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.
- 2026-06-11Data
New USDOT Registrations Dip in May 2026 as FMCSA Cuts Over to Motus
FMCSA logged 15,357 new USDOT registrations in May 2026 - down ~7.1% from April, with interstate-only filings off 15.9% - the same month registration moved to the new Motus system.
- 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.
- 2026-04-28FMCSA
FMCSA 2026 Regulatory Update Roundup: What's in Effect This Quarter
Five FMCSA rule changes that took effect or finished implementation in early 2026 - Clearinghouse-II, ELDT curriculum refresh.
- 2026-04-22IRS / 2290
IRS Form 2290 Changes for the 2026 Tax Year
IRS published the 2026 Heavy Vehicle Use Tax instructions with one administrative change - e-file mandate threshold dropped to 10 vehicles.
- 2026-04-15BOC-3
What Changed in BOC-3 for 2026
A round-up of every BOC-3 process-agent update since January 2025 - the new state addresses, expanded blanket-agent definition under 49 CFR Part 366.
- 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
FMCSA UCR 2026 Fee Schedule Announcement Reaffirms Bracket A
FMCSA confirms the 2026 UCR fee schedule: Bracket A (0–2 power units) stays $46. Renewal deadline Dec 31 for interstate motor carriers and brokers.
- 2026-04-08IRS / 2290
IRS Form 2290 E-File Deadline Reminders for 2026 Tax Year
IRS Form 2290 HVUT is due August 31 for the July–June tax year on every truck 55,000+ lbs. Stamped Schedule 1 is required for plate renewal at the DMV.
- 2026-04-08MCS-150
What Changed in MCS-150 for 2026: Portal Redesign + Same Schedule
FMCSA refreshed the MCS-150 web portal in February 2026. The biennial schedule under 49 CFR §390.19T is unchanged.
- 2026-04-02MCS-150
MCS-150 Deactivation Grace Period Tightens for 2026
FMCSA reduced the post-deadline grace period from 90 days to 60 days for MCS-150 deactivation events. Late filers face faster authority disruption.
- 2026-04-02UCR
UCR 2026 Base-State Portal Updates: Three States Switched Vendors
Indiana, South Dakota, and Vermont migrated UCR base-state portals to new vendors for the 2026 registration year. Existing UCR data carries over.
- 2026-03-28BOC-3
BOC-3 Process-Agent Network Updates Take Effect April 2026
FMCSA refreshed its blanket-process-agent verification under 49 CFR §366. BOC-3 designations now validate against the updated network within 24 hours.
- 2026-03-28Broker
Broker License Cost 2026 Update: BMC-84 Surety Pricing Up 8%
Property broker $75,000 financial-responsibility floor under 49 USC §13906 is unchanged for 2026, but BMC-84 surety premiums rose 6–10% across the industry.
- 2026-03-22Clearinghouse
FMCSA Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse: 2026 Enforcement Trends
FMCSA released 2025 Clearinghouse violation data. Annual queries continue to lag at smaller carriers.
- 2026-03-22ELDT
FMCSA Rolls Out ELDT Curriculum Update for 2026
FMCSA published a curriculum refresh for entry-level driver training affecting Class A theory, hazmat endorsement, and behind-the-wheel hours.
- 2026-03-21Hazmat
TSA Hazmat Endorsement Rule Update: New Threat-Assessment Question Pool
TSA refreshed the hazmat threat-assessment screening questions for 2026 to mirror the updated 49 CFR Part 172 placard schedule.
- 2026-03-15ELDT
ELDT Certificate Verification - What Fleets Need to Know
FMCSA tightened the ELDT certificate verification process. Carriers hiring new CDL applicants must now confirm Training Provider Registry status and.
- 2026-03-15ELDT
ELDT 2026 Curriculum Update: Detailed Walkthrough for Training Providers
The Entry-Level Driver Training curriculum refresh under 49 CFR §380 introduces a 60-hour Class A behind-the-wheel minimum and updated H-endorsement.
- 2026-03-08EV / ZEV
EV / ZEV Trucking Compliance - What Changes in 2026
California ACT (Advanced Clean Trucks) reporting begins for medium- and heavy-duty fleets operating in CA. Reporting compliance hits 12 states for 2026.
- 2026-03-08IRP
IRP 2026 Base-State Fee Shifts: California, Texas, and Florida
IRP apportioned-plate fees are set by each base state. Three top-volume states adjusted 2026 fee schedules under International Registration Plan.
