The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is rolling out Motus, a new registration system designed to replace the agency’s decades-old platform, offering what it calls “a more intuitive, user-friendly experience.”
After 25 years of documented CDL fraud schemes producing 6,000+ fraudulent licenses and at least 13 deaths, FMCSA finally removed 3,000 training providers from the federal registry. The problem? Another 36,000 providers remain unvalidated, operating on the same honor system that enabled Operation Safe Road, Larex Incorporated, and the Massachusetts golden handshake scheme.
A federal lawsuit is now underway challenging the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) new interim final rule that limits the issuance of non-domiciled commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs). The lawsuit, filed on October 20, 2025, in the U.S. District Court for the D.C. Circuit, argues that FMCSA’s decision to enforce the rule immediately—without going through […]
Inspectors pulled 2,296 commercial vehicles off the road during the 2025 Brake Safety Week, a 15.1% out-of-service rate virtually identical to 2024’s 15% failure rate. With next year’s enforcement already scheduled for Aug. 23-29, 2026, the question isn’t whether we’ll see similar results
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration issued a waiver on October 9, 2025, extending the deadline for full implementation of the National Registry II electronic medical certification system to January 10, 2026.
The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s 2025 International Roadcheck brought more than 56,000 inspections to highways across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, revealing that the same familiar culprits, brake systems, tires, and logbook falsifications, continue to drive out-of-service violations.
The recently introduced FAIR Trucking Act (H.R. 5268) is Congress’ latest attempt to address the crisis in trucking litigation, but is it enough to actually address the systemic issues in the industry? The bill, sponsored by Rep. Ashley Hinson (R-Iowa), would give federal courts jurisdiction over highway accident cases involving commercial motor vehicles where damages […]
Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy announced this week that the first phase of the NCCDB modernization is now live, marking what the agency calls “an overdue tech upgrade” that could fundamentally change how safety violations, fraud, and service issues get reported and addressed in trucking. The modernized database represents a significant shift in how federal […]
Excerpt: The produce industry’s demographic shift toward Millennial consumers is creating new transportation opportunities for reefer carriers as the freight recession shows signs of improvement. With Millennials driving 68% of produce growth and demanding convenience-focused solutions, cold chain logistics faces challenges and opportunities in 2025.
Federal watchdogs are once again questioning whether we have one CDL standard or 50. With nearly 5,000 truck and bus fatalities last year and English proficiency enforcement under fire, the new OIG audit could reshape how states test, license, and oversee drivers nationwide.
The removal of ROBINHOOD ELD from FMCSA’s registered devices list underscores the importance of selecting reputable ELD vendors, as fleets now face a 60-day scramble to replace systems while managing driver frustration and operational disruption.
Two pilot programs will test flexible hours-of-service configurations as questions persist about ELD fraud, system vulnerabilities, and whether current regulations effectively reduce fatigue-related crashes despite improved compliance rates.
The Department of Transportation announced this week it wants to add fentanyl testing to its mandatory drug screening program for commercial drivers, marking the first major expansion of federal drug testing requirements since amphetamines were added in 2017.
The U.S. International Trade Commission has ruled in favor of Motive, rejecting Samsara’s claims of patent infringement.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration on Wednesday removed three more electronic logging devices from its registered list, giving affected fleets until Nov. 3 to swap out the non-compliant systems before facing enforcement action.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has extended its temporary waiver allowing commercial drivers and motor carriers to use paper medical examiner certificates for up to 60 days after issuance, up from the previous 15-day allowance, as state licensing agencies continue transitioning to electronic medical certification systems. The modified waiver addresses ongoing implementation challenges with the National Registry II electronic transmission requirements that took effect June 23, with only 38 states and the District of Columbia currently compliant while 12 states including California, Florida, and New York have yet to implement the new system.
A commercial tractor-trailer’s illegal U-turn on Florida’s Turnpike last week killed three people in a minivan that collided with the trailer at highway speed, putting new focus on critical flaws in commercial driver licensing and training standards that have made America’s highways increasingly dangerous.
New survey data from Truckstop.com and Bloomberg Intelligence shows small fleet operators and brokers maintaining cautious optimism about freight market recovery despite challenging first-half conditions. While only 16% of carriers reported revenue growth year-over-year, most expect conditions to improve or stabilize heading into the second half of 2025.
Brazilian entrepreneur Ricardo Faria’s $1.1 billion acquisition of Hillandale Farms continues a troubling pattern of foreign control over critical US food infrastructure. The deal puts one of America’s most transportation-intensive agricultural operations, complete with a 250-trailer fleet serving markets from Maine to the Carolinas, under foreign ownership. Unlike previous high-profile foreign food acquisitions, this major deal has received minimal mainstream attention despite significant implications for supply chains and the 11.27 billion tons of freight moved annually by US trucks.
