Due to their weight and size, motor vehicle accidents in which large commercial vehicles are involved often result in severe injuries and even death. In an effort to prevent commercial vehicle accidents, trucking companies and truck drivers face many regulations. Some trucking companies, however, have found ways around some of these regulations.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is one governmental agency tasked with managing and enforcing safety regulations related to the trucking industry. While FMCSA auditors have the ability to close down trucking operations for safety violations, many of these same trucking companies simply open under another name.

Nicknamed "chameleon carriers" many of the trucking fleets have multiple safety violations including operating hazardous vehicles and employing truck drivers with multiple traffic safety citations. When a trucking company is deemed "unsatisfactory" they are shut down. Oftentimes, however, these same exact companies apply for a new U.S. DOT number and re-open within a matter of days.

According to an audit recently conducted by the U.S. Government Accountability Office, 217 individuals were killed in crashes involving chameleon trucks within the last five years. The agency also estimated that another 3,500 individuals were injured in crashes involving so-called chameleon trucks and truck drivers.

Each year the federal government receives roughly 66,000 applications for U.S. DOT numbers from trucking and bus companies. Only about two percent, however, of those companies who apply are cross-checked with a list of companies shut down for safety violations.

In response to criticism by safety advocates over the ease and swiftness by which these companies are able to apply for licenses and re-open, FMCSA officials contend they don't have the resources to police such companies. Unless steps are taken to improve how trucking companies and chameleon companies are monitored, trucking accidents will continue to occur and innocent individuals will continue to be injured and killed.

Source: WRAL, "Chameleon truckers creating dangerous driving conditions," Cullen Browder, Oct. 29, 2012