- 2026-03-01Hazmat
Hazmat HM-126F Update - New H-Endorsement Refresher Rules
PHMSA published an HM-126F update tightening security awareness training requirements. H-endorsement holders need refresher within 36 months.
- 2026-02-26Insurance
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.
- 2026-02-22Policy
OOIDA Legislative Updates Q1 2026
OOIDA tracked 18 federal trucking bills in Q1 2026. Highlights: HOS reform proposals, broker-transparency legislation, parking-shortage funding bill.
- 2026-02-19Hours 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 all CMV drivers required to keep records of duty status.
- 2026-02-19MCS-150
MCS-150 Biennial Update Cycle: Why So Many Carriers Get Deactivated
About 12% of active USDOT registrants miss their biennial MCS-150 update each cycle. The schedule is fixed by USDOT digits - not by your fiscal year. Here's how the deadlines map.
- 2026-02-15DataQ
FMCSA DataQ System Improvements Take Effect March 2026
FMCSA rolled out DataQ system improvements: faster turnaround, improved evidence-upload, and better state-coordinator communication.
- 2026-02-12IFTA
IFTA 2026 Fuel Tax Rate Changes: Twelve States Adjusted
Q1 2026 IFTA diesel rates: twelve jurisdictions raised their per-gallon tax, three lowered, and the rest held - full rate schedule for interstate carriers.
- 2026-02-08CA / Emissions
California CARB Diesel Rules - 2026 Updates
California Air Resources Board tightened diesel particulate matter standards. New compliance deadlines for older trucks operating in CA.
- 2026-02-05Industry
EV/ZEV Rule Progress: FMCSA Working Group Update for 2026
FMCSA's zero-emission CMV working group released a progress report in February 2026. Most rules remain in development; no new compliance requirements take effect this year.
- 2026-02-01Texas / Enforcement
Texas DPS Commercial-Vehicle Inspection Trends 2026
Texas DPS released 2025 inspection statistics. Out-of-service rate held at 17.4%. Top violations: ELD compliance, brake adjustments, lighting.
- 2026-01-29Audits
New-Entrant Safety Audit Prep: A Deep Dive into the FMCSA Checklist
FMCSA conducts a safety audit on every new motor carrier within 12 months of activation. Seven document categories drive the result.
- 2026-01-25Florida / Enforcement
Florida DOT Roadside-Inspection Statistics 2025
Florida Highway Patrol Commercial Motor Vehicle Enforcement released 2025 stats. Snowbird-season inspections up 12% over prior year.
- 2026-01-22Audits
DOT Compliance Review Prep: How a Full Audit Differs from New-Entrant
A DOT Compliance Review is a deeper, structured audit triggered by elevated CSA scores, accident frequency, or random selection.
- 2026-01-18MCS-150
Mid-Year MCS-150 Audit Findings - Common Errors
FMCSA published mid-year MCS-150 audit findings. Power-unit count and driver-count mismatches lead the deficiency list.
- 2026-01-12Authority
Authority Reinstatement Bottleneck Analysis Q1 2026
FMCSA L&I processing times for reinstatement petitions averaged 14 business days in Q1 2026 - up from 8 in 2024.
- 2026-01-12Clearinghouse
Clearinghouse-II Rule: Annual Driver Query Now Required
FMCSA's Clearinghouse-II final rule - requiring CDLs in violation status to lose driving privileges through state CDLIS integration - entered final implementation. Annual queries remain mandatory.
- 2026-01-08Year in Review
Trucking Compliance 2025 Year in Review: The Five Stories That Mattered
The Clearinghouse-II completion, ELDT curriculum refresh proposal, broker financial responsibility tightening, IRP base-state enforcement uptick.
- 2026-01-05Insurance
BIPD Insurance Market Trends 2026
Insurance Information Institute released 2026 commercial trucking BIPD market report. Premiums up 7-9% year-over-year for general freight carriers.
- 2026-01-02Insurance
Cargo Insurance Claim Trends 2026
Cargo insurance claim volume and severity climbed in 2025. Fictitious-pickup fraud claims tripled year-over-year.
- 2025-12-29CSA
CSA Score Recalibration: How FMCSA Scoring Adjustments Work in 2026
FMCSA recalibrates the SMS algorithm periodically. The percentile-based BASIC score system still drives intervention thresholds but methodology.
