Why one North Texas building houses 20 different trucking companies – and is it legal?
WFAA
[{'start': '0.240', 'end': '4.319', 'text': 'Some trucking companies are registered'}, {'start': '1.920', 'end': '6.799', 'text': 'to a fake address, hiding in plain'}, {'start': '4.319', 'end': '9.280', 'text': "sight. They're evading federal oversight"}, {'start': '6.799', 'end': '11.759', 'text': 'and putting public safety at risk. In'}, {'start': '9.280', 'end': '13.440', 'text': "tonight's WFAA investigation, senior"}, {'start': '11.759', 'end': '15.679', 'text': 'investigative reporter Tanya Eer'}, {'start': '13.440', 'end': '18.400', 'text': 'uncovers how hidden carriers are'}, {'start': '15.679', 'end': '18.400', 'text': 'slipping through the'}, {'start': '21.880', 'end': '26.960', 'text': 'cracks. West Commerce is home to many'}, {'start': '24.400', 'end': '30.080', 'text': "businesses. There's a body shop, a crab"}, {'start': '26.960', 'end': '33.360', 'text': 'joint. And this building right here, 20'}, {'start': '30.080', 'end': '36.719', 'text': 'trucking companies call it home.'}, {'start': '33.360', 'end': '38.640', 'text': "That's crazy. A WFA investigation found"}, {'start': '36.719', 'end': '41.840', 'text': 'all those companies are registered to'}, {'start': '38.640', 'end': '44.640', 'text': '539 West Commerce, a virtual mailbox'}, {'start': '41.840', 'end': '46.399', 'text': 'spot called Physical Address.com. We are'}, {'start': '44.640', 'end': '48.719', 'text': "a mail handling service and that's all"}, {'start': '46.399', 'end': '50.559', 'text': 'that we do is just handle mail. For as'}, {'start': '48.719', 'end': '53.680', 'text': 'little as eight bucks a month, anybody'}, {'start': '50.559', 'end': '56.719', 'text': 'can set up shop here. No truck required.'}, {'start': '53.680', 'end': '58.480', 'text': "It's also illegal, and here's why. When"}, {'start': '56.719', 'end': '60.000', 'text': 'a trucking company registers with the'}, {'start': '58.480', 'end': '61.719', 'text': 'Federal Motor Carrier Safety'}, {'start': '60.000', 'end': '64.640', 'text': 'Administration, or'}, {'start': '61.719', 'end': '66.880', 'text': 'FMCSA, it must list its principal place'}, {'start': '64.640', 'end': '68.799', 'text': "of business. It's where the company's"}, {'start': '66.880', 'end': '71.119', 'text': 'supposed to keep driver and safety'}, {'start': '68.799', 'end': '73.760', 'text': 'records and where federal regulators can'}, {'start': '71.119', 'end': '76.400', 'text': 'show up to inspect those records. That'}, {'start': '73.760', 'end': '79.360', 'text': 'must be a real physical address, not'}, {'start': '76.400', 'end': '81.360', 'text': 'just a mailbox or a PO box. So, they'}, {'start': '79.360', 'end': '82.720', 'text': "wouldn't actually be physically here."}, {'start': '81.360', 'end': '84.080', 'text': 'No, they would not be working here'}, {'start': '82.720', 'end': '85.680', 'text': 'physically. You know, so if like the'}, {'start': '84.080', 'end': '88.000', 'text': 'federal government wanted to come check'}, {'start': '85.680', 'end': '90.080', 'text': 'records for that company or any of those'}, {'start': '88.000', 'end': '92.560', 'text': "companies, they wouldn't come here. No,"}, {'start': '90.080', 'end': '94.880', 'text': "it's a red flag. Dale Pra owns Freight"}, {'start': '92.560', 'end': '97.360', 'text': 'Validate, a company that tracks fraud'}, {'start': '94.880', 'end': '99.680', 'text': 'and identity theft and trucking. He says'}, {'start': '97.360', 'end': '102.159', 'text': 'this is how hidden carriers thrive,'}, {'start': '99.680', 'end': '104.320', 'text': 'using virtual addresses or PO boxes to'}, {'start': '102.159', 'end': '106.479', 'text': 'dodge scrutiny and operate in the'}, {'start': '104.320', 'end': '109.040', 'text': 'shadows. That the bad guys are less apt'}, {'start': '106.479', 'end': '111.040', 'text': 'to register properly. Take a look at'}, {'start': '109.040', 'end': '113.200', 'text': 'this quiet building in Signal Hill,'}, {'start': '111.040', 'end': '114.960', 'text': "California. Doesn't look like the"}, {'start': '113.200', 'end': '117.119', 'text': 'headquarters of hundreds of trucking'}, {'start': '114.960', 'end': '119.680', 'text': 'companies, right? But federal records'}, {'start': '117.119', 'end': '122.640', 'text': 'show nearly 700 freight companies tied'}, {'start': '119.680', 'end': '126.399', 'text': 'to this single address. Roughly 500 of'}, {'start': '122.640', 'end': '129.039', 'text': 'those companies list the same email. WTF'}, {'start': '126.399', 'end': '131.680', 'text': 'fmcsaol.com.'}, {'start': '129.039', 'end': '133.599', 'text': 'How ridiculous and absurd is this?'