation with FMCSA or DOT, or from suggesting that payment to them is required to obtain or maintain a USDOT number. To ensure compliance, the bill establishes a private right of action , allowing individuals to bring civil lawsuits for violations and seek actual damages , statutory damages of $500 to $5,000 per violation, and attorneys' fees, without needing to prove actual reliance or intent to deceive.