A new piece of legislation aimed at tightening national security around military logistics has been introduced by Tom Cotton and Elise Stefanik. The proposal seeks to block Chinese-linked trucking companies from transporting sensitive military cargo for the United States Department of Defense.
The legislation, titled the “Trucking Security and CCP Disclosure Act of 2026,” would require any carrier contracted by the Defense Department to certify that it is not owned, controlled, or significantly connected to companies identified as Chinese military entities.
Those entities are listed under Section 1260H of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021, which mandates that the Pentagon track companies tied to the Chinese military.
Under the proposed law, trucking companies would also have to ensure that subcontractors and independent drivers involved in transporting military equipment meet the same requirements.
Supporters of the bill argue that the measure addresses a potential national security vulnerability within the U.S. logistics system. Concerns have been raised that foreign-linked carriers operating in the United States could gain access to information about the movement of sensitive military equipment.
According to industry reporting highlighted by the logistics outlet FreightWaves, some experts warn that foreign actors could theoretically track or gather intelligence about U.S. military shipments moving through commercial freight networks.
Transportation adviser Rob Carpenter raised concerns about the vetting process for commercial drivers involved in cross-state trucking. He questioned whether individuals with ties to foreign governments could potentially obtain commercial driver credentials and operate within the U.S. freight system without sufficient oversight.
Speaking about the bill, Cotton emphasized the importance of carefully vetting the companies entrusted with transporting military hardware.
The proposal reflects growing bipartisan concern in Washington about security risks linked to supply chains and foreign influence, particularly involving companies connected to the government of China.
If enacted, the legislation would add another layer of scrutiny to defense transportation contracts and ensure that companies moving sensitive equipment for the U.S. military have no operational ties to entities associated with the Chinese military or the Chinese Communist Party.
The bill now heads into the congressional legislative process, where it will be reviewed by committees in both the House and Senate before any potential vote.
