Regulations
FMCSA Seeks Comment on Fuel Hauler's Bid to Use Pulsing Brake Lights
R.B. Stewart Petroleum Products wants a five-year exemption to run Intellistop modules that flash rear lamps four times when the brakes go on. Comments are due Nov. 25.
FMCSA says reformed DataQs review process is now in place in all 50 states
Drivers and carriers challenging inspection, violation or crash data now get a three-stage review with firm state deadlines, but the burden of proof stays with them.
FMCSA widens fuel hauler hours-of-service waiver to ethanol and heating oil
The expanded waiver lets eligible tanker drivers log up to 16 hours of driving in a 24-hour period through Dec. 16, with rest and reporting conditions attached.
FMCSA Drops In-Cab ELD Manual, Driver Self-Reporting and Some Inspection Paperwork Rules
Three final rules published in June 2026 trimmed paperwork requirements for drivers and carriers, with all three taking effect July 22, 2026.
FMCSA Proposes Restoring 30 Days of Automatic Hours-of-Service Relief After Emergency Declarations
A January 2026 proposal would undo the 14-day cap FMCSA set in 2023 on the automatic relief that follows a governor's or the agency's regional emergency declaration.
FMCSA Interim Rule Sharply Restricts Non-Domiciled CDLs
Effective September 29, 2025, the emergency rule limits non-domiciled CDLs to holders of H-2A, H-2B and E-2 status, and FMCSA estimates about 194,000 current holders will leave the freight market.
Trump Order Makes English-Proficiency Violations an Out-of-Service Offense for Truck Drivers
Executive Order 14286, signed April 28, 2025, told FMCSA to rescind 2016 enforcement guidance within 60 days and directed a review of state-issued non-domiciled CDLs.
Justice Department Proposes Moving Marijuana to Schedule III, Raising Drug-Testing Questions for Trucking
The proposal published May 21, 2024, did not change DOT drug testing, but trucking groups asked what rescheduling could eventually mean for CDL drivers.
Labor Department Finalizes Independent Contractor Rule, Returning to Six-Factor Test
The January 9, 2024, rule replaced the 2021 'core factors' approach with a totality-of-the-circumstances test that owner-operators and carriers would have to apply to truck leases and dispatch practices.
FMCSA Final Rule Lets It Suspend Brokers Whose Financial Security Falls Below $75,000
A November 2023 rule tightened requirements for broker and freight forwarder bonds and trusts to cut down on unpaid claims by motor carriers.
Clearinghouse Reaches Three Years of Data, Ending Manual Drug and Alcohol Checks With Prior Employers
As of January 6, 2023, a pre-employment query of FMCSA's Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse satisfied the federal requirement to check a new CDL driver's drug and alcohol violation history.
FMCSA Issues Interim Guidance on When Dispatch Services Need Broker Authority
In November 2022, FMCSA clarified the definitions of broker and bona fide agent and listed factors that would require a dispatch service to register as a broker.
FMCSA Opens Applications for Truck Leasing Task Force
In April 2022, FMCSA began recruiting members for a task force required by the infrastructure law to examine truck lease agreements, including predatory lease-purchase deals.
Biden Signs Infrastructure Law With Under-21 Apprenticeship Pilot and Truck Safety Mandates
In November 2021, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act became law, bringing new highway money and a list of trucking provisions.
FMCSA Grants Hours-of-Service Relief to Fuel Haulers After Colonial Pipeline Shutdown
In May 2021, FMCSA issued a temporary emergency exemption for drivers moving gasoline, diesel and jet fuel to 17 states and DC after the pipeline went offline.
FMCSA Proposes Guidance Defining Where Yard Moves Count as On-Duty Time
In January 2021, FMCSA asked for comments on proposed guidance listing which properties qualify as yards for hours-of-service logging.