FMCSA warns: new wave of phishing emails targets transportation companies

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has issued an official warning about a 'new aggressive phishing campaign' targeting trucking companies and carriers nationwide.

According to the agency, attackers are sending emails that appear to be official messages from USDOT or FMCSA, but are actually attempts to steal data and money.

On January 30, 2026, FMCSA published an emergency notice reporting an increase in fake letters masquerading as government notifications.

The statement emphasizes:

'These letters often contain professionally formatted documents and links that appear legitimate but are fake.'

The official warning is published on the FMCSA website:
FMCSA ALERT: Recent Phishing Scheme Targets Motor Carriers

Phishing emails may appear as notifications about:

• violations and fines
• the need to update carrier registration
• urgent payment of UCR or other fees
• company data verification

FMCSA specifically clarifies that the agency never requests confidential data via email, such as PINs, banking information, or EIN/SSN numbers.

FMCSA recommends paying attention to several key signals:

• the sender uses domains not related to .gov
• the email contains suspicious links or attachments
• the text creates a sense of urgency ('pay immediately', 'your license will be revoked')
• the website address looks similar to the official one but differs in details

The FMCSA Fraud Alerts page lists examples of fraudulent addresses and domains:
FMCSA Fraud Alerts

If your company receives such an email, FMCSA recommends:

1. Do not click on links or open attachments
2. Do not respond to the sender
3. Report the fraud attempt through the official FBI IC3 portal
4. Contact the FMCSA Contact Center for verification

You can use the federal resource to file a complaint:
FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)

Phishing attacks are becoming increasingly dangerous for transportation companies because carriers regularly interact with government systems — SAFER, DOT registration, UCR, and insurance databases.