Regulatory news
Trucking compliance news
Federal and state regulatory developments affecting US motor carriers. Updates from FMCSA, IRS, PHMSA, TSA, and state DOTs as they happen.
- 2026-09-08UCR
FMCSA Finalizes 2027 UCR Fee Increase - Bracket 1 Rises to $55
FMCSA published the final rule adopting the UCR Plan's 2027 fee schedule on September 1, 2026, effective October 1. Every bracket rises about 20% - Bracket 1 (0–2 power units) goes from $46 to $55.
- 2026-06-11Data
May 2026 New USDOT Registrations and FMCSA's Cutover to Motus
FMCSA moved USDOT registration to its new Motus system in May 2026, ending new applications in the legacy Unified Registration System after May 14. What the cutover means for new carriers and how to read the month's registration data.
- 2026-05-03Software
Fleet Compliance Management Software Trends 2026
Integrated fleet-compliance platforms track MCS-150, UCR, 2290, BOC-3, and driver-qualification deadlines in one place. Here is what they offer and when a point solution still makes sense.
- 2026-05-03MVR
MVR Records Integrity - Common Errors
Carriers need a pre-employment MVR from every State that licensed the driver in the prior 3 years (49 CFR §391.23) and an annual MVR from each licensing State (§391.25). Timing gaps between a State action and the MVR you pull are a common blind spot.
- 2026-05-03CSA
FMCSA SMS Scoring Methodology 2026 - Crash Preventability and Announced Changes
How the Crash Preventability Determination Program keeps Not Preventable crashes out of the Crash Indicator BASIC, and where FMCSA's announced SMS methodology changes stand.
- 2026-05-03HOS
Sleeper Berth Split Provision Update 2026
The 2020 sleeper-berth split rule in 49 CFR §395.1(g) is unchanged. The 7+3, 8+2, and other qualifying splits all remain compliant.
- 2026-05-03HOS
Personal Conveyance Rule Clarification 2026
FMCSA's personal conveyance guidance (83 FR 26377, June 7, 2018) sets out when off-duty CMV movement counts as PC - including trips to a safe rest location - and why repositioning for the carrier does not.
- 2026-05-03HOS
Hours of Service Exemption Updates 2026
The short-haul and agricultural HOS exceptions in 49 CFR §395.1 continue in 2026: the 150-air-mile short-haul radius, the agricultural planting-and-harvesting exemption, and livestock-hauler relief.
- 2026-05-03IRP
IRP Recordkeeping Audit Prep - 2026 Checklist
IRP carriers must keep the records that support reported distance for the current registration year and the three preceding years; specific document types matter for clean audit findings.
- 2026-05-03IFTA
IFTA Quarterly Return Common Errors and How to Fix Them
Common errors: wrong fuel-tax rate matrix, missing trip records, math errors on multi-jurisdiction summaries.
- 2026-05-03DataQ
FMCSA DataQs Reforms: New State Review Deadlines for 2026
FMCSA revised its DataQs requirements for states: a three-stage review (Initial, Reconsideration, Final) with 21-, 21- and 45-day decision deadlines.
- 2026-05-03EV / ZEV
California Advanced Clean Trucks: What the Rule Covers for Carriers
California's Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) regulation is a zero-emission-vehicle sales requirement for truck manufacturers, plus a one-time reporting requirement for large entities and fleets.
- 2026-05-03ELDT
ELDT Certificate Verification - What Fleets Need to Know
Entry-level driver training (ELDT) is verified electronically through FMCSA's Training Provider Registry (TPR) - by the state before the CDL skills test, not by the hiring carrier. Here is what fleets can check.
- 2026-05-03Medical
DOT Physical Changes Under 49 CFR §391.41 Hold for 2026
The CDL physical qualifications under 49 CFR §391.41 are unchanged in 2026. Walking through the standard exam, common disqualifying conditions.
- 2026-05-03Drug & Alcohol
2026 Random Drug Testing Rate: FMCSA Holds at 50%
FMCSA's 2026 minimum random drug testing rate remains 50% of the average number of driver positions. The random alcohol testing rate remains 10%.
- 2026-05-03Medical
CDL Medical Certification Rule Status: 2026 Update on the Integration Timeline
The FMCSA Medical Certification Integration final rule consolidates state CDL records with federal medical examiner data.
- 2026-05-03Broker
FMCSA Broker Disclosure Rule Status: Where the 2024 Proposal Stands in 2026
FMCSA's November 2024 broker transparency proposal has completed public comment, but no final rule has been published.
- 2026-05-03Permits
State Permits 2026 Checklist: What Carriers Need Beyond Federal Authority
Federal MC authority lets you cross states, but some states add their own weight-distance taxes and permits - NY HUT, KY KYU, NM WDT, OR Weight-Mile, CT HUF - plus MA DPU licensing for intrastate movers.