Motive Technologies closed a $150 million funding round led by Kleiner Perkins this week, positioning the AI-powered platform for aggressive expansion beyond its dashcam origins. What started as fleet management in 2015 has evolved into an integrated operations platform spanning driver safety, fuel cards, workforce management, and fraud detection, serving nearly 100,000 customers with AI capabilities that achieve up to 80% collision reductions.
For the first time in decades, the federal government is shifting its attention from policy roundtables to the actual drivers and fleets keeping the country moving.
Starting June 2025, the FMCSA will enforce long-delayed rules on driver medical certification and English proficiency, with direct implications for fleets, intrastate drivers and licensing agencies. From MVR downgrades to out-of-service roadside inspection orders, these rules shift from paper compliance to real-world enforcement. Fleets that fail to adapt may face costly violations or sidelined equipment.
The FMCSA is quietly revamping its National Consumer Complaint Database (NCCDB), aiming to transform it from a bureaucratic black hole into a real-time system for identifying unsafe carriers, shady brokers, coercive shippers and repeat fraud offenders.
Freight fraud and cargo theft have reached crisis levels, but recent FMCSA identity verification measures are chipping away at fraudulent registrations. Proactive enforcement and innovative tech solutions are starting to protect our supply chains.
What the 2025 FMCSA rule blitz really changes: a side-by-side breakdown of old rules, new language, and what fleets, drivers and compliance teams need to know. FMCSA dropped 18 proposed and two final rules into the Federal Register. We’re giving you the practical play-by-play.
With CVSA reinstating English proficiency violations as out-of-service offenses, FMCSA’s new guidance puts front-line carriers and drivers on high alert and raises deeper questions: What about drivers who are deaf, mute or communicate differently? Who gets left behind, and what can fleets do now to stay compliant?
From nuclear verdicts to unqualified drivers behind the wheel, this article dives into the latest Texas bill that could restrict what juries hear after a crash and what that means for fleets, families and front-line accountability in trucking.
The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) is gearing up to formally request a big change: a federal time cap on personal conveyance use by truck drivers
On Monday, the FMCSA revoked eight electronic logging devices tied to Gorilla Fleet Safety LLC, citing failure to meet federal technical standards. Fleets now face a 60-day deadline to replace noncompliant systems or risk violations.
Non-domiciled CDL holders are just a small sliver of a bigger issue with how CDLs are issued and regulated.
Meet Bubba, the AI-powered voice assistant designed specifically for drivers. Bubba finds loads, negotiates rates, vets brokers and manages documents while protecting drivers’ profits and time. After decades of everyone but drivers using AI, Bubba finally brings real-world driver-first solutions that let you stay focused on the road while maximizing your margins. Learn why Bubba might just be the smartest, toughest, “Say no to Cheap Freight” dispatcher you’ll ever have.
At Motive’s Vision 25 Summit, fleet leaders saw firsthand how AI-powered tools can transform safety, efficiency and driver culture. With new AI features like Motive AI Coach, real-time fatigue detection, fraud prevention and natural language analytics, Motive emphasized that technology should serve, not replace the people behind the wheel. Real-world success stories and a major courtroom win against Omnitracs reinforced that Motive’s future isn’t just built on innovation, but on trust, transparency and tangible results for fleets ready to lead the next era of trucking.
Apollo Global Management has a grim warning for the trucking industry: a recession is coming and mass layoffs will come with it.
A Washington high school failed to convince federal regulators of the benefits of altering the training rules for teenage truck drivers.
OOIDA made its case before a three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals as it fights alone against California’s AB5 applying to trucking.
A majority of trucking companies in Canada say they have lost or had to delay loads to the U.S. since new tariffs were imposed.
Mack Trucks will eliminate up to 450 jobs at facilities in Pennsylvania and Maryland due to tariffs and economic uncertainty.
A proposed California law, Assembly Bill 1331, could upend how trucking fleets monitor drivers by prohibiting dashcam and GPS surveillance during off-duty periods, even inside the vehicle. If passed, the bill would redefine off-duty time as private, creating costly compliance challenges and raising concerns about safety, theft prevention, and liability. With $500 penalties per violation and the potential for lawsuits, fleets operating in California, and nationwide, may need to rethink how they balance privacy with operational oversight.
Freight fraud was the consistent theme at the opening session of the annual meeting of freight brokerage’s biggest group, the Transportation Intermediaries Association.
A proposed California law, Assembly Bill 1331, could upend how trucking fleets monitor drivers by prohibiting dashcam and GPS surveillance during off-duty periods, even inside the vehicle. If passed, the bill would redefine off-duty time as private, creating costly compliance challenges and raising concerns about safety, theft prevention, and liability. With $500 penalties per violation and the potential for lawsuits, fleets operating in California, and nationwide, may need to rethink how they balance privacy with operational oversight.
The release of the diesel price used as the basis for most fuel surcharges is shifting to Tuesday mornings instead of Monday afternoons.
Truck transportation jobs in March rose by the largest amount since the start of 2022.
