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.
