Transportation and Logistics Hiring Reform Act of 2017

To enhance interstate commerce by creating a national hiring standard for motor carriers, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Transportation and Logistics Hiring Reform Act of 2017 2. Definitions In this Act, the following definitions apply: (1) Entity The term entity (A) a shipper, except for an individual shipper (as defined in section 13102 of title 49, United States Code) or a consignee; (B) a broker, a freight forwarder, or a household goods freight forwarder (as such terms are defined in section 13102 of title 49, United States Code); (C) a non-vessel-operating common carrier, an ocean freight forwarder, or an ocean transportation intermediary (as such terms are defined in section 40102 of title 46, United States Code); (D) an indirect air carrier authorized to operate under a standard security program approved by the Transportation Security Administration; (E) a customs broker licensed in accordance with section 111.2 of title 19, Code of Federal Regulations; (F) an interchange motor carrier subject to paragraphs (1)(B) and (2) of section 13902(i) of title 49, United States Code; or (G) a warehouse (as defined in Article 7–102 of the Uniform Commercial Code). (2) Motor carrier The term motor carrier (3) State The term State (A) each of the 50 States; (B) a political subdivision of any such State; (C) an intrastate agency; (D) any other political agency of two or more States; (E) the District of Columbia; (F) American Samoa; (G) the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands; (H) the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; (I) the Territory of Guam; and (J) the Virgin Islands of the United States. 3. National hiring standards for motor carriers (a) National standard Before tendering a shipment, but not more than 35 days before the pickup of the shipment by the hired motor carrier, an entity shall verify that the motor carrier, at the time of such verification— (1) is registered with and authorized by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to operate as a motor carrier or household goods motor carrier, if applicable; (2) has the minimum insurance coverage required by Federal law; (3) does not have an unsatisfactory safety rating issued by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration in force; and (4) has not otherwise been ordered by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to discontinue operations. (b) Intended use of data (1) In general Only evidence of an entity’s compliance with subsection (a) may be admitted as evidence or otherwise used in a civil action for damages resulting from a case or legal proceeding in which it is asserted or alleged that an entity’s selection or retention of a motor carrier was negligent. (2) Excluded evidence All other motor carrier data created or maintained by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, including safety measurement system data or analysis of such data, may not be admitted into evidence in a case or legal proceeding described in paragraph (1). 4. Applicability and effective date Notwithstanding any other provision of law, this Act shall apply with respect to any action commenced on or after the date of the enactment of this Act without regard to whether the harm that is the subject of the action, or the conduct that caused the harm, occurred before such date of enactment.

Summary: Transportation and Logistics Hiring Reform Act of 2017 This bill establishes a national hiring standard for motor carriers. The bill defines an"entity" as a person acting as: a shipper or a consignee; a broker, a freight forwarder, or a household goods freight forwarder; a non-vessel-operating common carrier, an ocean freight forwarder, or an ocean transportation intermediary; an indirect air carrier authorized to operate under a Standard Security Program approved by the Transportation Security Administration; a federally licensed customs broker; an interchange motor carrier; or a warehouse. Before tendering a shipment, but not more than 35 days before the pickup of a shipment by the hired motor carrier, an entity shall verify that the carrier: is registered with and authorized by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to operate as a motor carrier or household goods motor carrier; has the minimum insurance coverage required by federal law; does not have an unsatisfactory safety rating issued by the FMCSA; and has not otherwise been ordered by FMCSA to discontinue operations. Only evidence of an entity's compliance with this bill may be admitted as evidence in a civil action for damages resulting from a case or legal proceeding alleging an entity's selection or retention of a motor carrier was negligent. No other motor carrier data created or maintained by the FMCSA, including safety measurement system data or analysis of such data, may be admitted in such case or proceeding.