Truckers are getting a new opportunity to tell the Trump administration what regulations are hurting their business.
Adam Wingfield debuts The Playbook at the 2025 Mid America Trucking Show in Louisville, KY.
Derek Barrs, a member of the American Trucking Associations’ Law Enforcement Advisory Board, has been nominated to lead the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
The Arkansas House of Representatives and Senate are debating two bills to enact harsher punishments against truck drivers who are in the U.S. illegally and obtain or use CDLs.
The FMCSA is eliminating MC numbers by October 1, 2025, requiring all motor carriers, brokers, and freight forwarders to operate under a single USDOT number. This change aims to streamline registration, reduce fraud, and improve compliance tracking. While the transition simplifies carrier identification, it raises new challenges for brokers, shippers, and industry professionals accustomed to MC-based vetting. With potential impacts on contracts, insurance, and fraud prevention, fleets must prepare now to ensure a smooth transition. Here’s what the trucking industry needs to know before the deadline arrives.
The Biden administration’s expansion of the H-2B visa program nearly doubled the number of available permits for foreign truck drivers in 2025, aiming to ease labor shortages in the industry. However, with Donald Trump returning to the White House, the future of this visa expansion is unclear. Trump’s past immigration policies prioritized American workers and restricted foreign labor programs, signaling potential rollbacks. Trucking companies that rely on these visas must prepare for possible changes, including tighter restrictions or a complete reversal of the expansion. Here’s what fleets need to know as immigration policy shifts under the new administration.
Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin said the agency will reconsider the Model Year 2027 and Later Light-Duty and Medium-Duty Vehicles regulation and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standards for Heavy-Duty Vehicles.
MATS is less than a month away, visit The Playbook at booth 38248.
The freight market has been all over the place for small carriers, and right now, there’s a feeling that something’s about to give. The big question is whether this shift is going to work in your favor or just keep the squeeze on spot market rates a little longer. Truckload demand (the need for your […]
Updates to the CVSA Out-of-Service criteria have been released, set to take effect April 1.
The Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) reporting requirement has become another regulatory headache for trucking fleets, adding complexity to an already compliance-heavy industry. While designed to combat financial crimes, the Corporate Transparency Act’s BOI mandate has been met with legal challenges, leaving businesses uncertain about their obligations. Despite ongoing court battles, FinCEN continues to push forward with enforcement, meaning most trucking companies structured as LLCs, S-Corps, or partnerships must file ownership details or face significant penalties. With deadlines approaching and regulatory uncertainty persisting, trucking fleets must stay informed, prepare their filings, and avoid compliance missteps.
Nikola’s bankruptcy is a reality check for the push toward zero-emission freight. Once hailed as the Tesla of trucking, Nikola’s failure highlights the immense challenges of replacing diesel with electric and hydrogen-powered alternatives. While policymakers and environmental advocates push for green energy solutions, the trucking industry remains bound by the need for reliability, infrastructure, and economic viability. With limited charging and hydrogen refueling networks, high costs, and performance struggles, Nikola’s downfall reinforces a hard truth, diesel isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.
The freight market is tightening as we come to the end of February. What does tha mean fo owner0ops?
An EPA action initiating the process of revoking three California emissions waivers faces legal hurdles.
I’m Rob Carpenter, adviser, professional driver and your trusted voice for all things trucking. Welcome to The Playbook, a place for you to find your success in trucking.
FMCSA’s Medical Examiner’s Certification Integration rule aims to streamline medical certification by digitizing the process, but delays have pushed full implementation to June 23, 2025. Until then, CDL and CLP holders must continue submitting paper copies of their Medical Examiner’s Certificate (MEC) to state licensing agencies, and motor carriers must verify compliance manually.
Failure to maintain a valid MEC can result in a CDL downgrade, putting drivers’ jobs at risk and exposing fleets to compliance violations. Staying informed and following FMCSA updates is crucial to ensuring a smooth transition when the new system goes live.
Driver stress is a fleet-wide risk that impacts safety, fuel costs, maintenance, and retention. Studies show that stressed drivers are more likely to engage in risky behaviors, suffer from fatigue, and leave the industry entirely, costing fleets thousands in turnover and accident claims.
AI-powered dashcams, predictive maintenance, and real-time telematics offer fleets a proactive approach to reducing driver stress and improving well-being. By integrating safety coaching, fatigue monitoring, and wellness programs, fleets can lower accident rates, cut operational costs, and build a culture that values drivers as assets, not liabilities.
The research arm of the American Trucking Associations has pinpointed potential areas for highway investment in its annual survey of top freight bottlenecks.
Court filings show three less-than-truckload carriers are seeking approval to acquire $15 million of bankrupt Yellow Corp.’s real estate.
A ceremony marked the opening of CPKC’s new Patrick J. Ottensmeyer International Railway Bridge crossing the Rio Grande, at the busiest rail gateway connecting the United States and Mexico.
