FMCSA 2026 Regulatory Update Roundup: What's in Effect This Quarter

The five rules that matter for Q2

FMCSA's 2026 priority docket published in the Federal Register on April 18, 2026 highlights five rules that have either reached final implementation or take effect in Q2: Clearinghouse-II state CDLIS integration (complete in all 51 jurisdictions), the Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) curriculum refresh effective September 22, 2026, the updated broker financial responsibility schedule under 49 CFR §387.307, the cross-border safety inspection alignment with Mexico SCT, and the rule requiring carrier disclosure of leased-driver status on annual 5500 series filings.

Carriers operating in interstate commerce should audit each rule's downstream paperwork before Q2 enforcement ramps up. The Federal Register entry is at federalregister.gov.

What changed and where to look

Clearinghouse-II completed integration in November 2024; the practical effect carriers see now is that any pre-employment Limited Query missing from your driver file means a §382.701 violation that compounds quickly during a new-entrant or compliance-review audit.

ELDT 2026 refresh - Class A behind-the-wheel observation hours go from no fixed minimum to a 60-hour minimum. Carriers running in-house programs need to confirm Training Provider Registry (TPR) compliance dates with their instructors. Drivers enrolled before September 22 may complete under the prior curriculum.

Broker financial responsibility - the 49 CFR §387.307 update raised the BMC-85 surety bond ceiling for trust-fund-only brokerages and tightened the trust-fund eligibility list. Brokers with BMC-85 trust funds should call their financial institution and confirm the updated trust schedule is on file with FMCSA L&I.

Action items

Audit your Clearinghouse query log: every CDL driver should have a pre-employment FULL query AND an annual LIMITED query. Missing queries are a §382.701 violation and will be flagged at any compliance review.

If you operate a leased-on driver model, confirm the new annual disclosure language is in your operating agreement and the carrier name + USDOT is correctly registered with FMCSA.

Follow ongoing rule changes at fmcsa.dot.gov/regulations and fmcsa.dot.gov/newsroom.