- 2026-05-03Reinstatement
Authority Reinstatement Process: 2026 Walkthrough After Revocation or Inactivation
When operating authority is revoked or inactive, the cure path depends on why the authority lapsed. Walking through the reinstatement request, BMC-91 cure, and BOC-3 cure.
- 2026-05-03Broker
BMC-84 vs BMC-85: Which Broker Bond Option Makes Sense in 2026
Property brokers must maintain $75,000 in financial responsibility under 49 USC §13906 - BMC-84 surety bond vs BMC-85 trust fund, compared for 2026.
- 2026-05-03Driver Files
Driver Qualification File Checklist Update for 2026
DQ file requirements under 49 CFR Part 391 for 2026: a pre-employment Clearinghouse query and current medical certification are required before a driver operates, and the pre-employment MVR must be in the file within 30 days of hire.
- 2026-05-03CSA
CSA Score Recalibration: How FMCSA Scoring Adjustments Work in 2026
FMCSA announced Safety Measurement System (SMS) enhancements in November 2024. Until they launch, the percentile-based BASIC system still drives intervention thresholds.
- 2026-05-03Audits
DOT Compliance Review Prep: How a Full Audit Differs from New-Entrant
A DOT Compliance Review is a deeper, structured audit that can follow elevated CSA data, crashes, complaints, or a request to change a safety rating.
- 2026-05-03Audits
New-Entrant Safety Audit Prep: A Deep Dive into the FMCSA Checklist
FMCSA must conduct a safety audit of each new motor carrier within 12 months after it begins operations (120 days for passenger carriers). Here are the record areas that drive the result.
- 2026-05-03Industry
EV/ZEV Rules in 2026: Where Federal Trucking Requirements Stand
FMCSA has not issued ZEV-specific operating rules. Zero-emission trucks follow the same FMCSA rules as other CMVs, and 23 USC 127(s) gives battery-electric and natural-gas trucks a federal weight allowance of up to 2,000 lbs.
- 2026-05-03Hours of Service
Hours of Service Rule Status: No Change for 2026, ELD Mandate Stable
FMCSA HOS rules under 49 CFR Part 395 are unchanged in 2026. The ELD mandate continues to apply to CMV drivers required to keep records of duty status, with limited exceptions.
- 2026-05-03Insurance
BIPD Insurance Minimums Under 49 CFR Part 387 Hold for 2026
Federal Bodily Injury and Property Damage minimums for interstate motor carriers stay at $750K general / $5M hazmat under 49 CFR §387 - no 2026 adjustment.
- 2026-05-02Clearinghouse
Clearinghouse-II: CDL Downgrades for Prohibited Drivers; Annual Query Still Required
FMCSA's Clearinghouse-II final rule - requiring states to remove CDL privileges from drivers in prohibited status - took effect November 18, 2024. Annual queries remain mandatory.
- 2026-05-02MCS-150
MCS-150 Biennial Update Cycle: Why So Many Carriers Get Deactivated
The schedule is fixed by USDOT digits - not by your fiscal year. Here's how the deadlines map.
- 2026-05-01IRS / 2290
IRS Form 2290 Deadline Reminder: August 31 for FY 2026 HVUT
IRS Heavy Vehicle Use Tax filing deadline for the 2026 tax year (July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027) is August 31, 2026.
- 2026-04-22IRS / 2290
IRS Form 2290 Changes for the 2026 Tax Year
IRS Instructions for Form 2290 (Rev. July 2026): electronic filing is required for each return reporting and paying tax on 25 or more vehicles.
- 2026-04-15UCR
2026 UCR Fee Schedule Released - Bracket A Holds at $46
The Unified Carrier Registration Plan published its 2026 fee schedule. Bracket A (1–2 power units) holds at $46.
- 2026-04-12UCR
UCR 2026 Fee Schedule: Bracket A Stays at $46
The 2026 UCR fees in 49 CFR 367.40 match 2025: Bracket A (0–2 power units) stays $46. Registration and payment were due before January 1, 2026 for interstate motor carriers, brokers, freight forwarders and leasing companies.
- 2026-04-08IRS / 2290
IRS Form 2290 E-File Deadline Reminders for 2026 Tax Year
IRS Form 2290 HVUT is due August 31 for heavy vehicles (55,000+ lbs taxable gross weight) in use in July of the July–June tax period. Stamped Schedule 1 is required for plate renewal at the DMV.
- 2026-04-08MCS-150
What Changed in MCS-150 for 2026: Same Schedule
The biennial schedule under 49 CFR §390.19T is unchanged.
- 2026-04-02MCS-150
MCS-150 Biennial Updates: FMCSA Pauses Deactivation Enforcement (2026)
FMCSA has temporarily suspended enforcement of biennial updates and USDOT inactivation for updates due on or after June 1, 2026. The update is still required.
- 2026-03-28Broker
Broker License Cost 2026 Update
Property broker $75,000 financial-responsibility floor under 49 USC §13906 is unchanged for 2026.