}, {'start': '131.680', 'end': '135.840', 'text': 'Cracks reported this exact address to'}, {'start': '133.599', 'end': '138.000', 'text': 'federal regulators two years ago. If we'}, {'start': '135.840', 'end': '140.480', 'text': "all know about it and we've reported it,"}, {'start': '138.000', 'end': '142.560', 'text': 'why is something not being done? FMCSA'}, {'start': '140.480', 'end': '144.080', 'text': 'said in a statement, "The agency has'}, {'start': '142.560', 'end': '146.319', 'text': 'confirmed that the address is a'}, {'start': '144.080', 'end': '148.400', 'text': 'legitimate business address for a motor'}, {'start': '146.319', 'end': '150.440', 'text': 'carrier consultant who represents many'}, {'start': '148.400', 'end': '153.360', 'text': 'small motor carriers based in'}, {'start': '150.440', 'end': '156.160', 'text': 'California." But according to FMCSA\'s'}, {'start': '153.360', 'end': '158.720', 'text': 'website, a motor carrier may not'}, {'start': '156.160', 'end': '160.879', 'text': 'designate the office of a consultant if'}, {'start': '158.720', 'end': '163.519', 'text': 'the motor carrier is not engaged in'}, {'start': '160.879', 'end': '165.599', 'text': "operations at that location. It's"}, {'start': '163.519', 'end': '168.480', 'text': 'impossible to have that be an actual'}, {'start': '165.599', 'end': '170.239', 'text': 'place of business. My argument is we'}, {'start': '168.480', 'end': '172.080', 'text': "know there's something wrong. The agency"}, {'start': '170.239', 'end': '176.319', 'text': 'did not specifically address the use of'}, {'start': '172.080', 'end': '176.319', 'text': 'the email WTF'}, {'start': '176.599', 'end': '182.800', 'text': 'fmcsaol.com. Back in 2023, PRA saw a'}, {'start': '180.080', 'end': '184.959', 'text': 'pattern about 200 carriers a month'}, {'start': '182.800', 'end': '187.280', 'text': 'registering with PO boxes or virtual'}, {'start': '184.959', 'end': '188.319', 'text': 'mailboxes. We would notify FNCSA that'}, {'start': '187.280', 'end': '190.800', 'text': 'says, "Hey, this guy should not be'}, {'start': '188.319', 'end': '192.879', 'text': 'issued as authority." He says the agency'}, {'start': '190.800', 'end': '195.519', 'text': 'listened and now they flag those'}, {'start': '192.879', 'end': '197.200', 'text': 'applications with warning letters. Just'}, {'start': '195.519', 'end': '198.800', 'text': 'because a trucking company uses a'}, {'start': '197.200', 'end': '200.400', 'text': 'virtual address like here on West'}, {'start': '198.800', 'end': '202.720', 'text': "Commerce Street doesn't mean they're up"}, {'start': '200.400', 'end': '205.200', 'text': 'to no good. Some of these owner'}, {'start': '202.720', 'end': '207.599', 'text': 'operators live in their truck. So, a lot'}, {'start': '205.200', 'end': '209.040', 'text': 'of times they will look for, hey, you'}, {'start': '207.599', 'end': '211.200', 'text': "know, I don't really have a physical"}, {'start': '209.040', 'end': '213.920', 'text': 'address. Not everybody who does that is'}, {'start': '211.200', 'end': '215.920', 'text': "a bad guy. Most of the bad guys, that's"}, {'start': '213.920', 'end': '217.280', 'text': "what they're going to do. Agreed. I"}, {'start': '215.920', 'end': '218.799', 'text': "think that's an accurate statement."}, {'start': '217.280', 'end': '221.680', 'text': "That's what the bad guys are going to do"}, {'start': '218.799', 'end': '224.560', 'text': "99% of the time. It's also a public"}, {'start': '221.680', 'end': '226.959', 'text': 'safety matter. Fraudulent carriers have'}, {'start': '224.560', 'end': '228.959', 'text': "80% higher crash rates. When you're"}, {'start': '226.959', 'end': '230.560', 'text': 'driving down the road with your kids in'}, {'start': '228.959', 'end': '232.480', 'text': "your car and there's some guy next to"}, {'start': '230.560', 'end': '234.239', 'text': 'you that maybe got his authority'}, {'start': '232.480', 'end': '236.799', 'text': 'illegally, are you really safe next to'}, {'start': '234.239', 'end': '238.720', 'text': 'that guy? FMCSA registration director'}, {'start': '236.799', 'end': '241.400', 'text': 'Ken Riddle addressed the issue on a'}, {'start': '238.720', 'end': '244.319', 'text': 'podcast last fall. How do we prevent bad'}, {'start': '241.400', 'end': '246.640', 'text': 'actors from getting into the system?'}, {'start': '244.319', 'end': '248.640', 'text': 'Complete the facial scan. He said FMCSA'}, {'start': '246.640', 'end': '251.280', 'text': 'is now trying facial recognition to'}, {'start': '248.640', 'end': '253.360', 'text': 'verify new applicants, but it currently'}, {'start': '251.280', 'end': '255.840', 'text': 'only applies to newcomers. From a'}, {'start': '253.360', 'end': '258.320', 'text': 'registration perspective, we want to be'}, {'start': '255.840', 'end': '260.239', 'text': 'able to verify the identity of the'}, {'start': '258.320', 'end': '263.440', 'text': 'individual registering. The long-term'}, {'start': '260.239', 'end': '265.360', 'text': 'goal is to apply it to everyone, but PRA'}, {'start': '263.440', 'end': '267.120', 'text': "isn't convinced. We don't need to know"}, {'start': '265.360', 'end': '268.880', 'text': "who's behind a webcam. We need to know"}, {'start': '267.120', 'end': '272.400', 'text': "who's behind the operation of that"}, {'start': '268.880', 'end': '274.000', 'text': "company. In Dallas, I'm Tanya Eiser. And"}, {'start': '272.400', 'end': '278.000', 'text': 'if you have a tip for our investigative'}, {'start': '274.000', 'end': '278.000', 'text': 'team, scan the QR code on your screen.'}]