Motion & Purpose 2025 Q3

Horrific dash cam videos are exploding across social media, exposing reckless truck drivers weaving through traffic like they’re invincible. These aren’t isolated incidents—they scream that our industry has a serious safety crisis. While fingers point at foreign or immigrant drivers, the rot runs deeper.

We’ve heard loud and clear from our Nevada Trucking Association members and law enforcement: shady outfits are gaming the system, with drivers hacking into ELD backends to dodge hours-of-service limits. Rampant false reporting to FMCSA on fleet sizes, plus chameleon carriers jumping DOT numbers to evade scrutiny from regulators or insurers—it’s not just killing safety; it’s undermining the economic survival of honest operators who play by the rules and prioritize legal, safe hauls.

A team of state trucking association leaders are working to outline a crisis of fraud and misconduct that’s plaguing the industry. Their work highlights an administrative breakdown stemming in part from missing and inaccurate data. Bad data opens the door for unethical businesses and outright criminals to cash in.

TAEC, the Trucking Association Executives Council, worked for several months to document key issues affecting road safety and economic survival for the industry. The report – dubbed COBRA (Cleaning Out and Banning Rogue Actors) – is a tool to familiarize state legislators and members of congress with specific improper activities and crimes.

Nevada Trucking Association CEO Paul Enos took the lead on electronic data distortions in the FMCSA’s central repository, the Motor Carrier Management Information System (MCMIS). The report points up data quality issues, including inaccuracies, incompleteness, and untimeliness that undermine MCMIS’s effectiveness.

Mistaken or fraudulent reporting of safety performance data creates safety risks. Insufficient validation of carrier details on MCS-150 forms allows devious operators to distort the size of their fleets.

Chameleon carriers also exploit the system. Entities that dissolve and re-register under new U.S. DOT numbers to evade penalties, out-of-service orders, or poor safety records—represent a systemic exploitation of MCMIS data gaps.

Recommendations include technology upgrades to FMCSA systems and using artificial intelligence tools as fraud detection aid.

Another section of the report addresses enforcement of English language proficiency among drivers. Detection of language violations arise from encounters during roadside inspections. The report cites inconsistencies by state law enforcement agencies. A recent Trump Administration order put renewed focus on the language requirement, but response has been sluggish in some states.

Reliance on unaffiliated state partners in 50+ jurisdictions jeopardizes the uniform and consistent enforcement of the new out-of-service guidance, the report says.

A section on Commercial Driver’s License training and issuance asks: How do unqualified or unethical individuals obtain a CDL? Weaknesses in training and licensing oversight create an avenue for abuses, according to the COBRA document. Among them, falsified CDLs, falsified training attestations, major inconsistencies in skills testing, fraudulent medical certifications, (and) bribery schemes involving various state DMV employees.

US Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced Friday that states will pause issuing non-domiciled (or limited licenses as they are called in Nevada) CLPs or CDLs to non-US citizens or those not classified as permanent residents. This announcement comes in the wake of high profile CMV crashes that have occurred this year involving non-domiciled CDL holders. All state CDL programs are undergoing enhanced audits of their non-domiciled CDL/CLP issuance. Moving forward, FMCSA is revising regulations governing who may be issued a non-domiciled CLP or CDL; requirements for issuance and renewal; and conditions for cancellation or revocation.

Recommendations include tightening oversight of third-party testers and point again to needed improvements in data collection. There is no publicly available state-by-state breakdown of CDL holders published by FMCSA or any other federal agencies.

Agencies at the state level don’t always have real-time visibility into what is happening in other states, which can easily allow someone that is disqualified in one state to obtain a new CDL in another state.

Broker Fraud has been a central topic in the legislative arena. Digital crime is rampant, with an ever-expanding list of scams. This kind of fraud has become increasingly common with the rise of digital load boards and weak verification protocols, the report notes.

Old-fashioned identity theft tops the list, with fake companies assuming real broker registrations, and diverting payment from shippers to offshore bank accounts.

Shell companies are easily set up and dissolved electronically. New broker entities don’t get sufficient scrutiny from carriers, who become victims of double brokering scams or mid-shipment freight hand-offs.

NTA will hold a webinar with our members to review progress on these initiatives.

Zach McCandless

Zach McCandless grew up in the truck business. He worked the parts counter while he was still in high school. He ran parts to the mechanics in the shop. Later, he sold school buses, a little-known part of the McCandless Truck Center business. In March of 2022, he was deployed to run McCandless Truck Center in Las Vegas, a legacy dealership launched in 1969 by his late grandfather, John McCandless.

It was “an interesting time” to be installed as general manager of a truck dealership, McCandless says. There were lingering business distortions caused by COVID. The industry was plagued by equipment shortages. He navigated those challenges and says today the Las Vegas Truck Center is performing well.

His new position as a Nevada Trucking Association board member will give him a more powerful megaphone to spread the word about one of his favorite subjects – diesel engine innovations.

