Reflections from Washington DC at the TIA Policy Forum
By Mike Williams, Principal at AGX Freight, TIA Board of Directors (at-large) Member and Transportation Law Attorney (Of Counsel Taylor Nelson Slattery Bernard)
This week, I had the honor of joining nearly 130 fellow TIA members for the 2025 TIA Policy Forum. As an industry veteran and member of the TIA Board of Directors, TIA’s annual “fly-in” is one of the most important events on my calendar. It’s where the best of the best freight brokers, so critical to America’s supply chains, step outside the day to day business and engage directly with members of Congress and their staff to ensure our industry’s voice is heard on the issues that matter most.
This year’s Policy Forum was packed with insight, energy, and a sense of urgency. Over the course of almost 140 meetings on Capitol Hill, we tackled freight fraud and cargo theft and addressed pending legislation to modernize outdated broker regulations and establish clear national carrier selection standards.
Setting the Stage: A Warm Welcome & Big Turnout
We kicked off on Monday evening at the Morrow Hotel with an opening reception overlooking the D.C. skyline. There, we were welcomed by several members of Congress — Representatives Bresnahan, Barrett, Kean, Begich, and Kim — who underscored the critical role logistics plays in every congressional district in the nation.
Turnout was fantastic and spoke volumes: 130+ participants, 140 Congressional meetings scheduled, and a legislative agenda sharper than ever. For those of us in the industry, the numbers tell a powerful story:
A $343 billion industry employing 126,000 people nationwide.
An industry that grows 2–3 times faster than GDP, saving shippers money while cutting emissions.
And an industry rooted in entrepreneurship, with 70% of TIA’s 1,800 member companies family-owned.
That’s the foundation we carried into our meetings on the Hill.
Day One: Fraud, FMCSA, and a Full Day on the Hill
Tuesday morning began with remarks from Senator Deb Fischer of Nebraska. Senator Fischer, long a champion of infrastructure and supply chain policy, set the tone: Washington cannot overlook the challenges faced by freight professionals, particularly as fraud and theft surge nationwide.
Her remarks dovetailed seamlessly into a roundtable on fraud in the supply chain — one of the most pressing issues facing our sector. Cargo theft and strategic fraud schemes are costing the U.S. economy an estimated $35 billion annually, much of it tied to foreign criminal networks. Fraud doesn’t just hurt companies like AGX — it drives up costs for every American family at the checkout line.
Andrew Smith of Circle Logistics, Jerry Jacobs of Prosponsive Logistics, and Dan O’Sullivan of United States of Freight shared keen insights allowing the conclusion reached by many in attendance that this is no longer just an existential threat to brokers around the country; it’s a national security issue. The solutions we carried to Congress were equally clear: empower FMCSA to assess penalties for unauthorized brokerage, enforce real business address requirements, and identify fraudulent company registration patterns. These commonsense reforms are at the heart of the Household Goods Shipping Consumer Protection Act (H.R. 880/S. 337).
Following the panel of peers, we heard from FMCSA Chief Counsel Jesse Elison, a former colleague at Taylor Nelson Slattery Bernard. Elison acknowledged the complexities FMCSA faces balancing enforcement with a modern freight economy — but also emphasized the agency’s commitment to cracking down on illegal actors and solving the industry’s toughest challenges.
From there, we teamed up with Rob Hooper from Atlantic Logistics and TIA’s Anthony Mascarenhas and started the day on Capitol Hill in the Rayburn House Office Building for a transportation reauthorization briefing, before dispersing to our scheduled meetings. We met with Senators and House Representatives and their staff, where we expressed the pressing matters for legislative work:
Our Policy Priorities
1. Household Goods Shipping Consumer Protection Act
Targets cargo theft and strategic fraud.
Strengthens FMCSA enforcement powers.
Protects consumers from inflated prices caused by supply chain crime.
2. Broker Modernization Act
Repeals outdated 1980s rules that let carriers demand broker records — a relic from when brokers were simply agents of carriers.
Finalizes long-delayed broker qualification standards from MAP-21 (requiring experience or proven knowledge).
Clarifies the line between dispatch services and brokerages, closing loopholes exploited by unregulated operators.
3. Motor Carrier Safety Selection Standard Act
Establishes a national standard for vetting carriers: DOT registration, minimum insurance, and FMCSA safety compliance.
Solves the problem of thousands of carriers without formal safety ratings.
Provides brokers and shippers a consistent, reliable framework for ensuring safety in the marketplace.
Each of these priorities resonated strongly with lawmakers. These are not partisan issues — they’re about protecting businesses, consumers, and the integrity of the supply chain.
Beyond Policy: Relationships & Perspective
Of course, forums like this are not only about bills and regulations. They are about relationships. Walking the halls of Congress with fellow TIA members reminded me how much stronger we are together. Whether it was connecting with a small, family-owned brokerage from the Midwest or a large international 3PL, the message was the same: our industry is indispensable, and our concerns must be heard.
Tuesday evening’s dinner brought us back together for a keynote from CNN political analyst Brad Todd. His analysis of the 2025 political landscape — from election dynamics to the legislative gridlock we’re likely to face in the next Congress — provided critical context for how we advance our priorities in the months ahead.
Looking Ahead
As I reflect on these two days, a few takeaways stand out:
Fraud is the crisis of the moment. It affects every shipper, carrier, and consumer. Solving it will require updated laws, stronger enforcement, and vigilance from all of us.
Modernization is overdue. Regulations written in 1980 no longer make sense in a digital, real-time freight economy. The Broker Modernization Act is essential to bringing rules into the 21st century.
Safety is not optional. Establishing a national carrier selection standard will improve accountability, reduce legal uncertainty, and ultimately save lives.
I left Washington both proud and motivated. Proud of how far our industry has come — from family-owned businesses to a $343 billion engine of the U.S. economy. And motivated to continue the fight, because our work is far from done.
On behalf of AGX Freight, and as a TIA Board Member, I’m grateful to my fellow advocates who walked the halls of Congress this week. Together, we are ensuring that the Freight Life is not only about moving goods efficiently, but also about standing up for integrity, safety, and the future of American logistics.