- 2025-12-22IFTA
IFTA Quarterly Return Common Errors and How to Fix Them
IFTA published Q4 2025 audit findings. Top errors: wrong fuel-tax rate matrix, missing trip records, math errors on multi-jurisdiction summaries.
- 2025-12-22Driver Files
Driver Qualification File Checklist Update for 2026
DQ file requirements under 49 CFR Part 391 are unchanged for 2026: MVR, FMCSA Clearinghouse query, and medical card stay mandatory before first dispatch.
- 2025-12-16Broker
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.
- 2025-12-15IRP
IRP Recordkeeping Audit Prep - 2026 Checklist
IRP audit volume is rising. The 4-year retention rule under §1015 is the foundation; specific document types matter for clean audit findings.
- 2025-12-08BOC-3
BOC-3 Pricing Trends - Why $75 Flat Lifetime Wins in 2026
BOC-3 pricing in 2026: $75 one-time flat-fee with verified 50-state agents is the value-optimized tier. Annual-renewal models compound expensively; subcontracted-agent aggregators face new FMCSA validation risk.
- 2025-12-08Reinstatement
Authority Reinstatement Process: 2026 Walkthrough After OOS or Inactivation
When SAFER shows NOT AUTHORIZED, the cure path depends on why the authority lapsed. Walking through OP-1(R) reinstatement, BMC-91 cure, BOC-3 cure.
- 2025-11-30Permits
State Permits 2026 Checklist: What Carriers Need Beyond Federal Authority
Federal MC authority lets you cross states. State-specific permits - NY HUT, KY KYU, NM WDT, OR Weight-Mile, CT HUF, MA DPU .
- 2025-11-28HOS
Hours of Service Exemption Updates 2026
FMCSA renewed several short-haul and agricultural HOS exemptions for 2026. The 150-air-mile short-haul radius held; livestock-haul exemption extended.
- 2025-11-25Broker
FMCSA Broker Disclosure Rule Status: Where the 2024 Proposal Stands in 2026
The 2024 broker transparency proposal under 49 USC §14704 has progressed through public comment but no final rule has issued.
- 2025-11-20HOS
Personal Conveyance Rule Clarification 2026
FMCSA updated personal conveyance guidance to address ambiguous use cases. Clearer rules on lodging trips and short repositioning moves.
- 2025-11-18Medical
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.
- 2025-11-12HOS
Sleeper Berth Split Provision Update 2026
FMCSA reaffirmed the 2020 sleeper-berth split rule. The 7+3, 8+2, and other qualifying splits all remain compliant.
- 2025-11-10Drug & Alcohol
2026 Random Drug Testing Rate: FMCSA Holds at 50%
FMCSA published the 2026 random drug testing rate at 50% of the average annual driver population. Random alcohol testing rate holds at 10%.
- 2025-11-05Industry
Class 8 Freight Tonnage Q1 2026
ATA Truck Tonnage Index for Q1 2026: up 2.4% YoY. Spot-market rates flattened; contract rates held above 2024 levels.
- 2025-11-04Medical
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.
- 2025-10-28Labor
Trucking Labor Market - Driver Shortage Data 2026
ATRI released 2025 driver shortage analysis. The shortage narrowed but remains structurally significant - estimated 70,000-80,000 driver gap.
- 2025-10-20CSA
FMCSA SMS Scoring Methodology Q1 2026 Changes
FMCSA implemented SMS methodology updates including Crash Indicator preventability and severity-weight rebalancing.
- 2025-10-15CSA
Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA) Program Updates Q1 2026
FMCSA continues CSA reform - public-disclosure threshold tightening and intervention-prioritization improvements.
- 2025-10-08Clearinghouse
Pre-Employment Clearinghouse Query Trends 2026
FMCSA Clearinghouse pre-employment query volume continues to grow. Refusal-to-test results rising as a share of disqualifying findings.
- 2025-09-28MVR
MVR Records Integrity - Common Errors
CDLIS data integrity issues continue to surface during compliance reviews. The most common: stale licensing events not yet propagated across states.
- 2025-09-20Software
Fleet Compliance Management Software Trends 2026
The fleet-compliance software market is consolidating around integrated platforms that bundle MCS-150, UCR, 2290, BOC-3, and driver-qualification tracking.