“We have to let governments know how clean a diesel engine is today, compared to the perception from pre-2004 emissions,” McCandless said. “People (think of) an old 1990 dirt hauler billowing black smoke. That’s the perception of every commercial truck on the road today, and it’s not true. Today’s trucks are the cleanest and safest on the road.”

McCandless Truck Center of Las Vegas is one of 7 locations in Nevada, Colorado and Wyoming. Zach’s father, Scott, and brothers Adam and Corey are in the Colorado locations.

“Nobody comes to work saying, ‘today I’m gonna get in a crash, or I’m gonna injure myself today,’” said Brian Boyer.

As a Field Safety Adviser at FedEx Freight, Boyer spends his days reducing the risk of those occurrences. But he’s quick to emphasize he doesn’t do it alone.

“It’s not something you can do by yourself,” he says. Everyone is involved, “at all levels, from managing director down to the newest employee.”

Brian Boyer holding 2024 Safety Professional of the Year award.

Boyer is also the Nevada Trucking Association’s Safety Professional of the Year, nominated by his employer, and honored earlier this year at the annual Safety Award Luncheon. He’s charged with safety oversight in five western states with 11 FedEx service centers and 7 maintenance facilities. He currently boasts the safest district in the company. As he travels his district, Boyer says he meets with small groups to hear their ideas for safety improvements.

“We have a multi-generational workforce here at FedEx. At any given time you could be dealing with five generations. They all have different points of view and different inputs. I try to engage them, have the conversation, to build a culture that’s safe.

“If you can get a team that’s wants to be safe, and wants to look out for each other, that’s the secret to success. The gamut goes from vehicle accidents, to personal injuries, to making sure our workspace is clean and accident-free.”

Boyer is a 25-year FedEx veteran. He started as a driver, then became a trainer, and moved into safety 7 years ago. He’s also an army veteran who was stationed on the border between East and West Germany in the early 1980s.

Safety Professional of the Year is more than a title. Many times. people in the industry approach the title holder for advice. Boyer is happy to help.

“I’ll work with NTA, and share not only within our own company, but within the industry,” he said.

Walmart driver Tony Miller says he’s a cheerful, optimistic guy. Still, he was surprised when he clinched Driver of the Year at the Nevada Trucking Association’s annual award luncheon.

“It was a complete shock,” he said. “I was taking a drink of water when they announced me, and I choked on the water!”

Miller’s been driving for 36 years, six of them at Walmart, where he underwent intensive training in Bentonville as part of the hiring process. Even with 30 years under his belt, he found the training valuable.

His number-one safety tip: Be a duck.

“The younger drivers – they get stressed by traffic and other things. I say ‘be a duck.’ Just control what you can. Control your 80,000 pound vehicle and let everything else fall off your back like water on a duck.”

Anthony Miller, 2024 NV Driver of the Year

Miller applied to Walmart after watching YouTube videos that featured veteran Walmart drivers talking about the job.

“It’s been a wonderful journey,” Miller said. “I’ve never been treated better at a company than I have at Walmart.” The company’s drivers share their wisdom with each other, and he’s happy to teach others.

“My personal goal is to be an example. The awards are fantastic. I’m striving to be the best in my industry, but it’s not just about me. It’s about keeping the roads safe.”

The Nevada Trucking Association staff and volunteers joined the Nevada Highway Patrol at both the Sloan and Garson Inspection Stations on September 16th and 18th respectively. Additionally, the NHP hosted a Driver Appreciation Event at the Elko Station on September 17th. Over the course of these three events, we provided lunches and goody bags to more than 800 drivers. Here are just a few of the photos from our events.

A special shout out to the team at Truline Corp. for all your help and support. The event at Sloan would not be possible without you!

John’s Spring & Suspension
Makro Trucks, LLC
Purple Wave Auction
Variegated Industries

As the dust settles from one of the most consequential elections in our nation’s history, the trucking industry can finally breathe a sigh of relief. The election of Donald Trump as President marks not just a political shift, but a lifeline for the backbone of America’s economy: our trucking sector. For years, misguided mandates pushing heavy-duty trucks away from reliable diesel toward unproven electric vehicles (EVs) posed an existential threat to our operations, supply chains, and the very mobility that keeps goods flowing across this great country. Today, those threats are dismantled, thanks to decisive action at the EPA and in Congress. This is a victory for common sense, innovation, and the hardworking men and women who keep America moving.

Let’s be clear: the push for EV mandates wasn’t about progress—it was about ideology and gaining control through fear. California’s Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) regulation, which required manufacturers to sell escalating percentages of zero-emission trucks—reaching 100% by 2045—would have crippled the industry. Coupled with the state’s Omnibus Low NOx rules, these policies aimed to phase out diesel engines, ignoring the harsh realities of long-haul trucking: limited battery range, inadequate charging infrastructure, skyrocketing costs, and unreliable performance in extreme weather. The result? Disrupted deliveries, higher prices for consumers, and job losses across the supply chain. The Nevada Trucking Association has fought tirelessly against these overreaches, knowing they would strangle our members and the broader economy.

