Briefly: FMCSA warns of phishing emails seeking personal information -

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is warning members of the trucking industry to be on the lookout for fraudulent emails seeking personal information.

The agency said an email is being sent to registered entities by someone pretending to be FMCSA and requesting that you complete attached forms, which ask for your Social Security number and USDOT PIN. FMCSA said it does not require such information on the official FMCSA forms. It warns recipients to not fill out at attached forms.

The FMCSA reminds members of the trucking community to always refer to the official FMCSA forms.

In some cases, those sending the phishing emails are also asking for a certificate of insurance and driver’s license to help protect you against fraud. There is also a threat that if you don’t respond within a day that you will be fined, which is also not an FMCSA practice.

The email shows that it came from either [email protected] or [email protected], which are not legitimate email addresses and are not used or owned by FMCSA.

Next, if you reply to the email, it actually goes to @fmcsa-safety-fmcsa.com, which is also not a domain owned or used by FMCSA. Not only is some of this information personal identifiable information, but this information would also allow the unauthorized party to gain access to your FMCSA account. The email containing the link is also very convincing that this is coming from FMCSA.

Communications from FMCSA relating to information requests of this type would either request you to log in to your portal account at FMCSA Login (dot.gov) or come directly from an FMCSA dedicated mailbox. While these emails typically end in a “.gov”, we encourage our stakeholders and customers to verify any email or communication they feel to be suspicious with the appropriate agency.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recommends following certain procedures for email verification.

Sheetz holds appreciation sweepstakes

Sheetz, the Mid-Atlantic restaurant and convenience chain, announce it has partnered with Trucker Path, Inc. to launch its third annual National Truck Driver Appreciation Sweepstakes.

Through the sweepstakes, truck drivers have the opportunity to win weekly prizes that include $500 in Sheetz gift cards and additional rewards from ZOA Energy Drinks. The grand prize winner will receive $2,500 in Sheetz gift cards, an Apple iPad, Beats by Dre bluetooth headphones and other rewards as well.

The sweepstakes runs now through Aug. 31.

Drawings will be held every Sunday to determine the weekly prize winner. The grand prize drawing will be held on Sept.1, and the winner will be announced Sept. 17, during National Truck Driver Appreciation Week.Truck drivers can enter by going to https://swpp.me/e/ntda. Entrants must possess a commercial driver’s license to participate.

Two association execs to lead council

The American Trucking Associations recently announced John Esparza, president and CEO of the Texas Trucking Association, and Tony Bradley, president and CEO of the Arizona Trucking Association, have been elected by their state trucking association peers to serve as the chairman and vice chairman, respectively, of the Trucking Association Executives Council.

Esparza previously served as the TAEC vice chair and succeeds Shannon Newton, president of the Arkansas Trucking Association, who recently concluded her one-year term as TAEC chair. As TAEC chairman, Esparza serves as the TAEC representative to the ATA Executive Committee and Strategic Priorities Committee. As vice chairman, Bradley serves as first alternate should Mr. Esparza be unable to participate in an Executive Committee or Strategic Priorities Committee meeting.

TAEC is comprised of staff executives of state trucking associations and conferences affiliated with ATA. The purpose of TAEC is to promote the trucking industry, contribute to the improvement of the associations and organizations established to serve the trucking industry and advance the professional stature and capabilities of the managers and executives of such associations.