Chicago Fleet Accused of Massive ELD Fraud Ring via Telegram

Extra Mile International (207 trucks, Orland Park IL) faces charges for using revoked ELDs and Telegram group where drivers requested extra hours in logs. Managing partner admitted owning Serbian dispatch with records. Contempt hearing in April.

⚖️🚨 ELD fraud scheme exposed

Extra Mile International (EMI), a 207-truck fleet based in Orland Park, Illinois, is under investigation for a massive hours-of-service (HOS) fraud scheme using revoked ELD devices and a Telegram group where drivers requested log manipulation.

📋 The Facts

The Company:

• Name: Extra Mile International (EMI)
• Size: 207 trucks
• Location: Orland Park, Illinois
• Nationality: Serbian-American company
• Managing Partner: Nikola Mihailovic

The Scheme:

According to court documents from the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois:

• EMI used ELDs revoked by FMCSA that allowed log manipulation
• They operated a Telegram group where drivers requested extra hours in their records
• Half a dozen drivers provided sworn statements (affidavits) with Telegram screenshots
• Nikola Mihailovic (EMI managing partner) admitted owning the Serbian dispatch company that holds the hours records

The Investigation:

• Contempt hearing scheduled for April 2026
• Authorities have photographic evidence (screenshots)
• Sworn testimony from current and former drivers
• Possible violation of multiple federal regulations (FMCSA)

🚨 Why This Is So Serious

1. Public Safety Violation

HOS rules exist to prevent drivers from operating exhausted:

• Limit of 11 hours driving after 10 hours rest
• No more than 60 hours in 7 days or 70 hours in 8 days
• Manipulating logs = fatigued drivers on the road = risk of fatal accidents

2. Unfair Competition

Carriers that violate HOS can:

• Move more freight than competitors who follow the rules
• Charge lower rates (because they "get" more free hours)
• Destroy the market for legal carriers

3. Revoked ELD = Out-of-Service

Since 2025, using a revoked ELD is an out-of-service violation:

• The truck must be taken out of service immediately
• Severe fines for fleet and driver
• But it's extremely difficult to detect in roadside inspections

📱 The Telegram Group

The most shocking part of the case is the digital evidence:

How It Worked:

1. EMI drivers were in a private Telegram group
2. When a driver needed more hours to complete a trip:
• They sent a message to the group
• Dispatch (operated from Serbia) manually adjusted the logs
• The ELD showed "available" hours that didn't actually exist
3. Screenshots of these conversations are now in authorities' hands

Example Message (according to documents):

"I need 2 more hours to reach Chicago, can you add them?"

And dispatch responded:

"Done, you now have 2 extra hours."

This is direct HOS fraud.

🇷🇸 The Serbian Connection

EMI is a Serbian-American company, and during the investigation it was discovered that:

• The dispatch operates from Serbia
• Nikola Mihailovic (EMI managing partner in the US) admitted owning the Serbian company that controls the records
• This complicates the investigation because servers and records are outside the US
• Authorities will need international cooperation to obtain complete evidence

⚖️ Legal Consequences

For the Company (EMI):

• Federal fines for HOS violations (up to $16,000 per violation)
• DOT authority revocation (permanently shut down EMI)
• Civil lawsuits from accident victims (if any)
• Criminal charges for executives (possible jail time)

For Drivers:

• CDL suspension (up to 120 days for first offense)
• Individual fines (up to $2,500 per violation)
• Destroyed CSA record (makes future employment difficult)
• Possible criminal liability if actively participated in fraud

Contempt Hearing:

The hearing scheduled for April 2026 will determine:

• If EMI violated previous court orders
• If there's sufficient evidence to proceed with criminal charges
• What immediate sanctions are imposed

🔍 How It Was Discovered

The case came to light because:

1. Disgruntled drivers reported the scheme to authorities
2. Half a dozen former employees signed sworn statements
3. They provided Telegram group screenshots as evidence
4. Federal investigators began auditing EMI logs
5. They discovered impossible patterns in records (e.g., driver with 18 hours driving in one day)

🚛 Lesson For the Industry

1. ELDs Are NOT Foolproof

Although ELDs are designed to prevent fraud:

• Revoked devices (removed from FMCSA list) can still operate
• Backend manipulation is possible if the ELD provider is complicit
• Roadside detection is nearly impossible — looks like a normal ELD

2. FMCSA Needs Better Enforcement

Current problems:

• FMCSA can revoke an ELD, but there's no way to "turn off" devices in the field
• Roadside inspections verify ELD presence, but not if device is on approved list
• Log audits detect suspicious patterns, but take months

3. Whistleblowers Are Key

This case proves that honest drivers are the best defense:

• If you work for a fleet that manipulates logs, report it
• FMCSA has whistleblower protection programs
• Saving lives is worth more than a job

💡 If You're a Driver or Fleet

For Drivers:

• DON'T accept log manipulation — it's your CDL and your life at risk
• If your fleet uses revoked ELD or manipulates hours, find another job
• If you see fraud, report it to FMCSA (1-800-832-5660)
• Protect yourself: Screenshot everything, save evidence

For Legal Fleets:

• Verify your ELD provider — ensure it's on FMCSA's approved list
• Audit your logs regularly — suspicious patterns = red flags
• Train dispatch — never pressure drivers to violate HOS
• Safety culture — reward compliance, not violations

🔗 Context: Other Investigations

EMI isn't the only recent case:

• 2024-2025: FMCSA has revoked dozens of ELD providers for allowing manipulation
• CDL mills: The new "Dalilah's Law" seeks to shut down fraudulent schools that issue CDLs without real training
• Foreign dispatchers: Some proposals seek to ban dispatch services operated outside the US

📞 Resources

• Report HOS fraud: FMCSA National Consumer Complaint Database (1-800-832-5660)
• Verify if your ELD is approved: FMCSA ELD Registry
• Understand HOS: The Truck Savers™ offers DOT compliance courses (in-person in Monterrey and online)

📍 Houston, TX
📞 (713) 455-5566
🌐 www.thetrucksavers.com

🚨 Conclusion

The Extra Mile International case is a reminder that:

1. ELD fraud is real and widespread
2. The consequences are severe (fines, jail, CDL loss)
3. Technology alone doesn't stop fraud — human enforcement is needed
4. Honest drivers are the first line of defense

If you see something, say something. Everyone's safety on the road depends on it.