Enter President Trump’s administration and its swift response. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, a champion for energy independence, led the charge by invoking the Congressional Review Act (CRA)—a powerful tool allowing Congress to overturn late-term regulations from the previous administration. In a series of bipartisan votes, the Senate revoked California’s EPA waivers for the ACT and heavy-duty NOx rules, effectively nullifying the mandates nationwide. The House followed suit, striking down three key waivers that empowered California’s aggressive emissions standards. These actions, finalized just months into the new term, have removed the regulatory sword hanging over diesel-powered fleets. No longer will truckers face forced electrification that ignores physics and economics. Zeldin’s leadership at the EPA, combined with congressional resolve, has restored sanity to federal policy, ensuring diesel remains the lifeblood of efficient, affordable freight transport.

This win reverberates especially loudly in Nevada, where our state’s fortunes are inextricably linked to our neighbors. California and Nevada share the second-longest state border in America—over 500 miles of interconnected highways and trade routes. What happens in Sacramento doesn’t stay there; California’s rules have historically spilled over via interstate commerce, forcing Nevada fleets to comply with out-of-state mandates or face penalties. EV requirements would have jammed our borders with incompatible vehicles, slowed cross-state hauls, and inflated costs for everything from groceries to construction materials. Now, with these barriers lifted, Nevada’s trucking industry can thrive, supporting jobs and growth without the fear of regulatory whiplash.

I must also extend a heartfelt thank you to Alex Epstein, author of Fossil Future, for his unwavering voice of reason in this debate. In a sea of alarmist rhetoric demonizing fossil fuels, Epstein’s clear-eyed analysis has illuminated the moral and practical case for energy abundance to promote human flourishing. His work has armed industry leaders like us with the intellectual firepower to push back against anti-diesel zealotry, reminding policymakers that fossil fuels power progress, not peril. Without thinkers like Epstein, we might still be shackled to unattainable green fantasies.

President Trump’s victory isn’t just a policy reset—it’s a promise kept to the drivers, dispatchers, and families who embody the American spirit of hard work and ingenuity. With EV mandates in the rearview, we can focus on true innovation: safer roads, smarter fuels, and a resilient supply chain. The road ahead is wide open. Let’s drive it together.

US Drug Test Centers

Helping fleets and drivers stay compliant across the country

US Drug Test Centers can handle your company’s workplace safety with the utmost care. Unlike other companies that simply offer standard drug testing, we are qualified to offer DOT-compliant packages with all the required components!

• Nationwide Drug & Alcohol testing at over 20,000 locations
• DQ Files & Equipment Management
• Random Drug & Alcohol Consortium & Clearinghouse Management
• Drug Free Workplace Policy Manual Creation
• DOT Required Supervisor Training

Contact US Drug Test Centers at 866-566-026 or info@usdrugtestcenters.com

Check out their company at: www.usdrugtestcenters.com

Goodyear Commercial Tires and Retreads

Up to 34% savings for Nevada Trucking Association Members

Whether you run one vehicle, one dozen or a large fleet, your Nevada Trucking Association membership earns you substantial pricing discounts on Goodyear, Cooper^® Tires and Kelly^® Tires products based on the breadth and buying power of the NEVADA TRUCKING ASSOCIATION member base.

Get exclusive discounted prices on:
Goodyear and Cooper Commercial Tires
Goodyear Retreads
Goodyear and Kelly Passenger and Light Truck Tires

PRICING EXCLUSIVE TO NEVADA TRUCKING ASSOCIATION MEMBERS
Goodyear Nevada Trucking Association Price List

For a complete list of tire pricing, contact:

Roland Corona
roland_corona@goodyear.com
(209) 576-5064

Gerardo Madrigal
gerardo_madrigal@goodyear.com
(350) 226-7619

Remember the fallen. Honor those who serve.

Teach the next generation the value of freedom. It’s the mission of Wreaths Across America.

You can join us by sponsoring a wreath, volunteering or partnering with us on National Wreaths Across America Day and every day.

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The Nevada Trucking Association is again partnering with Wreaths Across America to fill (virtually) one trailer load of sponsored veterans’ wreaths to send to local veteran’s cemeteries.

On December 13, 2025, Wreaths Across America donors and volunteers will Remember and Honor our veterans by laying veterans’ wreaths on the graves of our country’s fallen heroes. Please help us honor and remember as many fallen heroes as possible by sponsoring a wreath(s), volunteering on Wreaths Day, or inviting your family & friends to attend events across the country.

Thank you so much for supporting the Nevada Trucking Association and Wreaths Across America!

Use the QR code above or click this link to sponsor wreaths or to volunteer.

www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/nevadatrucking

Feel free to contact Patti@NevadaTrucking.com if you have any questions.

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Reno, Nevada 89521

(775) 673-6111

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